The start of preschool can be a stressful time, for parents and children alike. It can be tough to know how to prepare your child academically and emotionally for their first educational experience. Whether they are learning how to sing the alphabet, play well with others or problem solve on their own, it’s critical for your child to enter preschool with the resources, skills and support they need to succeed.
Lindsay Lambert, BA, and Kaitlyn Bunton, BA, both parent educators with Acenda’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, offer their thoughts on what it means to be ready for preschool, how to prepare your child and encouraging independence and emotional regulation skills.
What does school-readiness mean for preschoolers?
At the preschool age, school readiness can embody academic , social-emotional and self-regulation skills. People often think about school readiness as a child’s knowledge of the alphabet, colors and numbers. However, it is also incredibly important that your child is behaviorally prepared to behave and learn in a classroom setting.
According to Lambert, your child should know how to follow simple directions, take turns, share, communicate their needs and manage their feelings. While they don’t have to be perfect at doing so, it’s critical that they have an understanding of these concepts and have practiced them outside of school to make for a smooth transition. Lambert recommends preparing your child by doing the following:
- reading with them every day
- creating consistent routines
- supporting independence with simple tasks, like washing hands or cleaning up toys
- giving them chances to play and interact with other children
By encouraging your child develop the skills above, you are helping them to their confidence and capabilities before they begin their educational career.
How do I help my child build skills to make them school-ready?
Your child’s preschool teacher won’t expect them to be perfectly behaved with a comprehensive understanding of the classroom setting. They will expect them to be able to listen, follow directions, transition between tasks and participate well in group activities. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help them develop these skills at home.
“Asking your child to help put away toys before dinner, follow directions like ‘Please put your shoes on and grab your backpack,’ or giving a five-minute warning before it’s time to leave the park all help prepare them for preschool,” Lambert said. “Reading books together, playing games like Simon Says and encouraging your child to finish simple tasks before moving on to something new can also strengthen listening and attention skills.”
Additionally, Bunton mentioned that consistency, practicing through play and allowing your child to problem solve manageable challenges can greatly help them in developing the skills to make sure that they’re ready to go once the school year begins.
How do I encourage my child to be independent?
Encouraging your child to develop their independence can help them to be better at decision making, problem solving and advocacy. As they move forward in their lives, these skills can be critical in building their abilities to form relationships and learn in a classroom setting. Lambert advises parents utilize the tasks below as easy first steps to inspire independence:
- pick between two outfits
- choose a book to read at bedtime
- put away toys around the house
- wash hands after playing
- help set the table before meals
“Parents can encourage independence by creating and offering opportunities for children to try making choices and solving problems,” Bunton said. “Focus on the child’s effort and not the outcome, let children do manageable tasks and avoid stepping in too quickly to help or ‘save’ them.”
Lambert also reminds parents to praise effort, rather than focusing on outcome. It’s not always about how well your child completed the task, but that they listened and tried. Your child doesn’t need to be able to do everything on their own, but building their confidence and willingness to grow and learn will serve them well as they join a classroom setting.
How do I help my child build emotional regulation skills?
Managing your emotions and reactions is something many children struggle with, and can require a lot of guidance from parents and teachers. Addressing and building emotional regulation skills prior to sending your child to preschool can set them up for success in their education and relationships.
“One of the best ways parents can help their child build emotional regulation is by remembering that these skills take time and lots of practice,” Lambert said. “Everyday moments are great opportunities to practice. Waiting their turn during a game, not getting the snack they wanted or having to leave the playground can all be chances to teach coping skills like taking deep breaths, asking for help or trying again. Reading books about emotions, sticking to predictable routines, and praising your child when they handle a difficult situation well also helps build confidence.”
In addition to using everyday moments as teaching opportunities, parents can also help their children identify and properly deal with their feelings in a more structured way. Bunton recommends the following strategies to parents she works with:
- naming and labeling emotions
- modeling calm behavior in stressful situations
- validating feelings while setting limits on reactions
- practicing coping mechanisms in real time
Lambert and Bunton agree that it’s completely normal to worry about behavioral issues in your preschool-age child, including tantrums or refusing to listen. This is a typical phase of development in young children, and it’s understandable to be stressed by it.
“These behaviors are very common in the preschool years and, in most cases, they aren’t a sign that anything is wrong,” Bunton said. “Helpful responses in the face of misbehavior include staying calm and steady, acknowledging the feeling and holding the given boundary. I encourage my clients to practice coping skills with their children while they are calm and attentive, not during the peak of the behavior.”
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your child’s behavior or like they are experiencing behavioral issues outside of the norm, it may be time to seek professional support. Your child’s pediatrician can offer guidance on coping techniques or other clinicians who are there to assist you and your child through this stage of their development.
What are some supports that Parents as Teachers can offer?
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a home visiting program, offering support to families throughout their child’s development. Parent Educators, like Lambert and Bunton, are available to answer questions, celebrate milestones and share activities to encourage play and education.
“We also help parents better understand their child’s development and what to expect at each stage,” Lambert said. “Whether it’s encouraging independence, preparing for preschool routines or working through challenging behaviors, we’re here to provide guidance and support without judgment.”
Alongside home visits, PAT also offers developmental screenings, group connections with other families and referrals to community resources when needed, to boost parental confidence as their child’s first teacher and role model.
“PAT can offer education to parents to help with understanding what ‘school-readiness’ consists of across all domains of child development: social-emotional development, communication and language, cognitive and motor skills and family well-being,” said Bunton.
Moving Forward
Giving your child sufficient preparation for preschool puts them in the best position to succeed in their early education. Whether it’s encouraging independence and social behaviors or guiding listening and communication skills, there is always an opportunity to educate your young child.
If you are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, Parents as Teachers is available to offer support throughout your parenting and early childhood journey.
Learn more about Parents as Teachers today!
Parents as TeachersAbout the Authors
Lindsay Lambert, BA, is a parent educator with Acenda’s Parents as Teachers program. Lambert has worked at Acenda since the fall of 2022 and offers more than a decade of early childhood education and development experience.
Kaitlyn Bunton, BS, has been a parent educator with Acenda’s Parents as Teachers program since 2022. She holds a bachelor’s in Psychology with a concentration in Adolescent Psychology from East Tennessee State University.
Riley de Jong, the Content & Engagement Strategist with Acenda’s Brand, Marketing & Engagement team, attended the University of California – Los Angeles for her undergraduate degree in Communication and minor in Entrepreneurship. She enjoys supporting her community, telling engaging stories, and connecting with others.
