School Readiness
Getting Ready for Preschool
Readiness has less to do with letters and numbers than most parents expect.
Preschool readiness is mostly practical and social. Academics come along once a child is comfortable.
Practise the routine at home. Consistent wake-ups, meals and rest times make the first weeks far less jarring.
Work on self-help skills: washing hands, using the bathroom, putting on shoes, opening a lunch container. Independence builds confidence quickly.
Give plenty of practice at separating. Short goodbyes with a reliable return teach a child that leaving isn't permanent.
Encourage listening and following two-step directions, like "put the book away, then get your coat." It's one of the most useful classroom skills there is.
Talk about it in ordinary, positive terms. Curiosity about the new place goes a lot further than a big build-up.