What Should Toddlers Know Before Preschool?

When toddlers enter preschool they should possess the skills and tools necessary to help them get along easily for a few hours without the presence of a parent or caregiver. While preschool teachers do not expect toddlers to cooperate or follow direction all of the time, children should be able to function within a group of classmates. According to the U.S. Department of Education publication, ̶0;Helping Your Preschool Child,̶1; toddlers who begin preschool with skills such as confidence and independence will be better prepared to thrive socially, academically and emotionally.

  1. Separating from Caregivers

    • Toddlers must learn to be separated from a familiar caregiver for several hours at a time. Children who have never been away from parents might have trouble making the transition into the classroom. First-day jitters can be minimized if children know parents will pick them up at the same time each day. Parents might want to leave children with a family member or friend for a few hours each week before school starts and then return to pick them up at a set time, such as after lunch. This will help children learn to anticipate the arrival of their parents at a certain time of the day.

    Emotional Tools

    • While preschool teachers will work on emotional development, toddlers should enter preschool with basic coping skills. Preschool playtime may be a rude awakening for children unaccustomed to sharing toys or a caregiver's attention. Children should be learning how to wait their turn and play cooperatively with classmates. They should understand basic self-control and know how to express anger without hitting, biting, screaming or kicking. Toddlers should have a rudimentary understanding of patience, such as the ability to wait while others are served a snack. Children should have a curious interest in learning and a desire to participate in group activities, such as reading time or games.

    Self-Care

    • Some preschools require toddlers to be potty trained before starting preschool. Others may ask children to unpack their own lunches, pack their backpacks or be able to wash their own hands. While individual preschool requirements will vary, toddlers entering preschool should be learning basic self-care, such as how to use soap or take off their coat.

    Listening Skills

    • Preschoolers are not expected to be able to sit for long periods of time, but they should be able to sit and listen to teachers for at least a few minutes. Toddlers should begin preschool with the ability to follow simple two-step instructions. For example, teachers might ask preschoolers to clean up toys and then have a seat on the rug.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Word Chain
      Word ChainDirections This game requires two or more players. Think of a category, such as animals. The first player says a word that fits the category, such as cat. The next player says another animal name that begins with the last letter of the firs
    • Sports and Visual Ability in Toddlers
      Vision is not mature in this age group, and toddlers have difficulty tracking a moving object and figuring out how fast it is speeding toward them. This poor score on visual skills is related to eye movements that are not precise, minor farsightednes
    • How to Teach Preschoolers Their Months
      As preschoolers develop abstract thinking skills they begin to learn about the idea of time. They are starting to learn about concepts such as the past, present and future, and to develop competence with both the clock and the calendar. Teach prescho