Today’s world is a fast-paced and ever-changing one. New technologies emerge social norms shift, and new educational standards are put in place—all within the span of a single year. As a result of all these constant changes, parents are being asked to support their children with even more intellectual stimulation than ever before. This is especially true for preschoolers who need to be prepared to enter kindergarten as well as a secondary school with the right set of skills and knowledge.
To ensure your child is ready for school and life ahead of them, you will want to begin preparing your child by the time they turn five years old. While some may think this seems like an early age to start planning for kindergarten, it’s actually not too soon at all! Here are some ways you can begin preparing your child for the future—starting now!
Brain Games and Activities
There are a number of different activities and games you can play with your child to help them increase their readiness for school. You can find a lot of educational toys for 5 year olds kids on GIGI Bloks!
However, some activities, like reading, can be done every day. Others can be done more occasionally, but are still valuable learning activities to help prepare your child for the future.
Puzzle Games – Puzzle games are excellent for helping your child learn how to think critically and solve problems. They also help your child learn how to pay attention to detail, which is another important skill for children.
Creative Writing – If your child is old enough to write, you can help them get creative with writing. Whether it’s a diary, or creative stories and poems, writing is a great way to help children learn to express themselves through words.
Science Experiments – Science experiments can be a lot of fun for both kids and parents. They help your child learn how to test ideas and draw conclusions from data.
Sports and Team Activities – While not all sports and team activities are created equally, some of them do require a lot of critical thinking and problem-solving. This is especially true of team sports.
Outdoors – There’s a lot to be said for spending time outdoors. Children who spend time in nature have been shown to have better attention spans, higher critical thinking skills, and improved social skills.
Read to your child every day
Reading has a number of benefits for children of all ages. For children who are preparing for kindergarten, though, reading can also be a way to help them prepare for school. In addition to helping your child become a more well-rounded person through reading, it can also help them learn how to read better.
Reading can help your child learn to focus on reading materials that aren’t always as interactive as other media like video games. While you don’t need to make reading a daily ritual, you can still make sure to read to your child regularly. Make sure to read a variety of different types of books, too. Don’t just read picture books; make sure to read a variety of different genres as well. The more types of books your child reads, the better prepared they will be for school.
Have Weekly Communication Sessions
Being a parent is a lot of work, and it’s often easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day minutiae. During times like these, it can be easy to lose sight of the long-term goals you have for your child. At such times, it’s important to be able to communicate with your child about what they are doing, and why. To help you stay focused on the long-term with your child, establish weekly communication sessions.
You can do this at any point in your child’s life, but it’s especially important to do it as they grow older and closer to school. During these sessions, make sure to focus on your child’s progress and achievement. Try to avoid focusing on areas where your child is lacking. Instead of critiquing, use these sessions to praise your child and show them how proud you are of them.
Help Your Child Learn to Deal with Disappointment
Disappointment is something that we all deal with no matter what age we are; it’s just part of life. However, children who haven’t yet learned to deal with disappointment may struggle more as they get older.
Disappointment is an important part of life because it helps us to understand that not everything in life goes our way. While it’s not easy for children to learn this lesson, it’s one that’s essential for them to learn. To help your child learn to deal with disappointment, you can help them experience it in a controlled environment. You don’t want to purposefully disappoint them, but you can help them understand that not everything they want is going to happen.
Research After-school Care Options
After-school care is important to consider as your child gets older. Whether you plan on having your child go to an in-school program or an after-school program, it’s best to start researching options as soon as possible. When you are researching after-school care, here are some things to keep in mind:
Price – How much does the program cost? How does this compare to other after-school care programs in your area?
Schedule – How does the schedule work? Is it the same every day, or does it vary? Are there any days that the program does not run?
Location – Where is the after-school care program located? Is it close to your work? Is it close to your home?
Reviews – What are other people who have used the program saying about it?
Conclusion
Preparing your child for the world can be scary, but it is also an exciting and rewarding experience. By working with your child to prepare them for school, you are also helping them prepare for life! The world is always changing, and it is important that we do everything we can to equip our children with the tools they need to navigate this ever-changing landscape.
By the time your child turns 5, it is important that you have begun to prepare them for life ahead of them. With the right tools and knowledge, they will be ready and excited to explore this wild and wonderful world!