The typical preschool age range is between 3 and 4 years, but other factors must be considered to determine readiness. Check out the following to determine if your child is ready for preschool.
Are you sure your child is ready to learn? The majority of preschools believe that a child is ready for preschool when they are between three and four years old. However, this number doesn’t apply to every child.
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Preschool readiness is more complex than just age. Each child develops at his or her own pace. Some three-year olds are ready for preschool, while others may need more time in order to acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the classroom. Parents often ask how long preschoolers attend school. Answers vary depending on what program you are in. Some preschools provide half-day or full-day programs. Many children attend pre-school for 2-5 days a week depending on their development and family needs.
Before you send your child to preschool, take into consideration these factors.
- Separation anxiety
- Social development
- Potty Training
- Physical development
- Nap necessity
- Persistence
- Curiosity and imagination
- Communication skills
- Listening skills
Separation anxiety your child might know their letters, colors and shapes but it’s not the right time to enroll them in preschool unless they are emotionally prepared.
Your child is not ready for school at two or three years old if they are still uncomfortable being away from you. You don’t need to make the transition to preschool any more stressful.
Slowly introducing your child to the new routine at preschool can reduce their stress. It is recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children that you visit the preschool before your child’s first day. Show them their cubby and the areas where they will play, eat and sleep so they can learn the classroom is safe.
Social Development
Parents or caregivers shape a child’s emotional and social development before they start preschool. These skills can help children to feel more confident when forming relationships, communicating their feelings, and asking for assistance.
There are certain milestones that children must reach as their social-emotional abilities develop. This will determine how well they adjust to preschool. These milestones can have a big impact on their ability to be successful in the classroom.
If your child is still playing in parallel, which involves two or three children playing together without interactivity, they may not be yet ready to enter a classroom. Around age three, children begin to engage in imaginative and cooperative play – both key elements of preschool programs.
The ability of a child to play with other children is the foundation for many social-emotional abilities they will gain in preschool. They learn how to take turns and share toys. In a classroom, playtime and interaction with other kids can help children practice social skills such as waiting for their turn and saying “please” and “thank you.”
When your child is ready to enter preschool, he or she needs to be aware of the social norms and emotionally prepared for interaction with other children.
Potty Training
Some preschools offer assistance with potty-training, but others require that the skill be mastered prior to enrollment. Potty training can indicate preschool readiness because it is a major developmental milestone.
Physical Development
What is the physical development of your child? Are they physically capable of handling classroom materials and playground equipment?
By the age of three, most toddlers can walk, maintain their balance, string objects together, use their hands to play and use a spoon. These fine and gross motor skills help prepare them for physical milestones that they will hopefully master in preschool. For example, holding a crayon or pencil as they begin to learn how to draw and write letters.
You’ll see them mastering the ability to walk up and down stairs, and even put on their own clothes (like pants or jackets). In preschool, your child will improve these skills and develop the motor control necessary to keep up with his or her classmates.
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Nap Necessity
If your child is still requiring a two-hour afternoon nap, they might not be ready to handle the level of activity at preschool.
It is common for preschools to include naps in the day. However, your child’s sleep may be different at school than at home. This can cause irritability or a change in sleeping patterns. It is important to know how long preschoolers attend school. Many full-day preschools include a period of napping, while half-day programs might not.
Persistence
Do they get frustrated easily when learning new skills or abilities? Are they motivated? It’s possible that they lack the persistence needed to succeed at preschool.
To do well in both academics and socials, your child must be willing to overcome their frustrations and take on challenging tasks. It may be better to delay enrolling your child in preschool if they have trouble staying motivated.
Curiosity and imagination
Are they curious about their environment? Asking open-ended and creative questions, or coming up with imaginative answers to problems is a sign that your child is curious. Curiosity, a skill preschoolers require to learn, explore and interact with others, is essential.
If your child is not asking open-ended, exploratory questions about the people and the world around him, then he may not be ready to enter the social and academic environment of preschool.
Communication Skills
How well does your child communicate with others? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the language and communication goals most children reach by the age of three include asking “who”, “what”, “where” or “why”, saying their name when they are asked, and speaking well enough for other people to understand them, at least the majority of the time.
Communication skills and language acquisition before preschool affect literacy (ability to read and write), and speaking abilities during preschool and beyond. Children who can communicate effectively build strong relationships with their classmates and have a solid foundation for reading and written work.
Listening Skills
It can be difficult to assess listening skills, but they are closely linked to comprehension. Listening skills milestones may include understanding nouns and verbs by age three.
Consider the sentence “Julie owns an orange toy.” Orange is Julie’s favourite color. A child who has developed their listening skills can deduce this by connecting “her” with “Julie”. They also understand the difference between “mine” and “yours”, plural words and simple sentences. Listening skills are similar to communication and social milestones and can help children develop literacy as they learn how to read, write and express themselves.
How long do pre-schoolers attend school?
Parents often ask this question when they are considering preschool. Answers vary depending on the preschool program. Some preschools have half-days that last three to four hour per day. Others offer full-days that run from six to eight hours a day.
The number of school days can also be different. Some preschools have a two or three day schedule while others offer a five-day program to help children adapt to a structured environment. Your child’s stamina and readiness to learn will determine the best choice.
What if my child isn’t ready for preschool?
You want to make sure that preschool is a positive experience. It’s okay to wait until your child is older if they aren’t yet ready. Most preschool programs accept children as young as four years.
Consider enrolling your child in a program that is part-time if you feel they are just about to be ready. You should ensure that the program runs at least three times a week to give them a feel for the schedule and routine that comes with school.
Preschool Benefits
The preschool environment allows children to learn in a stimulating and rich learning environment, and to be exposed to a variety of new experiences as they acquire key skills. Children learn important social-emotional skills, language and cognitive abilities in the first five years of their lives.
Sending your child to pre-school gives them the chance to:
- Academic performance can be improved
- Socialization and communication
- Physical activity increases
Consider the preschool learning objectives as well as the skills that preschoolers are taught.
Preschool Skills Include:
- Learn to think critically (predictions, cause-and-effect learning)
- Skills in problem-solving (resolving conflict, asking for assistance, showing persistence).
- Early literacy skills (tracing the letters, recognizing sounds of letters and simple rhymes).
- Early math skills (recognizing patterns, identifying numbers, reciting the numbers one to ten).
- Personal hygiene and personal care (washing your hands, brushing your teeth, dressing yourself)
Bottom Line
Preschool is a crucial developmental stage for young children. As a parent you decide when your child is ready to go to preschool. The average age for preschool is between three and four years. You should look for several developmental milestones: Does your child interact with other children or not? Do they show curiosity about the world? Are they able to listen actively?
It’s okay to wait until the child is ready. Early childhood education has many benefits. Knowing how long preschoolers attend school and selecting a program to suit your child’s learning needs will make a big difference in the transition from informal to formal education.
