| Many members of my mother's generation did | | | | |
| not even attend kindergarten. Many members of | | | | Begin working with your toddler early to |
| my generation did not even attend preschool. | | | | introduce the letters of the alphabet and |
| With my son's generation preschool has become | | | | then as those are mastered begin introducing |
| a necessary part of preparation for formal | | | | the beginning letter sounds. Again, make |
| education. In fact for most children, formal | | | | these lessons fun and casual as you go about |
| education actually begins with preschool. | | | | your daily routine. Similarly, begin working |
| That does not mean that preschool education | | | | on counting as you cook, clean and dress. |
| begins the first day of preschool. In fact, | | | | |
| if you want your child to successful in | | | | Why must you prepare your preschooler for |
| preschool and beyond then you must prepare | | | | preschool? As I pointed out in the opening |
| your child for preschool. What are some of | | | | paragraph, the educational bar is continually |
| the things you will need to teach your | | | | being raised. Kindergarten is no longer about |
| preschooler? | | | | preparation. Real education goals are set and |
| | | | children learn reading and math. They begin |
| First and foremost you must help your child | | | | learning several reading concepts and are |
| become as independent as possible. This means | | | | expected to count to 100 in kindergarten. |
| toilet training and basic hygiene as well as | | | | First grade students are reading and |
| the ability to dress themselves. Prepare your | | | | performing complex math and money problems. |
| child mentally and emotionally for the idea | | | | Children can enter preschool without any |
| of independence from you and other primary | | | | knowledge of independence, colors, shapes, |
| caregivers. Preschool teachers are obviously | | | | letters, and numbers, but a head start can |
| caring and helpful but they will not be able | | | | help them be more successful in preschool and |
| to give the same level of attention many | | | | then later in formal education. |
| children are accustomed to from their primary | | | | |
| caregiver. | | | | A child who starts kindergarten not knowing |
| | | | these concepts will be behind and may never |
| There are also some basic concepts that | | | | get caught up. Even worse, this late start |
| children must learn. These lessons will be | | | | will destroy the child's self esteem and |
| solidified during preschool but if a child | | | | confidence as well as cause the child to hate |
| grasps them before preschool that is even | | | | school and learning. Some children can |
| better. This includes knowledge of colors and | | | | overcome these challenges and go on to become |
| shapes. Do not spend a lot of time drilling | | | | successful but all too many children continue |
| this knowledge into your child, but instead | | | | to fail throughout school and life. Which |
| casually introduce it to your child through | | | | would you rather for your child's future? If |
| daily life. Name the colors of the clothes | | | | you want your child to succeed in preschool, |
| your child will wear that day. Point out | | | | formal education, and life then you should |
| various shapes during the day or even cut | | | | work on the key concepts long before |
| food into a shape of the day. | | | | schooling starts. |