Preschool Education: 7 Essential Tips for Parents
Your children become more independent as they reach preschool age and begin learning to get along with others. As children attend preschool, they become more absorbed in the school environment and are often away from home. So, as parents, you should help your child make the most out of their time in preschool so that they will succeed in their future educational endeavors.
Preschool is a very significant milestone for both you and your child. Therefore, we have compiled a few tips on how to help your child grow and develop during these crucial years.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Choose the Right Preschool for Your Child
- 2 2. Establish a Sense of Independence in Your Child
- 3 3. Teach Your Children Time Management Skills
- 4 4. Make Sure You Read Every Day
- 5 5. Be Attentive To Your Child’s Emotional Needs
- 6 6. Identify the Developmental Stage of Your Child
- 7 7. Do Not Prevent Your Child from Experiencing Disappointment
- 8 Wrapping Up
1. Choose the Right Preschool for Your Child
Selecting the right preschool for your child can sometimes be confusing. And choosing the right one would depend on a lot of factors. Start by narrowing down your options based on location and type of education. For instance, those living in Louisville, CO, should be aware that private school education is widely available. A total of 10 private schools operate there, serving 627 students.
The next step is to determine the level of quality provided by teachers and the curriculum at that school. Do the teachers give adequate attention to the student’s educational needs? What activities do they provide for their students?
For instance, Treehouse Learning is a preschool and Kindergarten in Louisville, CO, known for its legacy and high-quality child care. Thanks to their attentive teachers and exciting school activities, your children will have a stimulating learning environment.
2. Establish a Sense of Independence in Your Child
For any child to succeed in life, independence is an essential quality they should possess. As parents, we desire to help and guide our children throughout their lives. However, it is not always necessary to be present in person. Sometimes it is enough to observe from a distance.
It is crucial for you as a parent to understand that school is their territory. There is no need to accompany your child inside the school daily to ensure they are fine. You are sending a subtle message to them that they will not be safe without your assistance. When you drop them off, kiss them goodbye and wish them a pleasant day ahead.
3. Teach Your Children Time Management Skills
Getting your child ready for a structured lifestyle is essential. As a starting point, establish a time for going to bed and waking up. Don’t force your child to form a habit – you will gradually achieve the desired result.
Furthermore, you should not stop letting your child play, watch a cartoon or spend time with friends. It would be better to inform them beforehand of the time they should finish the said activities. Doing so will allow them to exercise greater control over their activities and set a time limit.
4. Make Sure You Read Every Day
As a parent, you can open the world to your child in so many ways by reading to them. Aside from providing a perfect opportunity to bond with your child, reading teaches vocabulary, problem-solving skills, creativity, critical thinking, emotional maturity, and many more valuable life skills.
Make the most of the time you spend reading or listening to books with your children by asking questions that encourage them to think. And a bedtime reading routine can be a great way to wind down at night.
5. Be Attentive To Your Child’s Emotional Needs
Assure your child that feeling anxious, excited, or any other emotion about attending school is normal. New things can be frightening and overwhelming but also exciting and rewarding. Assure your child that you will be there to pick them up at the end of the day. Discuss the upcoming routine and what they can expect.
Tell your child about the first time you attended school, the feelings you experienced, and the special memories you made. Look for photos of yourself from preschool and share those pictures with your child.
6. Identify the Developmental Stage of Your Child
Every parent wants their children to succeed and do well in life. Trying to force them to perform tasks appropriate for older children will not yield positive results.
A wide array of pre-reading, pre-writing, and pre-math skills must be mastered to lay the foundation for children’s reading, writing, and doing maths. Your 4-year-old does not need to be prepared for Grade 1. You should instead prepare your 4-year-old for life as a four-year-old.
7. Do Not Prevent Your Child from Experiencing Disappointment
Our quest for “happiness” in modern society influences us to believe that our children’s experiences should be positive and that they should never experience any distress or unhappiness. Children must be allowed to express their emotions fully to learn how to deal with the various challenges they will face.
By eliminating all sources of stress, your children will not be able to handle them in the future when you are not around to assist them. Disappointment is a part of life. For instance, experiencing disappointment upon not being selected for the A team in tennis will slowly subside and probably lead to a desire to work harder and try again in the future.
A minor disappointment escalates into a much more stressful situation if the individual does not have the coping skills to deal with it. Thus, it is essential to allow them to fully experience the upsetting situation and provide support in dealing with it.
Wrapping Up
A child’s sense of independence develops significantly during the preschool years. As a result, they build self-esteem and confidence. It is estimated that up to 50% of a person’s mental development occurs in the first four years of adolescence, and more than 30% is completed by the age of eight, highlighting the importance of the preschool years.
Preschool education offers several benefits for your child, allowing them to interact with new adults and peers. It can help your kids develop their interests and skills. Your children’s physical and social development will be positively influenced by the opportunity to learn, play, and socialize during preschool.