Preschool at Chatsworth Hills Academy in Chatsworth, CA is a big step for most toddlers! With the initial separation from mom and dad, as well as completely new surroundings, pre-kindergarten can sometimes be a daunting challenge for your child. Although, with a few easy tips and tricks from our faculty and minimal preparatory work, the jump into life at school can be a great experience for everyone in your family! On behalf of our entire faculty at CHA, we can’t wait to help you get your toddler ready for our preschool program!
7 Tips & Tricks To Get Your Toddler School Ready
With years of experience and knowledge in our International Baccalaureate curriculum, our teachers here at Chatsworth Hills Academy know exactly what it takes to get your child ready to enroll in our Primary Years Programme. Here is a list of 7 different tips and techniques to best prepare your young scholar for an easy transition:
Potty Training
CHA requires you to bring your child already potty trained (or, at least mostly potty trained) for our IB Primary Years Programme. The earlier you plan on starting preschool, the more important it is to begin potty training early. Preschool can start at the age of two, but some toddlers aren’t ready to be potty trained until they’re three. If your toddler isn’t quite ready for potty training, you might need to hold off on preschool until he or she is 3-4 years old!
Taking Your Toddler On Play Dates
Getting your toddler used to interactions with other children his or her own age creates opportunities for them to become as comfortable as possible in social situations. Oftentimes, public libraries hold a wide array of social events that will help your child make new friends, and learn how to adequately socialize within a group setting.
Consistent Discipline
Establishing a consistent discipline routine with your toddler will get them used to real life consequences for misbehavior. By making your discipline techniques similar to consequences in preschool, your child will begin to understand the right and wrong ways to act when they start their Primary Years Programme.
Arts & Crafts
Buying your toddler art supplies, such as paper, crayons, and chalk will not only nurture their creative imaginations, but it will get them used to the routine of Arts & Crafts time at Chatsworth Hills Academy; further easing their transition into the classroom.
Reading
Reading may seem like an obvious way to keep your child’s mind engaged, but it’s easy to let a reading schedule fall by the wayside. Make sure to set aside time to take your child to their local library or bookstore, letting them browse the aisles to find topics they are thoroughly interested in. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, the act of reading will guarantee your child’s mind is focused and engaged. Encourage your son or daughter to read each night before bed, or while you are out running errands.
Encouraging Intellectual Cognition
As you go through the motions of each day with your child, make sure to narrate everything as much as you can! Introduce your toddler to letters and numbers whenever you have the opportunity. Numbers and letters are often taught in preschool, but your everyday routine offers many opportunities to introduce these concepts in a fun, engaging way. The same goes for naming colors and shapes. It’s a good idea to point these things out to your child as you go about exploring life. Ask your child about different colors, shapes, and numbers when you see them!
Regular Check-Ups With Your Pediatrician
Regular doctor checkups are important for ensuring that your little one is healthy! Your toddler will be required to have certain immunizations in order to start at Chatsworth Hills Academy. During your doctor visits, your pediatrician will verify that your child’s physical development is on the right track!
Our Primary Years Programme
The Early Childhood curriculum at Chatsworth Hills Academy is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), meaning that most teaching and learning will engage children in active and inquiry-based learning. Our PYP curriculum is based on the constructivist approach, where it’s recognized that young learners have beliefs about how the world works based on previous experiences and memories. Our primary goal at CHA is for our preschool students to make connections from prior knowledge, and encourage them to think critically through wonder and imagination.
Get In Touch With CHA Today For More Tips On Preparing For Preschool!
For many parents, it can be difficult to watch their child grow up right before their eyes! As you begin to get your toddler ready for preschool at Chatsworth Hills Academy, remember that their first day in the classroom will be a huge change in both of your lives. Work on preparing yourself emotionally for the big day, and realize that this milestone in your child’s life is critical to their future successes. For more tips and tricks on how to prepare your child for their first day of preschool, don’t hesitate to contact a CHA faculty member today!
