The Role of a Child Care Center: Preparing Your Child for School
A child care center may also be called a preschool, kindergarten, or early learning center. Even if the type of learning that takes place in such centers may seem simplistic (it involves many game-based programs), it requires suitably qualified teachers.
You are also likely to come across integrated centers, which offer more than one service to your child. These may include aspects such as early education, preschool, playgrounds, health services, family support services, and early development.
Basically, these child-focused facilities aim to prepare your child for adult life and more specifically to enter primary school.
When does a child start preschool and primary school?
The South Australian government provides clear guidelines on the best time for children to enter preschool programmes. Your child can enter preschool within the year of their fourth birthday, if they turn four before May 1. This will allow you to enter the first term. However, your child will have to wait until the following year to enter preschool if their fourth birthday falls on or after May 1.
After going through preschool, your child would benefit from that much-needed preparation that would help them transition smoothly into elementary school. This transition to primary school must take place when the child has reached the age of six.
As with pre-school, the South Australian government provides clear guidelines on the best time for children to enter primary school. Your child can enter a primary school within the same year as their sixth birthday, if they turn six before May 1. This will allow you to enter the first period. However, your child will have to wait until the following year to enter primary school, if their sixth birthday falls on or after May 1.
The transition process to elementary school
There are many things that can be challenging for children and parents as children transition from child care to preschool and ultimately to elementary school. Parents need to understand the many things that can cause stress in their children, from intimidating buildings to older kids on the playground. The rules can also be quite difficult to adhere to, as well as the formal setting.
To help deal with such challenges, several strategies can be used to provide young children with a better transition process:
– Pre-school visits can be arranged for a period of several weeks. This will help children get used to such new environments.
– These visits to schools can be made even more complete, taking the child through the new school, which provides an even better familiarization experience. This would help the child identify various features within the facility, such as restrooms and play areas.
– Pre-visits are made even richer and more meaningful by involving teachers and other children within the school.