preparing for preschool

The summer can be a busy season for most preschool teachers and parents.  We've been cooped up with the kids all winter long and even in the spring (as I write this April, 15th there is snow on the ground). As the mom of 4-year-old and 8-month-old boys I know how much energy has been stored up through the winter and needs to be released. My 4-year-old Aiden wants to run, play and get as dirty as possible outside so I have to get creative about reading and preparing my son for preschool. Five Tips to Prepare Your Child For Preschool 1. Take Reading Time Outside - We read in our yard and at the park so we can get our outside and reading time in. I try to select books that are about nature, animals or include a summer activity…..like riding a bike. One of our favorites to take outside is “Froggy Rides a Bike” by Jonathan London.  My son was ready to learn to ride his bike after reading about how Froggy gets his first bike. 2. Take Advantage of Down Time - Early childhood literacy skills can be taught through activities, not just reading. We take advantage of our time when going for walks or driving in the car. I ask Aiden what different things we see are so that he can learn new words and associate it with an image. Our favorite game is saying the letters on street signs. Aiden says the letters, I tell him what the word is and he repeats it. 3. Sing - We sing a lot.  Songs and rhymes can help build vocabulary and develop sound discrimination. Both skills are crucial to the development of literacy. The size [...]