YOOR child’s time in
preschool i is excellent
preparation for kinder-
garten.

It’s there that they can
begin to develop some of the
qualities that theyll need for
success in school: confidence,
independence, motivation,
curiosity, persistence, coopera-
tion, self-control and empathy.

But parents, even more
than their child’s preschool
experiences, help children
develop these skills.

Here are some suggestions
from early childhood educators
-that you can do to help your
child get ready for school:

§@ Give your child opportuni-
ties to play, Play is how chil-
dren learn. It is the natural way
for them to explore, to become
creative, and to develop acade-
miic and social skills. Play helps
them learn to solve problems
—— for example, a wagon tips
over, and children must figure
out how to gt it upright again.
@ Children learn about geom-
etry, shapes, and balance when
they stack up blocks. Playing
" with others helps children learn
:_,. how to negotiate.

* Talk to your children, begin- ©

ning ‘at birth. Babies need to
hear your voice. A television or
_the radio can’t take the place of
- your. voice because it doesn’t
“respond to coos and babbles.

*: "The more you. talk to your”
“> Baby, the more he will have to

talk.” about as he gets older.
Talking with children broadens
their: ‘understanding of lan-
guage’.and of the world.

weryday activities, such as cat-

% dinner or taking a bath,
provide opportunities to talk,
“sometimes “in . detail, about
_ what's wad and "respond

our children.

eir own special

Cc
thoughts and d eclings ge joys and and
‘sorrows, h

» their language. is dei,
encourage * them - to,

' Listening-is the best way a“

learn what’s on their minds: and ¢

“to: discover what they. know
and don’t know, and how they
. ghink’ a:

NEWS photo Tezry Petocs

WHEN they are read aloud to, like at this storytime session at the library, young
children iearn about janguage and reading.

children that their feelings and
ideas are valuabie.
@ Answer questions and ask
uestions, particularly cones
at t require more than a “yes”
or “no” response. While walk-
ingina rf example, most
two- Or acevene olds will
stop to pick up leaves, You
might point out how the leaves
are the same, and how they are
different. With older children
you might ask, “What clse
grows on trees?” "Questions cari

help children learn to compare .

and classify things. Answer
your children’s questions
peo and, - whenever

he encourage them to
answer their own questions. If
you don’t know. the answer to
&@ question, say so. Then try to
find the answer together.

-@ Read aloud to your children
every day. Reading, can begin .

with. babies and continue
throughout the preschool
years. Even though they don’t

understand the story or the |

poem, reading together gives
children a° chance to learn
about language, enjoy the
sound of your voice, and be
close to you. You don’t have to
be an excellent reader for your

child to enjoy this time togeth-

er. You may also want to cake
your child to a local library that
offers special story hours.
Make reading materials avail-
able. Children develop an
interest in language and in
reading much sooner if they
have books and other reading
materials around their homes.

B Monitor television viewing.
Next to parents, television may
be our children’s most influen-
tial teacher. Good television
can introduce chifdren to new
worlds and promote learning,
but poor or too much TV can
be harmful,

@ Be- realistic about your
child’s abilities and_ interests.
Children -usually do best in
school when parents estimate
their abilities correctly. Parents
must set high standards and
encourage their preschocicrs to
try new things. Children who
aren’t challenged become
bored. But ones who are
pushed along too quickly, or
are asked to do things that
don’t interest them, can
become frustrated and unhap-

B “Thy to keep your children
from. being labelled. Labels
such 23 “dumb” or “stupid”
have a powerful effect on a

Maria Montessori

Sori has been part of

Jocated in the Har E Synagoqi

School starts September 7

Montessori Schoo!

child’s confidence and_ school
performance. Remember to
praise for a job well done.

@ Provide opportunites to do
and see things. The more var-
ied the experiences that chil-
dren have, the more they learn
about the worid. Go for walks
in your neighbourhood, or go
places on the bus. Visit the
museums, library, the aquari-
um, Science World and other
community resources. Spend 2
day in the country. Let your
childrei: hear and make music,
dance, and paint, Let them par-
ticipate in activities that help to
develop their imaginations and
Jet them express their ideas and
’ feclings.

mamalina’s
montessori

° Flexible schedule,
© Music & French’

® Ongoing Enrollment ;

2%-6 years :
1924-1 253

of Bee

1.1068 Inglewood, West Van

Sunday, August 22, 1999 — North Shore News — 33

| Little Star Moxtessori |
* “OPEN HOUSE”
A 7 De q

We provide:
© Flexible schedule
© Music & French
© Ongoing Enrollment
“02 #- 6 yrs

Register Now
for 1999-2000
986-2305.

Preschool
Come sce our wonderful
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Make your 1 child's education a family affair from the
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195 East Windsor Ru., N.Van.

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209 West 13th, N.Van.

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4773 Piccadilly South ,W.Van -

921-1574

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North Vancouver.

Tel: 980-1212 _