Ahead of the curve – how to help get your toddler ready for school

Is your preschooler prepped to start school?

There’s a “Get Ready for Preschool Kit.” For real, you can buy a box that includes school-readiness activities like flash cards, numbers, stickers and scissors you most definitely can run with.

But early childhood learning doesn’t come in a box, right? While we may wish kids came with a manual, there’s no magical formula to being ready. But, here are a few things to consider before your tot toddles off to “big school.”

It’s in the name, ‘pre’ K.

This is pre-k, there’s no need to try and add a pre to the pre.

Rebecca Patterson, early childhood director at Charlotte Country Day says, “Parents don’t need to worry about making sure their child fits a mold before applying to schools. Children develop skills at different rates, and the range of what is ‘normal’ is particularly wide when children are young.”

Play is prep

Let the good times roll. Curiosity is key and kids have it in spades. Just spending time answering kids’ questions, letting them explore, test and try new things is learning.

It may seem obvious, but the more opportunities your child has for natural, spontaneous conversation, the more sophisticated oral language and vocabulary they will develop.

Patterson suggests some of the best ways to develop phonological awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate specific sounds in spoken words) are to read nursery rhymes, sing rhyming songs and play fun games with words and sounds such as I Spy or Guess My Word. She reminds parents to, “Keep it short and fun, and follow your child’s lead – if they lose interest, try something new.”

It’s good advice to follow if you also want to save your sanity after the fiftieth rendition of Baby Shark!

Say my name

Phonological awareness and a strong oral vocabulary are two of the most reliable indicators of future success in reading (note: not necessarily an indicator of preschool readiness.)

Preschoolers need a lot of practice hearing the small differences in sound before they learn to pair each sound with its letter symbol.

Reading books aloud to kids fuels their imagination while developing language and listening skills, not to mention the benefit of having some dedicated time together.

Prepare kids for the road, not the road for the kids

One of Patterson’s favorite quotes is from Dr. Wendy Mogel, clinical psychologist: “We need to prepare our children for the road, not the road for our children.”

It’s essential for children to learn to identify feelings, scale problems, demonstrate self-awareness and self-management, build social skills and develop empathy.

Preschool can help develop kids’ willingness to take risks and resiliency/problem-solving skills when things don’t go as planned in a safe environment.

Patterson recommends seeking out a student-centered curriculum like Charlotte Country Day’s that she says “is designed to inspire our students to be curious, creative and joyful learners. We believe deeply in a strong family-school partnership, and regular communication between parents and teachers is key for our students’ successes.”

Things to try

• Take the time to celebrate the growing independence and expanding world of your tiny human.
• If it’s an option, visit schools with your preschooler as you evaluate which program may be the best fit for your family.
• When speaking with your child, be sure to rephrase and extend your child’s words, ask clarifying questions and open-ended questions. Don’t be afraid to use big, fancy words.

Want to dive into more great parenting resources and tips? Start here with our partners in parenting, Charlotte Country Day School.

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This paid content was created in partnership with Charlotte Country Day School. 
Photos courtesy of Charlotte Country Day School.