What does your child do in preschool? You've asked your young student about their day—and their response is always, "I don't know." How can you learn more about anything from art activities to the mid-day meal? Take a look at the easy ways to get the scoop on what your young student does at preschool.
Do Use What Your Child Brings Home
Does your child bring home finger paintings, drawings, clay sculptures, and other projects from school? Use these items as a starting point for your next post-preschool conversation. While it's tempting to only comment on the artwork or other activity, it's likely you need to go a step farther and:
Ask open-ended questions. These are questions that don't have a yes or no answer. Look at the art/activity and ask your child to describe it, the materials they used, or the process.
Display the item. Hang artwork or display other projects your child brings home. If your child isn't ready to talk about the activity immediately after school, you can circle back to the display later in the day.
Make connections. Why did your child create the artwork or engage in the activity? Use questions or a discussion to connect the project to other classroom areas. Did your child draw the results of a science experiment, illustrate a story, or paint a picture of a dramatic play scenario? This can help you to better understand other preschool activities.
Even though your child's classroom projects can help you to learn more about what they do in their day, you don't have to keep each piece of paper forever. Save a few favorite pieces and photograph the rest. This gives you a way to go back and reference past projects—minus the need for a serious storage solution.
Don't Skip a Conversation With the Teacher
Your child avoids your questions or gives you one-word answers. What should you do next to learn more about their day or if your child doesn't have the words to explain classroom activities? If your child can't or won't talk to you:
Talk to the teacher at drop-off/pick-up. Ask the teacher to summarize what your child does in pre-school.
Read emails and newsletters. Does the teacher send class emails or have a newsletter? This type of communication can help you to better understand classroom content and daily activities.
Ask for tips. Not only can the teacher fill you in on what the class does, but they can also provide tips that may help you talk to your child.
You need to spend an hour talking to the teacher or schedule a conference. An impromptu conversation can give you the time you need to learn more about the preschool program.
For more information on what your child does at preschool, contact a school like Montessori School Of Salt Lake Inc.
Share6 December 2021
Welcome to my website. My name is Julia Linder. I’m the single mother of two young children ages two and five. I work full-time and have had to have child care for my babies since they were infants. I’m a firm believer in finding child care that provides a stimulating environment for toddlers. Of course, the number one thing I look for is a safe place. Then I observe the child care while children are present. I want to see how staff interacts with the children. Another important factor for me is that my children are well socialized. I’d like to share in more detail about finding the right day care for your toddler. I hope what I share proves to be helpful to you.