Preschool is a first school experience for many children. The excitement children and parents feel is mixed with some nervous thoughts and hopes that all goes well. After the initial few weeks of adjustment, most kids are off and running .... and painting, building, coloring and even writing.
There are unique and wonderful differences in the way children learn, however. As the preschool year progresses, some children will feel more confident with a little extra support. Always schedule time to speak with the teacher, of course. There are many other little things you can do, as a parent, that add up to a whole lot of help for your child.
Three Steps To Take If Your Pre-School Child Needs a Language and Learning Boost:
Make Connections: Connect with other families in the class. Plan a short activity outside of school time. Play time around an activity like the park or an art class works well because you can set a definite beginning and ending time. Too long=too much time for melt-downs!
- Talk about transitions: A big part of school adjustment is learning to operate on someone else's time schedule. At home, you can reinforce the concept of a schedule by talking about the day, using a calendar or daily schedule board. If your child finds switching from one thing to the next very challenging, you might find a picture schedule helpful. It can be short--a board with pictures that shows what is "happening now" and what is "next".
- Pump Up the Play: In preschool, symbolic or "pretend" play takes a major leap. Children are combining toys together to make elaborate play themes that build language, social and cognitive skills. Children who need support in language and learning often struggle to join the fun. Help your child by playing with him. Stretch his imagination. Model new words and new ideas about play.
Circle Speech Services is offering Preschool EXTRA-a creative learning class for preschool age children staring in September, 2014 at The Learning Experience in Doylestown PA. This ten-week language and social enrichment class is ideal for children who need a little support to thrive in their current preschool. Registration starts May 1st! Click here for more details. Contact me at susan@circlespeechservices.com or call 215-622-5004 for more information!
If you would like to explore more about language and learning in the preschool years, visit Circle Speech Services at www.circlespeechservices.com or LIKE us on Facebook at facebook.com/CircleSpeech