Preparing Your Child for Preschool: Social Skills

In my last post, I mentioned how you may want to get a copy of your local elementary school’s curriculum for kindergarten. This can give you an idea of what your child should be learning or at least preparing for at home. For this post, we will focus on social interaction.

According to my school’s website, children will learn how to play well and work well with each other, show self-confidence, accept authority, and participate in large groups.

Unfortunately, if you are a stay-at-home parent (or a work-at-home parent like I am) social interaction can sometimes be difficult. Although this is something that your child will learn in kindergarten, should you choose to send them to a public school, you can still practice at home.

An easy step involves taking your child to a local park this summer. During the summertime, parks are filled with young children and their parents. Encourage your child to interact and play with other kids their age. You may also want to strike up conversations with other parents. You may be able to schedule play dates, even if they occur at the park.

It is also important to examine those that you know, like your friends or family members. Does anyone have kids that are around the same age as your child? If so, schedule a play date. Even if it is only once a week or once every two weeks, it is important to get your child interacting socially.