Preparing Your Child—And Yourself—For Preschool (NAPSA)—Yourchild’s first day of preschool may be just around the corner, but you mayalready be con- cerned that she won’t makeit into college because she hasn’t perfected counting to 10...in French. With morning TV shows doting on pint-size geniuses and neigh- bors prepping their tots for topnotch private school “interviews,” many parents are feeling the heat to get their child’s academic career off to a good start. If your child is still a few ABC’s away from your comfort zone, don’t worry; there are other tips and tricks for ensuring preschool readiness: Ease separation anxiety. If your child hasn’t experienced much time away from you, think about arranging a weekend with Grandma, or a few nights with a babysitter. If you aren’t able to help your child adjust to the sepa- ration in advance, talk to your child’s teacher about allowing you to linger during hisfirst few days in school. Enforce a schedule at home. Age-appropriate technology can be a good wayto help a child get ready for preschool. trol, DVD player, computer and cell phone than you are. But there are other, more age-appropriate technology products out there designed just for preschoolers. LeapFrog’s ClickStart My First Computer is one example of a safe Preschools usually follow a predictable routine: story time, snack, way to introduce 3-6-year-olds to from the last, it can help to standardize her days a bit before she into the TV. Practice playing with others. Many preschool activities, such as art time, playground, music time. If your child doesn’t keep to a schedule and each dayis different starts preschool. Start by offering meals on a regular timetable. You can also plan to visit the park each early keyboarding and mousing skills on a keyboard that plugs “circle time,” give children a chance to play and learn together, but also require them tosit still, listen to sto- bedtime routine. ries and sing songs. If your child isn’t used to facilitated groupactiv- nology. Today’s schools are more yourself. Take her to story time at part of life. And chances are your child is already more familiar with your television remote con- com. afternoon, or set—and stick to—a Introduce your child to tech- wired than ever as technology becomes an increasingly integral ities, you can start introducing them the library, or sign her up for a class to help her get used to playing with other children. Learn more at www.leapfrog.
