Your child is going to learn a lot in preschool, but there are a few things they should have learned before getting there, too. From encouraging independence to working on a child’s ability to follow direction, you can do a lot as a parent to prepare your child for prekindergarten.

At Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care, the best early childhood learning center in Anchorage, AK, your tiny tot will learn how to play and share with others and practice their ABCs and 123s. If you want to give your child a strong start, here are four things the certified teachers at Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care suggest you do to help your child prepare for prekindergarten.

• Focus On The Basics: One of the simplest ways you can prepare your kid for prekindergarten is to practice basic daily skills, such as how to wash their hands, unpack food from a lunch box, and recite basic facts like their name, age, and birthday. But don’t get out the flashcards yet. At this point, focus on making learning fun.

• Make Cleanup A Game: It might be too early to assign a little one chores, but it’s never too early to teach your child how to be organized and clean up after themselves. Practice putting toys away when you’re done playing with them by showing your child where each item belongs. You can even make it a game by singing a song while you tidy up.

• Arrange Playdates: When you child arrives at prekindergarten, it’s helpful if they have experience spending time in a group with other children. Arrange playdates so your kid can learn how to share and take turns. Practice polite manners, such as greeting others, saying please and thank you, and following directions at home and with friends.

• Practice Listening: Your child will be doing a lot of listening and following directions in prekindergarten, so it helps if you practice listening skills and following two-step directions at home. For example, next time you’re getting ready to head out the door, ask your child to go up to their room and grab their shoes and bring them to you. You can also start playing games that require your child to listen to directions, such as Simon Says.

Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care provides a safe environment and high-quality programs that show children that learning is fun and engaging.

For more information about the programs offered at Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care, including before-and-after school care programs and weekend care programs, visit the website or call the best early childhood learning center in Anchorage, AK, at (888) 688-8794.