The preschool year (whether it be a 3-year-old or 4-year-old program) is a very important time in a child's development. Before commencing formal schooling, most children benefit from one or two preschool years where they have the opportunity to build on aspects of numeracy and literacy, communicate effectively and practise physical and social skills. If time and opportunity permit, a child's preschool years can also provide a chance for parental learning, involvement and enjoyment.
The following guide for children and parents/carers, pertains to enrolment in a 3-year-old preschool program:
Guide to expectations (children)
- Ideally, a child should be toilet trained. Given that there can be a number of reasons for incontinence, unless there's a special need, it may not be the year to enrol a 3-year-old child for preschool if toilet training is still an issue. Accidents do happen and this is quite normal in a 3-year-old program.
- In terms of independence skills, a child usually has to be responsible for finding their own fruit and drink and placing these in a particular place; managing their own bag and hanging it on a hook; physically being able to open their snack box and manage their drink bottle and independent toileting, (pushing the button, turning the tap on to wash their hands and moving to the drying area to use a hand towel or automatic dryer). Children should be able to move about the preschool environment, independently making choices to explore areas and activities happily.
- On most occasions, children should be able to separate happily from their caregiver, although separation anxiety can occur at any time.
- A child's perceptive language skill needs to be at an appropriate age level. As children's language develops at different stages, a child's expressive language may still be developing. It is important that a child is able to follow simple instructions.
- In terms of socialisation, its preferable that children have basic social skills and in a 3-year-old group, practise in socialisation is a key component. Some children can socialise appropriately, while others are not as good at using their expressive language and therefore rely more on their non-verbal communication to convey a message. For instance, they may snatch, or take, rather than say, "I want to have a turn". Correct modelling gives children an opportunity to practise appropriate social interactions.
- Children should hopefully have developed a short attention span and possess the ability to sit and spend at least five minutes focusing on an activity. This is built on during the year, so that by the time a child moves to a 4-year-old preschool program, they are able to spend longer periods of time focusing on an activity.
- Children may be asked to come together as a group to sit and listen to a story and participate in a matched-type experience, be it singing or drama.
- A 3-year-old child would, in most instances, be expected to possess the ability to understand and process two instructions: for instance, 'go to the toilet and wash your hands'.
- A 3-year-old does not (developmentally) have any concept of time. As far as the child is concerned, they are at preschool for the here and now – just for the moment - and would not be expected to understand that something will occur in 5 minutes, or half an hour.
- Commencing 3-year-old preschool is often when children move from the solitary stage of play into the parallel stage of play, whereby a child will play alongside other children, but not necessarily with them. Co-operative play (the next level) is most usually associated with 4-year-olds. A 3-year-old will move about the environment independently, happy to socialise with those who happen to be where their area of interest is at that particular time.
- Preferably, children should be dressed in clothes that are practical, comfortable and appropriate to the activities they will be involved with, for instance shoes for climbing and manageable buttons for self toileting. Even with protective smocks, some children will invariably brush paint or crayons on their clothing and if a parent or carer has instructed them not to get dirty, children can become stressed when clothing is soiled and are reluctant to participate in important sensory play experiences.
Guide to preparations (parents/carers)
- Playgroups are a great stepping-stone to preschool, as a parent/carer is usually in attendance to support a child's play. Children also have the opportunity to be around other children and adults in the same room.
- Occasional care is also very beneficial. Leaving a child in occasional care for anything from 2hrs/week helps the child adjust to a parent/carer leaving and returning.
- Talk, read, sit or share activities with your child to help develop skills and build a concentration span.
- Adults can often have differing perceptions of the benefits of play and what play is all about for a child. Unfortunately, many children today spend more time being entertained rather than playing. Play can involve aspects of numeracy and literacy as well as the practise of physical, social and emotional skills. Play is very important in a child's overall development and although it may sometimes look as though children are playing in an unstructured, haphazard way, they are in fact learning a great deal.
- When it comes to issues of assessment of readiness to proceed to 4-year-old preschool or school, a preschool director's role is to offer advice based on their observations of a child over the course of the program. The final decision as to whether a child repeats a year at preschool is ultimately the responsibility of the parent/carer, based on the director's advice. Unfortunately, some parents and carers view a repeat year at preschool as the child failing. But repeating a year means that a child is not ready to move to the next stage and needs time to mature in some of the important developmental stages. Children are seldom fussed about repeating and tend to go with the flow. If a child does need to repeat a year at 3-year-old preschool, it usually means that this is where the child is at and they are not thinking beyond that particular stage. It doesn't pose a problem to a 3-year-old child that other children have moved on and they haven't.
- If time and opportunity permit, the preschool year can be a time for parents to be involved on a committee of management, help with working bees or assist with activities. Volunteering time to help during program hours in particular, enables a parent or carer to observe their child first hand in the preschool setting.
- When it comes to choosing a preschool program, where practical, consider one that best suits your child's particular needs, rather than choosing a program based solely on hours available. Consider the fee structure that suits and whether it is possible to enrol your child in a preschool situated in your local community. This may not be feasible or practical due to an adult's employment or a child's day care arrangements, but enrolment at a local preschool can provide an opportunity for parents and children alike to meet other families in their community.
A final point to bear in mind, before enrolling your child at 3-year-old preschool, is that a session at preschool can be physically demanding on a child. Increasingly, for many children, preschool is tending to become something else that is fitted in around a growing range of other activities, and many children are becoming over-scheduled. While children are at preschool, they are learning emotionally, cognitively, physically and socially. They spend a great deal of time practising gross and fine motor skills and developing skills in language and communication. A 3-year-old child may not necessarily have much to show for their day at preschool, but much happens at preschool that is not apparent – the activity is seen, but not the learning.
Article written by Nadia Boarotto, Director for 3-year-old program, Greensborough Preschool, Vic.