| Choosing a preschool for your youngster can be | | | | Common fears include new places and |
| challenging; and the first decision of many to | | | | experiences and separation from parents and |
| come regarding their education. Determining the | | | | other important people. You can expect the |
| program that will best meet your child's needs is | | | | preschool child to test you over and over again, |
| by far the most important thing. Whether this can | | | | to use profanity and other forbidden words, and |
| be accomplished by sending your child to a private | | | | to act very silly. Preschoolers may still have |
| preschool is something that only you can research | | | | trouble getting along with other children, and |
| and decide. | | | | sharing may still be difficult. Because of their |
| In many cases, private preschool is the only | | | | developing imaginations and rich fantasy lives, they |
| choice available to parents. Preschool programs | | | | may have trouble telling fantasy from reality. |
| that are offered through the school district are | | | | They may also talk about imaginary friends. |
| often only available to children who are in need of | | | | Preschoolers need clear and simple rules so that |
| special services in order to prepare them for | | | | they know the boundaries of acceptable behavior. |
| Kindergarten. Children can receive speech, | | | | Understanding their growth and development will |
| occupational therapy, physical therapy, and | | | | help you guide preschoolers through this stage. |
| specialized learning environments through | | | | This fact sheet lists some of the characteristics |
| programs such as these. Three and four-year-old | | | | of preschoolers. These characteristics are listed |
| children are often called preschoolers. Preschool | | | | for three main areas: physical (body), social |
| children are making developmental strides and | | | | (getting along with others) and emotional |
| express an interest in the world around them. | | | | (feelings), and intellectual (thinking and language) |
| They want to touch, taste, smell, hear, and test | | | | development. Remember that all preschoolers are |
| things for themselves. They are eager to learn. | | | | different and reach the various stages at |
| They learn by experiencing and by doing. | | | | different times. |
| Preschoolers learn from their play. They are busy | | | | The social and emotional development of |
| developing skills, using language, and struggling to | | | | preschoolers includes |
| gain inner control. Your three year old will now | | | | - They are learning to take turns and to share. |
| begin to play cooperatively with other children in | | | | Games and other activities can help preschoolers |
| small groups, share his toys and develop | | | | learn about taking turns. |
| friendships. Playtime may include structured | | | | - They enjoy pretending to be important adults |
| games and fantasy activities. At this age your | | | | (mother, father, doctor, nurse, police officer, mail |
| child is becoming more independent and you can | | | | carrier, etc.). |
| expect him to dress himself and button clothes, | | | | - They need to feel important and worthwhile. |
| brush his teeth with help, stack 9-10 blocks, draw | | | | - They need opportunities to feel more freedom |
| circles and squares, use scissors, walk up steps | | | | and independence. |
| by alternating his feet, jump from a step, hop, | | | | - They appreciate praise for their achievements. |
| walk on his toes, pedal a tricycle, play with | | | | - Horizontal, and circular motions. |
| imaginary friends, have a very large vocabulary | | | | - They can handle small objects (such as puzzles, |
| and use 3-4 word sentences and his speech | | | | pegboards, and parquetry sets). |
| should be 3/4 understandable. Over the next year | | | | - They grow about 3 inches taller in a year. |
| his speech will become fully understandable. | | | | 1. • They have more small |
| Your child may now begin to ask 'why' questions, | | | | muscle control. They can make representational |
| tell stories, remember nursery rhymes, appreciate | | | | pictures (for example, pictures of houses, |
| special events, and understand daily routines. Once | | | | people, and flowers). |
| your child is able to climb out of his crib (and you | | | | - They run on tip toes. |
| have already lowered the mattress and removed | | | | - They hop on one foot. |
| the bumper pads), it is time to move him into a | | | | - They gallop. |
| toddler bed. If your child is three feet tall, you | | | | - They begin to skip. |
| may want to move him to a toddler bed even if | | | | - They throw a ball overhand. |
| he isn't climbing out of his crib yet. The usual age | | | | - They pump themselves on a swing. |
| for moving out of a crib is about eighteen months | | | | - They like unzipping, unsnapping, and unbuttoning |
| to two years. | | | | clothes. |
| Preschoolers want to establish themselves as | | | | - They dress themselves. |
| separate from their parents. They are more | | | | - They can cut on a line with scissors. |
| independent than toddlers. They can express their | | | | - They like lacing their own shoes (but not tying). |
| needs since they have greater command of | | | | - They can make designs and write crude letters. |
| language. | | | | - They are very active and aggressive in their |
| Fears often develop during the preschool years. | | | | play. |