| Many parents enroll their children in preschool | | | | school schedule. Will the snack and meal breaks |
| programs without considering whether or not their | | | | meet your child's nutritional needs? Will he be able |
| child is really ready for preschool. Many parents | | | | to stay awake until it is time to leave or take a |
| are eager to give their child a head start in the | | | | nap? |
| race to educational success so children are | | | | Preschool is often a time and place when children |
| starting preschool at younger ages. However, | | | | learn a great deal about friendship and social |
| enrolling your child too early in preschool can | | | | interactions, but if a child isn't ready for this level |
| cause long-term problems with your child's | | | | of social activity it can be tough on the child, class, |
| education rather than giving the head start you | | | | and family. Children should have some experience |
| intended. | | | | playing with their peers, learning to share and take |
| How can you judge whether or not your child is | | | | turns, and working out their differences before |
| ready for preschool? Take a look at three key | | | | attending preschool. Children should also have |
| areas: physical development, social development, | | | | some experience taking direction from adults who |
| and emotional development. | | | | are not their primary caregivers. For example, a |
| You should also look at the program itself. For | | | | child who has only been in the care of a select |
| example, some programs are specifically geared | | | | few relatives may have difficulty adjusting to the |
| to a young age group and are less about formal | | | | care of a strange new adult. |
| education and more about play and social | | | | Emotional development is another key |
| experience. Some programs have very limited | | | | consideration when determining if a child is ready |
| time periods (only a few hours a week) and are | | | | for preschool. Is your child ready for the |
| intended to introduce young children very gently | | | | separation from home and parent or previous day |
| to the educational experience. However, the | | | | care provider? How does your child adjust to new |
| standard preschool program is generally geared | | | | places and people? |
| toward children ages 3 and 4 in preparation for | | | | If you think your child is not ready in one or more |
| kindergarten. Just because your child falls within | | | | of these important areas then you should put off |
| the correct age group does not mean your child is | | | | starting preschool. It may be that in a few |
| ready for preschool. Forcing a child who is not | | | | months time your child will have leaped past those |
| ready physically, socially, or emotionally into a | | | | hurdles and be ready to start. You can also work |
| formal school setting could set the child up for | | | | with your child on the areas you feel need work, |
| failure, which could then result in a life-long | | | | such as personal care or social interaction. Many |
| problem with school. | | | | programs also allow you to ease your child into |
| Physically your child should be able to attend to | | | | the program with only a few hours a week |
| most personal hygiene issues independently or | | | | gradually stepping up to full participation. |
| under supervision. This means the child should be | | | | Remember, young children grow and develop at a |
| potty trained as well as able to clean up | | | | tremendous pace so simply giving your child some |
| afterward (including unfastening and fastening | | | | time to grow into a program is much better than |
| clothing). Your child should also be able to feed | | | | forcing the issue. In later years your child won't |
| herself with little or no supervision. | | | | feel the impact of those "missed" months on their |
| The child should also be able to focus on a task, | | | | education but a positive preschool experience will |
| such as coloring, as well as listen attentively, to a | | | | have a lasting effect on self esteem and learning. |
| story or conversation, for longer than a few | | | | Starting your child's preschool experience when |
| minutes. | | | | they are ready, willing, and able is the best way |
| Another important physical development issue is | | | | to set your child on the road to educational |
| whether or not your child is able to maintain the | | | | success. |