Preparing Child for School

 As many parents prepare to send their little ones off to school, many often find themselves asking the same question: Is my child ready?

Crayola.com has some very useful tips for parents to  take note of in regards to school readiness for their little ones. The term "school readiness" basically refers to how prepared children are for a school environment - including social, physical, and intellectual elements. Parents and early childhood educators can assess a child's behavior to determine if he or she is ready for kindergarten.

The first scenario which should be looked at is how a child acts when he or she is facing a moment where the parent is going to the leave the child is another adult's care - whether it be daycare, preschool, or with another adult. Does the child often cry and find it difficult to separate or does the child quickly mingle with other children or quickly adapt to being apart from his or her parents?
Can the child work independently without the guidance or discipline of his or her parent? Is the child easily engaged by activities, stories, educational work, or playing with other children? Does the child understand the concept of taking turns and playing fairly with other children? Is the child able to let other know if something is wrong, if he or she isn't feel well or needs to use the restroom?

These questions may not seen very important, but parents should evaluate their child by using these inquiries to find out if their child is ready for school. You can find ways to observe your child's "school readiness" potential by watching how he or she interacts with other children at church, parks, daycare, birthday parties, or other situations where the child is around other kids his or her own age. A good place this goal can be accomplished at is your local library. Most library systems have free story time activities for preschool-aged children. Libraries can provide positive settings to introduce your child to being away from home and around other children.