Preschool Success Tips
Read these 3 Preschool Success Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Preschool tips and hundreds of other topics.
Read to Your Child
One of the best ways to ensure your child's success in school is by reading to him or her. Research has proven that children that are exposed to lots of language (both verbal and written) tend to do better in school. It doesn't matter what you read, as long as it peaks your child's interest and you sit and look at the pages together. Reading to a child shows them, without any instruction, that books are read from front to back and words are read from left to right. They figure this out on their own as they watch you read. Books provide information and insight to things that your child may never be exposed to in normal daily life. Your son may see a picture of a parachute in a book, and he can learn what it does and what it is used for without ever even touching one. Reading also provides special quality time together and builds focusing skills. Here are some tips for making reading fun for your preschooler.
- Let your preschooler choose the books. Take a trip to your local library and let your child find some books he is interested in.
- Go with tried-and-true favorites. There is a reason that the book, Where The Wild Things Are, continues to be on the bestseller list. Find some others that are popular among preschoolers.
- Read at a time when your child is most receptive, such as right before bed or when she wakes up from a nap. Don't force your child to sit and read a book with you if he's full of energy and wants to play. Let him run around first.
- Make reading interactive. Encourage your child's participation in the story by asking questions or asking her to point out things. If you've read the book before, inquire about what is going to happen next.
- Preschoolers tend to have a favorite book that they want you to read over and over again. Build his confidence by asking him to read that book to you once you 're sure he's memorized it.
The First Day of School
The day has finally arrived! You and your child are equally excited. Here are some tips to help you (yes, you!) survive your child's first day of school.
- Get there early. You should aim to arrive at least 15-20 minutes before school starts to walk your child to her classroom, help her put away her school supplies and give her a chance to meet some of her classmates.
- Bring a camera. Many parents like to record this special day in their child's memory book, and what better memento than a picture?
- Don't cry! This may be an emotional time for you as a parent. After all, going to school means your baby is growing up. However, you are likely to scare your child or make him more nervous if he thinks you are upset. Kids can sense these things. So put on a happy face and cry your eyes out in the parking lot after you've dropped him off.
- Find out important information. You'll need to know the dismissal time (some schools dismiss early during the first week of school) and any dismissal procedures (will you pick up your child at the classroom or somewhere else?).
Preparing Your Child to Go Back to School
As July fades away, and August creeps in, it's time to start thinking about going back to school. No more staying up late, sleeping in, or spending the day at the pool or the beach. Here are some tips for helping your child adjust to the upcoming school schedule. Consider starting this process about two weeks before the first day of school.
- Begin by putting him to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each day until he is going to bed at his normal bedtime during the school year.
- Wake him up earlier each day to help him adjust so he is not groggy and tired for the first few days of school.
- Many children have also grown accustomed to eating breakfast later and are not hungry right away in the morning. You can encourage his appetite by feeding dinner no later than 6pm and offering his favorite breakfast foods in the morning.
- Set aside some time for review and academic activities each day to help him ease back into the school mindset. Most teachers use the first week back to school to review concepts taught the previous year and to introduce the students to the rules and expectations of the class.
- If you have any specific concerns that you would like to address with your child's teacher, try to schedule an appointment with him or her this week. Teachers generally return to school a week before the students to set up their classrooms and attend staff meetings and workshops.
- Be sure to purchase everything your child needs (uniform, books, school supplies, backpack, lunchbox, etc.). Most stores offer deep discounts on school supplies in the first few weeks of August. That is the time to purchase everything you need for the entire school year. If your child always loses his crayons or lunchbox, buying extra at the beginning of the year will save you a lot later on when supplies are back to their regular prices.
Preparing early will help alleviate stress and tension often associated with returning to school. Your child will be more successful if he is well-rested and prepared. Best of luck to you and your child for a fabulous first day!
| Guru Spotlight |
| Susan Sayour |
