Is My Child Ready For Preschool?

Remember that there are aspects they will learn from preschool like socialization skills, and that your child does not have to be a genius or a social butterfly before they enter the preschool program. Your child should have enough skills that they are capable of functioning in and benefiting from a preschool environment.

Ask Yourself These Questions To Determine If Your Child Is Preschool Ready

Is Your Child Toilet Trained? Unless your child has a medical issue, this is a basic requirement for most preschoolers. Preschool is meant to be a learning environment and not the same as a childcare environment.

Is Your Child Comfortable Being Away From A Parent For Several Hours? Many children will not have spent significant time separated from their parent before they go to preschool, but if your child has separation anxiety there are observable signs. If your child cries excessively when a parent leaves the house, if your child can’t speak to strangers outside of the home, or if your child becomes withdrawn around other children, they are likely not ready for preschool. Being away from a parent can help some children become less reliant, but not if they are excessively anxious.

Does Your Child Have Appropriate Language Skills For Their Age? Children who are 2 to 3 years old should be able to generally communicate with a caregiver, express their wants and needs, and produce at least 2 word sentences. They don’t need to have a grasp of grammar or complex sentences, but they should be able to interact with those around them in an effective manner.

Is Your Child Able To Follow Simple Instructions? Your child should be responsive to the directions of the preschool teachers. Having the ability to follow simple instructions doesn’t mean that your child will always do exactly what they’re told, but you should be able to determine if your child is capable of understanding what an adult is asking of them. When you or the child educator tells the child to wash their hands before snack, for example, your child should know to go to the sink.

Can Your Child Concentrate On A Task For About 10 Minutes? Children have different levels of concentration than adults and much shorter attention spans should be expected. If they are ready for preschool they should be able to sit and listen to a storybook and to complete small tasks. Your child will get distracted, especially being around new children, but in general they should have some basic concentration. This can be monitored at home by reading stories to your child or seeing if they can play games without losing focus.

Is Your Child Able To Follow A Simple Routine? Children shouldn’t be expected to stick to a strict routine, but they should be able to adhere to a nap schedule. Children should be capable of following a basic daily routine with components such as snack time, lunch time, and play time.

If Your Child Is Ready For Preschool, Enroll Them At Grey Matter Montessori

If your child meets the criteria above, they are ready for a preschool experience that will help them to develop a love of learning. At Grey Matter Montessori School in NW Calgary, we seek to educate the whole child by using hands-on learning materials and catering to the unique needs of each individual child. Our child education program allows your preschooler to learn practical life skills, including language, sensorial, and motor function skills while fostering an excitement for math, science, culture and more. Our preschool child educators are highly trained and dedicated to providing quality nurturing care for each student. If you would like to enroll your child at Grey Matter Montessori, call our NW Calgary location at 1-587-707-4739 or fill out the contact form to start your child onto a path of quality education.

FAQ

Q: What if my child is preschool age and doesn’t have these skills? What can I do?
A: If your child doesn’t have the required skills, try to develop them through other activities such as Mums and Tots groups. This will get them used to socialization while having the comforting presence of a parent. Once your child is comfortable with this, then you can apply for our Montessori preschool program.

Q: Where can I find an International Preschool Curriculum Preschool in Calgary?
A: Grey Matter Montessori is an IPC accredited school and located in Northwest Calgary at 2004-2060 Symons Valley Parkway NW, conveniently just minutes off of Stoney Trail.

Q: What types of enhanced activities are offered at Grey Matter Montessori in Calgary?
A: Besides the astounding variety of activities that are part of the Montessori program, the children are offered a variety of extracurricular activities such as art, dance, yoga, and martial arts. Meet some of our Calgary community partners here.