A
child’s first day of preschool or kindergarten can be exciting for him
and his parents alike—it represents a rite of passage into later
childhood. But that first experience in school can also be challenging,
especially if the child is unprepared. This period of early education
can be especially troubling for young children today, who are expected
to keep up with more rigorous academic standards than those of just a
few years ago. Some young children aren’t considered “school ready”,
even if they meet the age requirements, because they are not prepared to
learn in a formal classroom setting.
The
good news is that the skills that a child needs to succeed in a
classroom or school setting can be learned quite early in life, and
reinforced by parents and caregivers long before a child sets foot in a
school or childcare facility.
According
to the Urban Child Institute, there are four key dimensions of school
readiness: language and literacy, thinking skills, self-control, and
self-confidence. These skills help a child learn to read, evaluate and
solve problems, and get along with other children well enough so that
learning can take place. If a child doesn’t learn the proper social and
emotional skills early in life, and if she is not taught basic literacy
and numeracy awareness, she has a more difficult time catching up to her
peers later in school.
Parents
and caregivers can help their children prepare for school early on by
reading, talking and singing to them every day. Frequent reading and
verbal communication during infancy leads to an awareness of vocabulary,
which helps build literacy skills that will be useful later in school.
Additionally, parents can help foster curiosity and a desire to learn in
their children by playing games like hide-and-seek and taking the time
to answer questions.
A
quality preschool setting can also be useful to young children by
helping them become familiar with an environment where teachers and
children interact regularly without the presence of parents. In fact,
studies have shown that a quality preschool can actually improve a
child’s chances of academic success. While choosing a quality preschool
can be difficult, the resources listed below provide useful tips for
finding the right childcare facility for your child and family.
Learn more:
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