I am so excited with this post! Simply because this is my first collaboration post with my sister. Today, we will give you the answers about How To Prepare Your Toddler For Preschool. In this post you’ll get answers from a parent and preschool teacher standpoint.
As you all know, I am The Teaching Aunt. And if you’ve been following my blog or has read a couple of my articles, you already know my nephew, Seb. 🙂 Well, I am the aunt, Tribobot is the mom.
In this article, we will share with you some pointers about getting your child ready for preschool.
This is in a question and answer format. My sister (Tribobot) asked the questions, and I gave my answers as a preschool teacher. In this post, I only included my answers as a preschool teacher (Since this is not my original post. I only got away with it because she’s my sister.) 😛
If you want to read the original and entire article, please click here.
How To Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool
At what age should I enroll my child in preschool?
According to Republic Act 10157, or “The Kindergarten Education Act”, Kindergarten is made compulsary and mandatory entry stage to basic education beginning at the age of 5.
So if you’re going to go by law 5 years old would be the age for your little one to enroll in school.
However, some schools offer programs for children as young as 2.5 years old. They call it Toddler or Pre-Nursery class.
Personally, I prefer that children below 5 years old learn at home with their parents. The longer the children spend their formative years with their parents, the better! 🙂
What are the benefits of enrolling my child in preschool?
Aside from learning the expected academic skills such as reading, writing and counting, children enrolled in preschool benefit from large-group setting particularly in the following areas:
•Social Skills
They learn to share, take-turns, empathize, help another person, and build a relationship with others outside of his/her immediate family.
•Communication Skills
Children build on their vocabulary and improve comprehension.
•Leadership Skills
Through play and other activities, children learn how to be part of a team and how to lead it.
What are the things that my child should learn prior to entering school?
POTTY TRAINING in capital letters.
I recommend that children be potty-trained before they go to school.
They should be able to go to the toilet on their own or at least say that they need to go to the toilet to pee and poop. It would also be helpful that they know how to clean up after themselves.
I would also like to mention here that parents should take the opportunity of teaching children about their private parts.
As early as preschool age, children should know about the penis and vagina. And that these parts are private.
There’s no better person to teach children about private matters than their parents. 🙂
What should I look for in a good school?
First and foremost is the curriculum.
I prefer play-based and/or literacy-based curriculum.
Curriculum refers to contents and activities that students will engage in in order to learn.
So when you say play-based curriculum, learning will take place in the context of play; while literacy-based curriculum anchors itself on stories and books to teach children.
These types of curriculum engage children well because they are fun and meaningful.
Quick tip: If there are a lot of prescribed books (like per subject basis), head out!
Preschool years is time for exploration, fun and movement. How can a child do all these if he/she is busy answering workbooks? 😛
Playgrounds and libraries are also good indicators of a good school.
The playground should be child-proof, safe and comfortable to play in. A playground right under the sun is not exactly the best place to run in, especially in tropical countries.
As for the library, it should have good quality books appropriate for preschool age.
What activities can we do at home in order to prepare my child for preschool?
Do these three things regularly and you’re pretty much covered:
1. Do story read-aloud with your child.
5 Reasons Why You Should Read To Your Child Today: Benefits of Story Read Aloud
5 Story Read Aloud Tips for Parents: How To Capture Your Child’s Attention
5 Story Read Aloud Tips for Parents: How To Do Story Read Aloud Like a Pro
2. Work on fine motor skills activities.
5 NO PREP Outdoor Activities for Toddlers Using Everyday Household Items
5 NO PREP Indoor Activities for Toddlers Using Everyday Household Items
3. Engage in art and craft activities
CD Giraffe: Art and Craft for Toddlers
CD Cow: Art and Craft for Toddlers
CD Lion: Art and Craft for Toddlers
CD Octopus: Art and Craft for Toddlers
I hope you gained a couple of ideas as to how to get your child ready for preschool through this post.
If you have questions connected to this topic, please feel free to write it in the comment box below. Or if you have your own preschool preparation tip, I’d love to hear them, too! <3
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Happy learning,
38 Responses
We sent our daughters directly to Kinder 2. That’s the required minimum for DECS, so that’s the only thing we did hehe Since we didn’t send them to school too early, they were already prepared — toilet trained, ready socially etc. Thank goodness! 😀 No sepanx!
My youngest is turning 5 next year and he’s definitely going to school. I thought of enrolling him to daycare but I did not continue because I want him to enjoy his childhood first before joining a bigger community.
This is all excellent information. Especially for the new Mom who is already nervous. She can take this and many of your other blogs and pick the pre-school that is perfect for her child.
I sure hope that more parents get to read my posts. 😊 Rearing children is challenging and I want to be able to help in my own little ways.
These are very tips, very useful for me in the future. I would love my future kid to love learning!
Thank you! 😊 I hope your future children will love learning, too.
I have so much respect for you being a preschool teacher! These all all great tips to get your kid ready to preschool.
Thank you! 😊
I loved having my kids in preschool. I agree with your points. It is hard when you are at that stage to know what to do or what to look for.
Preschool is such a fun stage in children’s lives. As adults we definitely should give all the support we can give them. 😊
Every parent should read this. Great tips.
Thank you so much!
Such an informative post. It’s been a long while since my daughter was that age, but shall pass your post on to my friend who has children of this age x
Thank you very much for sharing, Charli! 😊
This is a great comprehensive guide! It is hard to know what to do.
Yes, you’re right. It can be difficult what to do and what to prepare when you have a child who’s about to go to preschool.
Although I do not have a kid yet, these tips sound amazing! I will be sharing them with my mommy friends!
Thank you very much for sharing, Cris! 😊
I need this tips! My youngest daughter will go to her first school next year. Thank you very much.
Glad I can be of help. Thank you, Melani!
This is very informative and will share with my friend who has a toddler
Thank you for sharing, Anosa! 😊
I also have a toddler nephew. He is so playful and I love teaching him the basics according to his age. Thanks for these tips.
I’m glad you find the post helpful. I hope your nephew enjoys the activities, too! 😊
With all these chores and part-time jobs I have, it’s really challenging to juggle all of the tasks at the same time. It’s good to know that activity books on hand can do a lot to minimize the efforts of preaparing activities suitable for young kids.
I wish you good luck on all your chores, Princess Quinn! 😊
Amazing post, preschool is really important these days, and you have listed all the importances and what one should look for in a preschool. Very informative post.
Thank you. I’m glad you found it informative. 😊
Such an informative article about pre-schooling. This is useful guidance for parents who have children in that age group. Thank you for sharing your expert knowledge.
Thank you. I appreciate it. 😊
I am homeschooling so we gradually prepare at home to begin school. I do think it is important to let them be children as long as possible.
Same here! We are also slowly putting structure in my nephew’s playtime to ease him into homeschooling. 😊 And you’re right, it would be really good to just let them enjoy childhood as long as they can.
It’s really important to prepare your toddler for preschool. It’s also vital to choose the right time to enrol your kid in preschool. The benefits like social skils are really crucial in a toddler’s development. 🙂
I agree. Social skills can really be developed in school. 😊
Good to know! My kids were always excited about preschool. I never had to pay since my son went to a special needs one, and my daughter got a scholarship to hers.
Wow! Great job for raising such awesome children. 😊 I hope my nephew grows up smart and always excited to learn, too.
Potty training was so important for me since my son didn’t really take to it fast but we worked it out and also his communication skills have really improved still has problems with letters L and R but we will get there.
I agree. Potty training is number one on my list when it comes to getting your child ready for preschool. 😊