Are you working on anything with them to help prepare them? If so, what?
DD already knows the full alphabet (upper and lower), she can count to 15 and recognize all of the numbers up to 11, knows colors and almost all shapes (even the non-typical ones like trapezoid).
We're working on sharing and taking turns, and most importantly, independent pottying (she will have to do all of it herself, on a full size potty, with no ring. This is already confirmed w/the director.)
What else should I work with her on? Using scissors? Anything else specific?
Re: If your LO is starting preschool in the fall (and not in daycare)
I think you are more than prepared.. my DD started preschool at 3 and she could count up to 10 or 15, she was PT'd, knew her ABCs. I know she was more prepared than some of the other kids.
I can't really think of anything off the top of my head, except that they always served the kids their snacks with a cup of juice. I was surprised that DD never came home with juice all over herself, but if your DD isn't used to drinking out of an open cup, just make sure she is used to it. My DD could drink out of a cup of course, but even now I still give her a cup w a straw because she's always knocking cups over with her arms!
Nest Bio ~ ~ Baby Food Blog
Funny you mention scissors. DD1's teachers (she goes to a toddler class, not really preschool yet) mentioned today that they got out scissors and she was kind of weirded out by them and didn't want to stick her fingers through.
I stopped on the way home and picked up a couple of pairs of safety scissors so we can work on that. I also want to get her a set of beads and/or lacing boards. I think the fine motor practice will be good, but it isn't something I'm doing specifically to prep for preschool.
She already knows letters/numbers/colors/shapes. I'm more concerned about making sure she doesn't strip off her bottoms while pottying and then run around, like she does at home!
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
The only things I am working on are self-help skills.(potty training, pulling pants on and off independently, putting coat on independently, etc)
Having been through this with my two kids, I would say to put your efforts more into being independent with the potty and with social/emotional readiness.
A good preschool should focus on things like using scissors and familiarity with basic academic concepts such as letters, sounds, numbers, counting, shapes and colors, changes in nature, interesting things in the world around us, etc. It's not like kids HAVE to know these things before preschool! That's what preschool is for!
One thing that was a challenge for my shy kids was knowing how to approach a group of kids who are playing with a toy you like and join them in play. Also, that when you're playing with something and other kids come up to you, you don't have to give up the toy to them -- you can all play together! But preschools even work on these social skills with kids. By the time my kids went to kindergarten, they had learned to be more outgoing and confident socially because of preschool experiences.
This. Really- please just let your child be a child and don't stress about preparing them for preschool.... the purpose of preschool is to help prepare for K --- you don't need to prep for Prek in any other way than talking about how much fun school is going to be.
i taught K for 5 years.... i really can't stand to see parents pushing their kids at such a young age. Just let them play and have fun and don't focus so much on this kind of stuff- you have the rest of their school career to worry about things.
I'm not pushing her at all. I work full time so it's not as if i'm chaining her to a chair all day long and beating her with a stick to learn the alphabet!
She's just at that age that she's absorbing. She plays and has fun all day long. Sorry if learning is fun for her. Geez!
I had a child (DD) who has incredible rote memorization skills and loves to learn! She loved going over and over her colors, alphabet and numbers. She is still the same way with sight words and adding problems now. She seems to like the challenge.
And now I have DS1. He's too busy to sit down and learn at home. I know he learns stuff at daycare. For some reason, he does better with group learning. He has to be in that environment. I am okay with that for now. He just needs to play at home and learn to get along with others.
If your DC is like my first and wants to learn, the only think I have to add to your list is writting her name or holding a pencil. Scissors are also good and maybe a mouse (to the computer). DD went to the computer lab in PreK.
Anywho, I am sending DS1 in September, who can sing the alphabet/ recognizes no letter, counts to 10 (sometimes missing a few), thinks everything says his name, know his colors, some shapes (only the popular ones), he can use a cup well and is independent in the bathroom. He can also use a mouse, somewhat use scissors. I have no doubts that he will be okay.
FWIW, I thought DD was going to be bored in prek. She knew most of the stuff on the syllabus---I was so wrong. She learned a ton!
- practice getting ready for school (picking out clothes, getting dressed, putting on coat, socks/shoes, etc.)
- talk about how fun and exciting school will be
counting, alphabet, scissors, really???? kids learn through play. their job is to play. that's it.