How Preschool Prepares A Child To Confidently Be Ready For School

‘A good program can set your child up for a successful transition into the formal schooling years’, says Mrs Melissa Watters, Head of Junior School at PLC Sydney. The exposure to a more structured school environment, an engaging learning experience, plus building positive peer relationships, all assist students to gain the confidence to come into kindergarten prepared to settle into their first formal year of school. An early educational experience that is positive is a great transition to ‘big school’, she says.

Starting school is a big milestone for any child (and parent). It is a time when your child is beginning a new chapter of their lives. It can be an exciting and nervous time for you both. Starting school comes with many challenges and if your child has not been in any type of preschool or daycare prior to starting school, it can mean that the challenges are heightened. Attending preschool, prior to starting primary school, can assist your child in many ways. It can make the transition to school easier and provide them with skills that will help them be more comfortable in the school setting.  Let’s have a look at how preschool prepares a child to confidently begin school.

Preschool teaches routine

When a child attends preschool, they experience routines that are similar to that of primary school. There are scheduled activities throughout the day including various group learning times, play-based inquiries as well as morning tea and lunchtime routines. 

Experiencing some of these routines before starting kindergarten helps make the transition a lot easier for your child. It means that they are already aware of a structured day and it will not come as a surprise to them. 

Routine is important for children as it helps them to focus, stay motivated and learn skills such as patience, cooperation and independence.

Preschool assists with social skills

When your child attends preschool, they encounter a classroom setting with children their age. They learn how to interact with other children through play-based learning and communication. It gives them opportunities to learn social skills and use them on a daily basis. 

Not only does it assist in teaching them how to interact and talk to other children, it also helps to teach them important skills such as sharing, compassion and patience. A child who has attended preschool prior to going to primary school and has already been involved in collaborative learning with other children and is likely to have a smoother transition. They will be less concerned about being in a classroom with other children if they have already experienced it and mastered some of the routines they will face.

Playing is linked to the development of resilience and the beginnings of empathy as children begin to understand other points of view. 

PLC Sydney Preschool, Ashfield helps build firm foundations for your child’s future learning.

‘A good program can set your child up for a successful transition into the formal schooling years’, says Mrs Melissa Watters, Head of Junior School at PLC Sydney. The exposure to a more structured school environment, an engaging learning experience, plus building positive peer relationships, all assist students to gain the confidence to come into kindergarten prepared to settle into their first formal year of school. An early educational experience that is positive is a great transition to ‘big school’, she says.

Starting school is a big milestone for any child (and parent). It is a time when your child is beginning a new chapter of their lives. It can be an exciting and nervous time for you both. Starting school comes with many challenges and if your child has not been in any type of preschool or daycare prior to starting school, it can mean that the challenges are heightened. Attending preschool, prior to starting primary school, can assist your child in many ways. It can make the transition to school easier and provide them with skills that will help them be more comfortable in the school setting.  Let’s have a look at how preschool prepares a child to confidently begin school.

Preschool teaches routine

When a child attends preschool, they experience routines that are similar to that of primary school. There are scheduled activities throughout the day including various group learning times, play-based inquiries as well as morning tea and lunchtime routines. 

Experiencing some of these routines before starting kindergarten helps make the transition a lot easier for your child. It means that they are already aware of a structured day and it will not come as a surprise to them. 

Routine is important for children as it helps them to focus, stay motivated and learn skills such as patience, cooperation and independence.

Preschool brings educational experience.

Preschool is more than someone watching your child play whilst you go to work. Preschool is a structured environment that includes activities to help teach your children various interpersonal and developmental skills. 

During your child’s time in preschool they will explore skills such as counting, hearing and naming letter names and sounds and identifying different colours and shapes. They may also learn how to write their name and other words as well. 

Fine and gross motor skills will be developed throughout your child’s time at preschool, all adding to confidence with tasks they’ll experience at school. 

By having these skills developed before starting school, your child will continue to thrive as they build on these early foundations.

Preschool teaches routine

When a child attends preschool, they experience routines that are similar to that of primary school. There are scheduled activities throughout the day including various group learning times, play-based inquiries as well as morning tea and lunchtime routines. 

Experiencing some of these routines before starting kindergarten helps make the transition a lot easier for your child. It means that they are already aware of a structured day and it will not come as a surprise to them. 

Routine is important for children as it helps them to focus, stay motivated and learn skills such as patience, cooperation and independence.

Preschool assists with social skills

When your child attends preschool, they encounter a classroom setting with children their age. They learn how to interact with other children through play-based learning and communication. It gives them opportunities to learn social skills and use them on a daily basis. 

Not only does it assist in teaching them how to interact and talk to other children, it also helps to teach them important skills such as sharing, compassion and patience. A child who has attended preschool prior to going to primary school and has already been involved in collaborative learning with other children and is likely to have a smoother transition. They will be less concerned about being in a classroom with other children if they have already experienced it and mastered some of the routines they will face.

Playing is linked to the development of resilience and the beginnings of empathy as children begin to understand other points of view. 

PLC Sydney Preschool, Ashfield helps build firm foundations for your child’s future learning.

‘A good program can set your child up for a successful transition into the formal schooling years’, says Mrs Melissa Watters, Head of Junior School at PLC Sydney. The exposure to a more structured school environment, an engaging learning experience, plus building positive peer relationships, all assist students to gain the confidence to come into kindergarten prepared to settle into their first formal year of school. An early educational experience that is positive is a great transition to ‘big school’, she says.

Starting school is a big milestone for any child (and parent). It is a time when your child is beginning a new chapter of their lives. It can be an exciting and nervous time for you both. Starting school comes with many challenges and if your child has not been in any type of preschool or daycare prior to starting school, it can mean that the challenges are heightened. Attending preschool, prior to starting primary school, can assist your child in many ways. It can make the transition to school easier and provide them with skills that will help them be more comfortable in the school setting.  Let’s have a look at how preschool prepares a child to confidently begin school.

Preschool brings educational experience.

Preschool is more than someone watching your child play whilst you go to work. Preschool is a structured environment that includes activities to help teach your children various interpersonal and developmental skills. 

During your child’s time in preschool they will explore skills such as counting, hearing and naming letter names and sounds and identifying different colours and shapes. They may also learn how to write their name and other words as well. 

Fine and gross motor skills will be developed throughout your child’s time at preschool, all adding to confidence with tasks they’ll experience at school. 

By having these skills developed before starting school, your child will continue to thrive as they build on these early foundations.

Preschool teachers life skills

There are many different skills that your child will learn during their time in preschool. Social skills such as independence, self-regulation, cooperation and tolerance are important personal skills that support learning. A preschool education allows your child time to learn these skills gradually. While the preschool environment has similarities to a school setting, additional time and flexibility provides support for your child to develop these basic skills before starting more formal schooling.   

Being around other children, socialising and learning together, you’ll start to really see these skills develop.

Research shows that students who feel confident with who they are and have a sense of ‘belong’ to their school community make a smoother transition into their primary school journey. 

Preschool comes with many benefits for parents as well as children. It can help to prepare you for when your child is off at primary school full time and it can help to prepare them for what is to come next in their journey. School is an exciting time for everyone although it may not always be easy. Even if your child has attended preschool, you may have a day here or there when they do not want to go to school. The confidence and skills that they learn from their time in preschool will definitely make the transition easier on them.

PLC Sydney Preschool Ashfield prides itself on building firm foundations for your child’s future schooling. Located in Sydney’s inner west, we welcome girls and boys from 3 to 5 years of age into our preschool, where parents have the option of a 2, 3 or 5 day a week program.