This post is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of KinderCare. Thank you for supporting the businesses that we truly believe in.
The time has come for us to really consider where and when we should send our littlest to preschool. We’ve been down this road before with our oldest, but this time around seems harder. Our last baby heading off to school, becoming independent and learning what the world has in store for him. But sometimes fear creeps in and I wonder if he’s ready. Overall I’m feeling confident that he will do well based on some of the reasons we’ve started considering preschool for him.
There are so many reasons why you should consider preschool for your child. One of the biggest reasons for me is getting my kids more acclimated socially. Currently we have a sitter come to our home and only watches him during the day and maybe one other baby on rare occasion. Whenever we meet up with cousins or friends, he gets so incredibly happy, but standoffish at first. I think it’s a really important life skill to be able to interact well with your peers, something that seemed to be a challenge for me all my life. During a tour of KinderCare, I really was able to get a look into their preschool program and core values. The school focuses on social and emotional development through response to pretend play and teaching little ones how to resolve and respond to conflict.
The learning opportunities alone make it worth it in my mind. Even if you just enroll your child for a few days a week and a few hours a day, you’ll be so surprised at the knowledge they come home with. Every day my daughter would come home from preschool proud of something new she learned like how to spell her name. Being a full-time working mom, I don’t always feel like I have the time to dedicate to help my kids learn to the fullest of their ability. Another thing we loved about KinderCare is that their learning environment is fun, hands-on and nurturing to little one’s minds. It’s really no wonder they’ve been around since 1969. They’re clearly doing something right!
Can we talk about independence too, please? OMG the difference in my kids is outstanding. My daughter is so fierce and determined to do things on her own. But my little guy? He’s A-OK with you putting on his shoes and spoon-feeding him. So many times throughout the day I’ll hear something like “I can’t!” or “Mommy, I need you”. Gracious child. While my oldest always was independent, she really thrived in this when she went to preschool. They become so empowered in their abilities and want to take on more responsibility. This is exactly what my little guy needs. When we explored KinderCare’s program, we discovered it focuses on executive function and developing the skills needed for self-regulation, attention and persistence.
Lastly, I strongly believe the preschool environment and being around other children the same age helps with speech and cognitive skills. Up until about three or four months ago my littlest made very few attempts to speak clearly. Every word came out sounding like ‘ma-ma’ or meh meh. Through repetition, reading and firmness he has since made almost a complete change in his language skills. Our oldest was in daycare since she was a baby and spoke so clearly early on. Maybe it was the environment that she was in. When we researched KinderCare’s curriculum, we found they really put focus on this in a fun way. During story time, teachers will ask questions and really encourage preschoolers to express themselves through drawing and coloring.
Making the decision is the first step in considering preschool for your little ones. Finding the right preschool for your child and your family is the next and most important step. The best thing you can do is ask questions and do your research. This is a great resource for finding the best child care for your family.
Have you considered preschool for your child? What are the most important factors to you?