Start preschool prep now for a successful school year and beyond

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

For many parents, the start of a new school year means sending their youngest children to class for the first time. Thousands of children across the city will start preschool this fall, and there are a lot of questions parents have before they send their kids off to school. Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School teachers say the adjustment doesn’t have to be scary if parents start preparing their students before they enter the classroom!

All parents want to set up their children for success in school, and preschool is the beginning of their learning journey. Here are some ways that you can help your child make the adjustment into preschool.

Social skills

Social skills are a great place to start readying a student for school. Some of the skills they will learn in preschool include sharing, taking turns, playing with others and pretend play. To start introducing a child to these skills, make sure to schedule plenty of playdates in the months leading up to the first day of school. This will ease the transition of playing with other children once they are in a classroom.

“Early childhood education is also meant to encourage social skills, playing, sharing and manners. Preschool encourages your child to grow outside of the home and experience a new environment. It plays a big part in making sure your child is prepared to enter kindergarten academically, socially and emotionally,” said Kim Nelson, a teacher at Christ the King Elementary.

Communication skills

Getting a child familiar with conversations is extremely valuable for success in school. To do this, parents can help develop their child’s language skills by talking and listening. Some ideas to help get the conversation started include:
● Play “I Spy.”
● Ask about their “favorite” things.
● Have a scavenger hunt.
● Give them a task with simple instructions like “Bring me your brown bear.”

This will help expand a child’s vocabulary with new words and expressions, and teaches them to be observant.

“In the first few months, (parents) might start to see their child asking more questions, wanting to explore a topic more at home that they are learning at school,” Nelson added.

Academic skills

Stick to the basics. Show them different shapes, colors, letters and numbers. Let them get creative with crayons, construction paper and markers. Help them recite their first and last name. At Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, there is also the added component of faith in their lessons. You can help establish their foundation of faith by reading Bible stories or talking about Jesus around your child.

“Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools provides formation for both mind and soul, helping our students know how much God loves each and every one of them. Our curriculum engages and inspires students to delight in a love for learning,” said Brenda Mitzel, director of instruction and programming at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

“It’s truly a wonderful experience to see a young child speak freely about their faith and express it with such a pure heart,” Nelson added.

Encourage independence

Children will build confidence in themselves if they are encouraged to be independent before preschool. To encourage this, let them take care of basic self-care skills like washing their hands or zipping their coat or backpack, and give them a choice of what to wear for the day. They may not get it right on the first try, but they will learn in the process.

“What I believe most parents do not realize is how much their child will grow, learn and flourish in that school year,” Nelson said. “In the first few months, parents will start to notice their child being more confident in their work and wanting to show their new skills at home. It is very exciting and amazing when I see how far students progress in a short amount of time, and I know their families are just as excited to see it as well.”

Using these techniques can help set up students for success in preschool and as they head into kindergarten. Though a student is heading into a classroom for the first time, their education begins at home and Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School teachers say working with parents is the ultimate goal.

“Parents are their child’s first teacher; we’re here to partner with them to help foster the love of learning and develop the skills needed to be successful in school. Preschool is fun and full of adventures. Their child will grow and learn in ways they never imagined they could,” Nelson explained.

As we head into the next school year, the unknowns can be scary, but preparing a child before their classes even begin can help establish a love for learning. Start your preschooler’s love of learning off on that right foot, and let Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools’ preschool programs be part of your success story.