Should Your Child Go To Preschool?
Preschool can be beneficial for many children, so it is a good idea to consider letting your child attend a preschool before they enter into kindergarten. Although preschool is not a prerequisite for acceptance into kindergarten, many teachers expect children to have been in preschool before they join their class. They tend to focus on academic skills rather than introducing children to the classroom environment and helping them to develop appropriate behaviors for school.
Preschool can prepare children for kindergarten. It can help them to develop academic and social skills, independence and the ability to obey rules and behave well in a classroom environment. They will be able to enjoy programs and facilities that you may not be able to provide at home. Some preschools offer music lessons, for example.
You should make sure that your child is ready for preschool before letting them attend. They should be mature enough to play well with other children and independent enough to cope with the rules of the preschool. They will need to be ready to be separated from you. If you don’t think your child is ready for preschool, you may want to start with some classes that you can both attend together.
Some preschools require your child to be fully potty trained before they can attend. Preschools also have different acceptance policies as regards the age of your child, with some accepting children as young as two and others focusing on older children, up to the age of five. Children mature at different speeds, so you should consider your child’s personality and readiness when deciding on a preschool, and not just their age.
Spending some time socializing with other children in preschool will be particularly important if you have an only child since it will give them a chance to play with other children and learn how to share. The social aspects of preschool will be particularly enjoyable for outgoing children, but if your child is shy then attending preschool will be very important, as it will give them a chance to gain social skills and confidence before they go to school. You may need to offer your child some additional support when they start preschool, for example by choosing a preschool that encourages parents to join in with classes and activities so you can stay with your child while they get used to being in preschool.
The academic aspects of preschool will help your child to prepare for kindergarten and to get used to working in a classroom environment. If you have a child who is particularly bright and curious, then they will probably enjoy the challenge of classroom activities, so you should look for a preschool that will provide an interesting curriculum.
