How preschools in Vancouver, WA get your child ready for kindergarten

Language Skills

Preschools teach children to understand basic vocabulary and use complete sentences to express themselves. Being able to communicate in kindergarten by talking and listening is important for the learning process. Preschool programs also help children recognize letters, simple words and numbers. Some may even teach children how to print their name.

Motor Skills

Holding and using a pencil to write and scissors to cut with control are also skills taught in preschool. Physical development, including jumping, running, bouncing, holding or catching a ball is included in preschool programs to help prepare children for kindergarten.

Math Skills

Children are taught to recognize numbers and to count in preschool. Simple ideas such as ‘add to’ or ‘take away from’ are part of preschool activities, along with understanding numerical and ordering patterns.

Social Skills

Getting along with other people is a life skill to teach early and often. You’ve likely been teaching appropriate behaviors for interacting with others at home, but preschool provides a larger audience for your child to practice getting along, sharing and taking turns with peers.

Preschool programs focus on teaching your child how to get needs met, how to perform simple tasks such as using the restroom, and how to develop friendships. Self-awareness is also encouraged by teachers who help children with fundamentals such as their first and last name, their age, and their parents’ names.

Learning how to learn is also part of preschools in Vancouver, WA. Being able to listen and follow directions is encouraged in the classroom. In addition, teachers use word puzzles, matching games, songs and poems to help preschool children develop memory and understanding, the basic skills that help them learn how to evaluate, analyze, remember and compare.

Functioning Successfully in the Kindergarten Environment

Preschools also prepare children for the routines they’ll experience in a school environment. They become familiar with being away from home and coming into a classroom, putting their belongings away, working in a group or alone at a desk, heading out for recess or having a snack.

Kindergarten, especially full-day programs, can mean long days. Preschool programs help children get ready for kindergarten by teaching them what to expect and helping them develop strategies for coping with all that happens, including upsets.

Preschools in Vancouver, WA

If you have questions or concerns about enrolling your child in preschool, please contact our team at the Kidspace Child Enrichment Center. We’ll help your child develop the skills needed to get ready for kindergarten and foster a love of learning in the process.