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4 Ways Preschool Benefits Your Toddler

Admin • October 7, 2018
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Studies indicate that children who attend preschool are more prepared for kindergarten than those who do not. A quality preschool curriculum helps your child build a foundation of social and developmental skills that will them excel in school. Though there is no disputing the benefits of preschool, there is some controversy regarding when your child should start preschool and whether or not preschool benefits toddleraged children.



Most children start preschool between three and four years of age. However, you can find preschool programs for younger children as well. Young children, including toddlers, can benefit from these programs. Read on to understand a few of the benefits that preschool has for your toddler-aged child.


1. Preschool Gives Your Toddler the Ability to Socialize

If your toddler is not used to playing with other children, preschool gives your child a valuable opportunity to socialize and interact with other kids their age. Developmentally, children do not actually start to play with other children until they are approximately three years of age. Prior to this, children engage in a developmentally-appropriate activity known as parallel play.


Parallel play occurs when your child plays alongside another child, and it usually begins the ages of two and three. The children do not play together; rather, their play is independent and they are simply in the same proximity as one another. However, parallel play has a number of advantages for your child.


During parallel play, your child may try to copy the children they are playing with. This can encourage your child to try new activities that can help develop motor skills, like stacking blocks. The nearby children may talk as they play. When your child hears those around them conversing, this gives them the chance to develop their own language skills.



Regular parallel playtime also establishes the foundation of future social skills. Your child will learn how to share and interact with another child. Those these actions seem natural to adults, they develop over time in young children. Preschool offers numerous opportunities for your toddler to engage in parallel play.

2. Preschool Encourages Toddlers to Be More Independent

New activities are frightening for some toddlers, and this includes learning new skills. Preschool provides your toddler with a comfortable setting to practice and improve important life skills. Some of the skills that your toddler may practice during a typical day include going to the restroom independently, serving themselves a snack, cleaning up toys, and putting away their belongings at the start of the school day.


The opportunity to practice these skills and to observe other children completing these activities gives your toddler the boost they need to attempt these activities on their own.

3. Preschool Is Fun

Preschool gives your toddler the option to participate in a number of fun activities, such as story time, playground play, crafts, dress-up, and games. Your child will receive regular mental stimulation and have the opportunity to stay physically active throughout the day. The knowledge that their toddler enjoys their day is comforting for many parents who are unsure about sending them to preschool.

4. Preschool Helps Your Toddler Get Used to a Routine

For children who do not attend preschool, the set routine of a kindergarten day may feel like a shock. By introducing your child to a scheduled day during the toddler years, you give them more time to acclimate to a structured setting. Remember, structure does not always equal work. Your toddler will move between exciting, mentally stimulating activities throughout the day.


However, they will learn that certain activities take place during specific times. Some toddlers struggle with this concept. An early introduction to preschool can help ease them into a regular schedule.


Do you feel like your toddler can benefit from a preschool setting? Contact Kids & Company today to learn more about our toddler program.

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3 Major Benefits of Outdoor Play for Preschoolers

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Dealing With Separation Anxiety in Children

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Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?

By Admin • November 30, 2018
Deciding whether to send your child to preschool or not is one of the earliest decisions you make for your child's education. Your child's future success in school begins with making positive decisions based on their needs. While many preschools begin taking children while they are still toddlers, this does not mean you and your child are ready. You may want to ensure your child is emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively developed enough to attend an educational program with other children.  Continue reading to see if your child is ready to begin preschool.
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Common Questions About Preschoolers, Activity, and Obesity

By Admin • August 6, 2018
Obesity is an epidemic that affects one in three American children, according to the American Heart Association. With a growing trend towards a sedentary lifestyle, including a heavier reliance on screens on less time spent outdoors or being active, it's easy to figure out why the number of young children who are overweight or obese is growing. As a parent, you may wonder what you can do to help your preschooler reduce the risk of obesity. Along with the daily physical activity your child gets during their preschool day, you can help them to eat right and stay active at home. Not only will regular physical activity help to keep your child at a healthy weight, but it will also improve both their fine (small) and gross (large) motor skills. These abilities are necessary for your child to do everything from buttoning their coat to walking up and down the stairs. How can you help your preschooler to combat the obesity epidemic? Look at some of the common questions that parents of prekindergarten children have about weight gain and a healthy lifestyle. 
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3 Milestones That Mark Your Child's Readiness for Preschool

By Admin • June 8, 2018
Early education can set your child up for success later in life. Enrolling your child in a preschool class can be a great way to jump-start your child's education. Many parents assume that their child will be ready to enter preschool when they hit the age of eligibility, but this isn't true. Children develop at different rates, both physically and emotionally. Sending your child to preschool before he or she is ready could end in disaster. You should use more than just age to help you determine when your child is mature enough to attend preschool classes. Here are some basic guidelines.
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Tips to Communicate With Your Child's Preschool Teacher

By Admin • April 11, 2018
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Tips for Protecting Your Preschooler's Health During Flu Season

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Technology Use in Preschool Programs

By Admin • December 11, 2017
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Preschoolers and Independence: How to Help Your Child at Home

By Admin • October 11, 2017
Your preschooler is completely self-sufficient, in-control and an A+ listener—at school that is. Even though the teacher raves about your little learner's ability to follow directions, clean up after playtime and do things (such as putting on her own jacket) without adult help, you just aren't seeing those skills at home. What is going on? Don't stress. This is completely normal. The seemingly Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine of behaving one way at preschool and another way at home is common and typically isn't anything to worry about. Of course, that doesn't mean you won't daydream about your child acting like her school-self when she's around you. How can you help your preschooler to act independently, cooperate with you (or siblings) and behave in more acceptable ways at home? Take a look at these tips for getting your child to show off some of that "school-time" behavior when she's around you.
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