Terri Ramsey Beavers It can be difficult to know when the best time is to let your child start preschool. Not only do you have to deal with the emotional wrench of leaving them with someone else, but you also need to ensure you choose the right pre-school. That means checking the reputation to ensure you get the best childcare Liverpool possible.
The official guidelines say that you’ child should start preschool if they become 4 before the 1 May in a given year. However, that doesn’t mean your child is actually ready to start preschool. To give them the best possible start you need to be aware of the signs that show your child is ready, and, if they’re not yet displaying them, you can help them work towards being ready.
Following Directions
If your child is going to preschool then they’re going to need to be able to listen to and follow simple instructions. If they can do this with you most of the time then they will probably do it all the time at school.
If they don’t follow instructions at all you’re going to have to work on this!
Sitting Still
It can be hard for a child to sit still but they’re going to need to do this in the classroom. Of course, the teacher knows what young children are like and won’t expect them to sit still for too long.
Can Use The bathroom
Children at preschool should be old enough to use the toilet by themselves, they also need to know when they need the toilet.
Letter Recognition
Your child doesn’t need to know all the letters in the alphabet or read a story to themselves, but, starting to recognize letters is a good sign that they’re ready for preschool.
Social Skills
Children with brothers and sisters will develop social skills in the house, single children may find this a little harder which is why you need to take them on playdates and to soft play areas. This will encourage them to share and develop the social skills they’ll need to succeed in preschool and later in life.
Emotional Control
True control of your emotions can take a long time to master. But, before your child starts preschool they should be able to recognize the different emotions and have strategies to help them cope when they feel sad or angry.
This is something you can work on with them at home and will help to ensure they are emotionally well-adjusted at school.
Wants To Learn
Most children don’t want to spend all day learning but they should have an interest n learning. The good thing at preschool is learning is mainly completed through play. A desire to learn can be shown by an interest in the world around them and how things work. That’s all it takes!
Developing Fine Motor Skills
By the age of 4 a child should be able to jump, run, throw a ball, and even hold small items like a pen or scissors. If your child is doing this then they are ready for preschool.
However, it is important to remember that if your child is not ready for preschool then you shouldn’t force them. If they are lacking in the above skills there is no harm in starting them in preschool a year later, it shouldn’t be viewed as holding them back. Instead it is making sure they are ready.