How can i help my child prepare for preschool?

Question

hi.my son is 2yrs7months and he will start preschool in september.the thing is that he doest speak english,he knows few words but thats it.im really affraid that it will be a problem for him to talk to other children and teachers.i want to help him but i dont know where to start.we were thinking of talking english at home,but it will confuse my daughter coz she is starting to talk in our language.is there anything i can do?i would like advice from anyone,but especialy teachers and parents is same situation.thanks.

Answer 1

I am curious to know what your native language is!  I think it is wonderful that your child will be bi-lingual - the age he is at right now is the best time for them to pick up on languages.  He will pick up on English at preschool quicker than you think.   I had a child who only spoke Korean when he first started and I used a lot of hand signals along with the word at first but it didn't take long at all and he was speaking fluently.  I didn't pick up on his Koren language (although I did go to the library to learn a few basics such as hello, good bye and potty!)  but he sure picked up on our English language!  ahhh youth - it won't confuse him like you think it will.  It will be wonderful for him to have a native language at home and to learn English at school. It will be a welcome and rewarding challenge for your child's teachers.  Good luck -I wish you all well.

Answer 2

i'm training to become a preschool teacher. Most preschools are experienced in having children who dont speak english. Toilet train your child, try and bring out thier personality, most children from non english speaking background are shy. make up some flashcards of common things in a preschool and their english name for example- toilet, tables, pencils, paper, drink, eat etc go to the preschool early for a few visits to get him aquainted with the staff and centre

Answer 3

Read with them, have them play with other children, expose them to different toys, puzzles, blocks, and expose them to as many world experiences as possible that are positive of course!

Answer 4

well its not so difficult 2 teach a baby.wherever u go,either u go 2 market,fruit shops or 4 walk.take him with u.when u go 2 a vegetable shop tell him about the different vegetables,tell him their name.do the same thing when u brought him 2 any fruit shop.when u take him 4 walk tell him about different vehicles.when u r at home tell him that ....this is t.v,fridge,etc.and also buy some charts 4 him ,of vegetables,fruits and  of other things u want him 2 learn so that he will be able 2 recognize different things.

Answer 5

Teach him the main words such as toilet, water, drink, home etc that will be used regularly at the pre-school. I dont know what your view on TV is but letting him listen to English TV wil get him used to hearing another language being spoken around him.

Speak to the teachers before he starts they can then get support for in the setting and help with the settling in process.

I dont want to make an assumptions of your language skills but buy an English book about preschool/nurseries there's loads about in bookstores about starting preschool (stories for children not help books). You could translate into home language and then as he gets to know the story try putting some English words.

At my preschool we use visual prompts-we have picture cards showing putting toys away, picture of toilet, drink, PE equipment etc so our non-English speaking children can still be 'told' what we are doing next. This may be worth mentioning to the setting.

Answer 6

I was once a babysitter for a child like yours and all though I didn't speak the language of the kid the parents thought it would be a good idea so that he could learn some English. I  would spend one on one time with him pointing to objects and reapeating what it was in english in till he would try to say it. It's very easy with your  child's age group because they are at the age were they repeat every thing and try to do everything you do. I would just spend some one on one time with him while your daughter is not around and see if he can reconize objects in English. I would also reward him when he does good. Whether you make a sticker chart or jsut give him a high five kids his age really like the praise it in courages them to do more. hope this helps

Answer 7

Bi-lingual is the best way to go in my opinion. Your son will most likely pick up english quickly once in preschool. Continue to speak in your native language at home, and perhaps begin to expose him more to english. One the easiest ways to do this is through television and dvd's.

One family I know of uses both languages at home and the child is doing wonderful. One parent speaks one language to him and the other parent uses the second language. Kids just seem to understand the difference and it really doesn't confuse them as much as we think it would. I think it is more confusing to them to not learn both languages. There are lots of websites and information available on bi-ligualism. Your kids are very lucky to have this opportunity while they are so young as learning languages is easiest during the early years. And they are especially lucky to have a mom that cares and wants the best for them. Sounds like you are doing great.

Answer 8

Maybe you should buy/make flashcards with animals on them or words and tell him what he thinks they are or teach him. get him some pratice books at your local u.s. toy or I think toysrus has some workbooks that could help him.

Answer 9

It is very easy for kids under the age of 5 to learn a new language, so it could be best for both of the children to talk in both english and your native language at home. It is easier at their age than any other time in life to learn multiple languages, a lot of studies prove this.

