What do books, basketballs and bearded dragons have in common? They happen to be a few of our son’s favorite things about preschool.
Today marks a special milestone in the Brennan family. Our oldest son is graduating from
Comfort and confidence
Preschool encourages children to develop a comfort level outside of their own homes. Camaraderie with other children and interactions with teachers allows young children to evaluate and express their own feelings. A year or two of preschool will help foster the confidence and self-esteem essential to thriving in kindergarten and beyond.
Creativity
I love coming home from work to be greeted by Josh. He is always eager to show me an art project, sing me a new song or quiz me on a new word that he learned in Spanish.
All preschool programs offer educational opportunities and some may even provide early exposure to extracurricular activities such as art, music, cooking and in some cases a second language.
Critters and creepy crawlies
When we visit the Eeeww exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Josh is able to tell me interesting facts about tarantulas,
Conflict resolution
Kids will be kids. Three and four year olds are generally not so great at sharing. How children approach conflict is shaped from an early age and how their disputes are mediated will have a lasting effect. An experienced preschool teacher can help children recognize when they have a conflict and offer them the tools to reach a peaceful resolution.
Classroom preparedness
Being “prepared” for kindergarten involves more than just learning letters and numbers. It includes listening skills, patience, following directions and showing respect for teachers and fellow students.
While I am doing a kindergarten check-up in the office, my job is to evaluate the social, emotional and cognitive aptitude of my patient. Most kids are ready to start, but at times I have had to recommend that a child wait a year before entering kindergarten. My patients who have attended preschool are generally better prepared to succeed from day one.
Parents often ask me if preschool is important. My answer is always an enthusiastic and emphatic “YES!” Ideally, kindergarten enrollees will have had at least one year of preschool so that they start kindergarten feeling comfortable in a classroom setting and ready to build on their “Seven C’s.”
Dr. Dan Brennan is a board-certified pediatrician and