It's that time of year when we have to start making some big decisions about school choices for our children. One of the biggest choices you'll make for your child's school career is when he/she should start Grade 1. When making this decision, I find that it is important to remember why we send our children to school. While it is useful for them to be kept busy and to learn new things at school, our most important goal in supporting their academic careers is to help them ALL become CONFIDENT LEARNERS. |
A confident learner is someone that loves learning for learning's sake. This learner is confident in his/her individual ability to go in search of answers or to experiment when the answer is tricky or unknown. Mistakes are nothing more than an opportunity to learn. A confident learner feels comfortable and able to contribute in a group setting and will easily ask for help, a second opinion or guidance when needed. A confident learner doesn't feel stupid or inferior, they feel CURIOUS!
As parents and care-givers we want to give our children the BEST possible chance to succeed, not only in academics, but in all aspects of their lives. Confidence in your ability to learn will make an incredible difference later in life too - in the work place, among friends, family and even in relationships with a husband or wife some day.
Learning doesn't only start in Grade 1. Your child is learning all the time from day one. Don't dismiss the value of good Pre-School learning. This is where your child is encouraged to develop physically and to start the journey of discovering themselves emotionally and socially in a larger, less familiar social setting.
Running, jumping, skipping, balancing, digging, swinging, climbing etc. Is important for building core strength and coordination. But mostly, it's important because it provides a safe world to explore. The senses are delighted with songs, poems, clay, sand, paint, clapping, dancing, stories etc. Children learn through curiosity. They discover that learning is fun!
At Pre-School, your child will learn so much from his/her peers - they learn to negotiate toys and games. They learn about hurting each other and making friends again. They learn to make new friends, they learn to talk about themselves, their families and their feelings. They learn to take turns. They learn to listen in a crowded busy room. The Pre-School classroom environment provides both structure and flexibility. In the spirit of building confidence, before you enroll your child in Grade 1 be sure to ask yourself if he/she has really been able to benefit from all the learning opportunities that Pre-School offers.
If your reason for wanting to start your child early is that you feel he/she is not being stimulated adequately at school, look into either a different school that will provide these learning opportunities or add to his/her learning experience with one or two extra curricular activities - soccer or swimming clubs, music, dance etc. are ways of getting the extra stimulation in an environment that is developmentally appropriate for your child.
If you are not sure what is best for your child, be sure to consult the teachers that work with him/her everyday. They are a wealth of knowledge and hearing what they have to say will give you lots of information when making your decision. Also ask if the school does school readiness screening. Alternatively, contact me or seek out an educational psychologist in your area, and get your child tested. This shouldn't be at all traumatic - it should be a fun experience. This is useful as it will give you a comprehensive understanding of the way your child likes to learn. In addition you will be given an opportunity to discuss factors that promote and those that limit learning and development.
As parents and care-givers we want to give our children the BEST possible chance to succeed, not only in academics, but in all aspects of their lives. Confidence in your ability to learn will make an incredible difference later in life too - in the work place, among friends, family and even in relationships with a husband or wife some day.
Learning doesn't only start in Grade 1. Your child is learning all the time from day one. Don't dismiss the value of good Pre-School learning. This is where your child is encouraged to develop physically and to start the journey of discovering themselves emotionally and socially in a larger, less familiar social setting.
Running, jumping, skipping, balancing, digging, swinging, climbing etc. Is important for building core strength and coordination. But mostly, it's important because it provides a safe world to explore. The senses are delighted with songs, poems, clay, sand, paint, clapping, dancing, stories etc. Children learn through curiosity. They discover that learning is fun!
At Pre-School, your child will learn so much from his/her peers - they learn to negotiate toys and games. They learn about hurting each other and making friends again. They learn to make new friends, they learn to talk about themselves, their families and their feelings. They learn to take turns. They learn to listen in a crowded busy room. The Pre-School classroom environment provides both structure and flexibility. In the spirit of building confidence, before you enroll your child in Grade 1 be sure to ask yourself if he/she has really been able to benefit from all the learning opportunities that Pre-School offers.
If your reason for wanting to start your child early is that you feel he/she is not being stimulated adequately at school, look into either a different school that will provide these learning opportunities or add to his/her learning experience with one or two extra curricular activities - soccer or swimming clubs, music, dance etc. are ways of getting the extra stimulation in an environment that is developmentally appropriate for your child.
If you are not sure what is best for your child, be sure to consult the teachers that work with him/her everyday. They are a wealth of knowledge and hearing what they have to say will give you lots of information when making your decision. Also ask if the school does school readiness screening. Alternatively, contact me or seek out an educational psychologist in your area, and get your child tested. This shouldn't be at all traumatic - it should be a fun experience. This is useful as it will give you a comprehensive understanding of the way your child likes to learn. In addition you will be given an opportunity to discuss factors that promote and those that limit learning and development.