That would be the first step. It will be hard enough leaving mom and being around other children, without being able to talk to them as well. Even if the teachers are used to it, your child is not, and you want to encourage socialization.

You would be fine to teach them both, and they might end up needing both anyways, it wont confuse the baby, but it will make it easier on both of them in the long run.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Adjusting to preschool can be tough for any child, even one who's been in daycare for a while. You can help ease your child's transition to preschool with these ideas and activities. The important thing is to keep any preparation time fun. At this age, learning should not be a chore. You don't want your child to feel like every activity is a lesson or every outing an educational field trip. These ideas, from preschool teachers and the U.S. Department of Education's Learning Partners program, will help prepare your child to listen, follow directions, and get along in a group — three of the top goals of any preschool program.

• Plan more social activities

All preschool children have to get along with other kids. If your child hasn't spent much time in a group with other children, then activities such as sharing, taking turns, and playing cooperatively can be very difficult. Help your child get used to being part of a group by arranging playdates with one or two peers or enrolling him in a music or tumbling class.

• Give him a sense of what to expect

It's the rare child who isn't at least a little anxious about starting preschool. Resist the temptation to say things like "It'll be the most fun you've ever had," or "There's nothing to be afraid of," and never belittle your child's fears or concerns. Instead, help calm his fears with information. Talk to him about what to expect when he gets to school — where he'll be going, what he'll be doing, and who will be in class with him. Before school begins, visit the classroom together at least once, preferably when other children and his future teacher(s) are there. You can also read stories about starting school. Some good ones to try are Franklin Goes to School, by Paulette Bourgeois; Starting School, by Anne Civardi and Stephen Cartwright, and Starting School, by Janet Ahlberg.

• Come up with a good-bye ritual

If this is the first time your child will be away from you, he may worry that you're not coming back, or that you'll get lost and won't be able to find your way back to the school to pick him up at the end of the day. Invent a special parting ritual — such as a high-five, or saying something like, "I'll be back to get you soon, long before we see the moon" — that you do each time you drop him off. During the first few days, allow extra time to get him ready and out the door in the morning, too. The more calm things are at home, the easier the separation will be.

And though you might be tempted to sneak out without so much as a wave when you drop him off, don't do it. He will only be more distressed when he realizes you're gone. Instead, make a point of saying good-bye. Don't drag it out or let on that you might be upset, too. Just do it matter-of-factly and confidently and he'll learn to do the same.

• Read to your child every day

Most preschool classes have at least one reading period each day. Setting aside at least 15 minutes a day for reading time will make this a familiar ritual when school begins. Children who don't have early experiences with books often have difficulty learning to read later.

Since preschoolers don't read independently, they need to learn to listen. Reading aloud to your child is a great way to help him develop listening skills. Stories with rhythm are particularly engaging, so look for books that repeat phrases. When he starts remembering the phrases, ask him to "read" with you. For instance, if you read The Three Little Pigs, after the wolf says, "Little pig, let me come in," let your child fill in the next line, "Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin."

Your child will also learn to predict the outcome of a story in preschool. To help him prepare for this, you can stop midway through a reading and question him about what he thinks will happen next, or how he thinks the story will end.

• Practice listening skills

Preschool teachers often encourage their busy young pupils to sit still and listen. You can help your child prepare for this request by occasionally asking him to sit quietly and close his eyes. Then ask him to tell you all the different sounds he hears. Talk about what's making the sounds and where the sounds are coming from.

In preschool, children also learn to listen and follow directions that involve more than one step. Start asking your child to do a series of things, such as take his shoes to his room and put them in the closet. Or go to the bathroom and wash his hands and then come and help you set the dinner table. You can also play games that require your child to listen to directions, solve problems, and take turns. For instance, play I Spy in the car or on walks around your neighborhood. Give hints about something you see, "I spy with my little eye something that is...tall." Your child has to ask you questions about the object until he guesses what it is. Simon Says is another good listening-and-direction-following game.

• Nurture the artist in residence

Creating art — whether it's finger-painting or molding clay — helps preschoolers develop the visual and fine motor skills they need to write. Keep paper, paints, crayons, and other art supplies on hand and encourage your child to create whenever he wants. Doing simple mazes and connect-the-dot pictures will also help your child develop beginning writing skills.