Though it may be hard to see during the most exhausting infant days, your child will be three or four years old before you know it. Once you're out of the woods of toddlerhood, you'll likely start to consider preschool to prepare your child for kindergarten. Here are some reasons why preschool is a good option.

They Learn Social Skills

One of the biggest benefits of enrolling your child in preschool is the social skills they'll acquire. Children learn how to work in groups to complete tasks, take turns, share materials, and have meaningful conversations in preschool. Kindergarten classes are usually larger than pre-k programs, so giving your child a head start on working with others and making friends will make the transition much easier.

Learning to follow directions, focus on a task until it's completed, and wait until their turn to speak are other important social skills your child will need in order to succeed in kindergarten, and preschool programs offer a gentle introduction to following teachers' expectations.

Preschool becomes even more important and advantageous if your child hasn't attended daycare since preschool gives them supervised opportunities to practice interacting with other kids outside of your family and friends. This helps your child build self-confidence that will serve him or her well in future classroom settings since kids with higher self-esteem are more willing to try new things.

They Are Introduced to Academics Early

Academic readiness is another major advantage to kids who attend preschool when it's time to start more formal schooling. Kids who attend preschool learn important early literacy skills, including listening comprehension, recognizing letters and letter sounds, and expanding vocabulary.

Counting and other early math and science skills, such as recognizing shapes and numerals, sorting, categorizing, and recognizing cause and effect, will also give your child a solid foundation for kindergarten.

Most pre-k programs blend age-appropriate academic work with plenty of time for art, music, physical activity, and free play, so don't think your child has to be ready to sit quietly at a desk all day to be prepared for preschool.



They Are Better Prepared for School

Early childhood education researchers from some of America's top universities compiled information from studies spanning decades on the effects of preschool and came up with a clear result: Children who attend preschool programs are better prepared for school in kindergarten and beyond. This is especially true for economically disadvantaged and bilingual children.

How to Know If Your Child Is Ready

You should consider several factors to determine if your child is ready for a preschool program or whether you want to hold off a bit longer. Some preschool programs also act as daycare and are more play-oriented, so even kids who aren't quite ready for a more rigorous academic program can benefit from a program that's a little more loosely structured.

Some things to ask yourself include:

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• Is my child ready to spend time away from me?
• Can my child follow basic instructions?
• Is my child toilet-trained?
• Can my child communicate clearly for their age?
• Is my child able to work on things independently for short periods?
• Can my child handle transitions from one activity to another?
• If your child has a basic grasp on most or all of these skills, they are most likely ready for preschool.

Enrolling your child in a pre-k program, particularly one that uses evidence-based curriculum, can help set them up for success in the school years ahead, but determining whether your child is ready is a decision only you can make.

Small World Early Learning and Development Center accepts children between six weeks and five years of age in child care and early learning programs. If you're looking for a preschool program for your son or daughter, contact us to ask any questions you have and discuss availability and rates.