We have quite a number of parents visited us since our open day on October 31, 2016. Some parents were concerned about the age of sending their children to preschool.
Many preschools have started accepting children at the ages of two or two and a half, however, age doesn’t mean that your child is ready for preschool when they reach that age.
Preschool readiness is more about where your child is developmentally. Is she ready from a social, emotional, cognitive and physical standpoint to take part in classroom environment with a group of other kids?
Some signs of showing their readiness for preschool as follows:
1. Your child is able to spend time away from you or their other primary caregivers.
2. Your child can play by herself for short period of time, can follow simple instructions, and can follow one task (such as colouring or doing a puzzle) for several time.
3. Your child can participate in group activities with other kids and play corporately with others. Most preschool-age kids don’t want to share and take turns all the time, but they should understand the concept and that it’s appropriate behaviour.
4. Your child can express her wants and needs through words (not just crying), and ask questions.
5. Your child is fairly independent or starting to be. Can they take care of some basic needs, like washing her hands and eating by themselves?
6. Many preschools require that kids be potty trained, although the occasional accident is expected.
These are general guidelines, of course. We do understand that three-and-four-year-olds have different abilities from two-year-olds.
Remember, your child does not have to be ready for preschool when you’re applying, but you can help her develop the skill they’ll need for a successful school experience before they started.
When deciding at what age to enroll your child into pre-school, you may also want to consider how many years you’d like her to attend before going on to kindergarten. For instance, even though the school of your choice takes two-year-olds, you may opt to enroll your child when she’s three so that she attends only for two years rather than three. Maybe you want to keep your child at home with you or a caregiver for another year, you’re happy with her small family day care, or you’d rather wait to start paying school tuition. There’s no right or wrong answer. When deciding when your child should start, however, take into account that if you do decide to wait to apply a year or two after the cutoff age, there will probably be fewer slots open, as kids who have already enrolled will have taken most of them.
Reference: “How to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Child”, by Jenifer Wana
