Here, we give some suggestion to help parents to find the preschool fits the particular needs of your child and family. From academics to socialization, and transportation to how long the school day is, here’s how to carefully weigh each aspect of preschool and make a decision that is right for your child and your family.

When should I start?

Many preschools start to take applications in January, and may hold open houses even sooner, but you should check with each individual program. Start looking at schools in September before you want your child to start to attend. In many cases this is when your child is 2. Check with the school to find out the details on age qualifications and other factors such as potty training.

Figure out what is important to your child and your family

You should pinpoint your top child and family needs. Focusing on a few of your highest priority needs is critical for narrowing your search and choosing a preschool that is a great fit. What do you want from your child’s preschool? Are you looking for a rigorous academic program or something more socially-based?

Consider the following major factors

Preschools will vary by cost, length of program, school’s philosophy, religious affiliation and student teacher ratio. Collect the following information by searching online and offline resource and by making calls.

Cost
Depending on where you live, the cost of preschool can be pretty expensive. Decide what you can afford so that you can focus on the schools that are in your price range.

Length of program
You will want to determine how many days and for how long you want your child in preschool. While some preschools offer many different programs at all times of the day, some may only have one set program.

School’s philosophy
Each preschool may have its own philosophy. For example, Montessori schools are famous for fostering independence, Waldorf schools for their creativity; the High/Scope method sets personal goals for kids. So do your research. You can also find programs run through churches where religion is part of the everyday curriculum. Other options include programs affiliated with community groups such as the YMCA and state-run programs that are often free for all residents or low-income families.

Religious affiliation
A large number of preschools are held in church, but that does not mean there is religious education involved. And many religious-based preschools will allow a child of any faith to attend. The only way to be sure is to ask the director specifically.

Student teacher ratio
Each state law requires a preschool to have a certain number of children per teacher. Many schools may follow this, but some schools may offer a better ratio, namely fewer children per teacher, but often at an added cost reflected in their tuition. A good guideline is one adult for every seven 2 1/2- to 3-year-olds or ten 3- to 5-year-olds with no more than 14 students in a room for 2 1/2- to 3-year-olds and 20 for 3- to 5-year-olds.

Transportation and distance
How far away is the preschool from your home? How will your child get to school? Will your child ride a bus or will you pick your child up and drop him or her off? A preschool close to where you live may make it easier for your child to foster the friendships he or she makes in school.

Make a list of some preschools

One way to find a good preschool is to ask around. Talk to your friends and other parents and ask where they send their children to preschool. A good recommendation is a great place to start. Be sure to ask your friends what they like and do not like about the school.
Select several preschools you want to learn more about by considering the above major factors, and plan several on site visits.

Go for site visit

Doing a site visit to all of your potential choices is necessary. Call ahead to schedule a mutually convenient time so you will be able to meet with either the school principal, director or a staff member to talk and take a tour of the facilities. Bring your child to the school to see what he or she thinks. Most schools will welcome the opportunity to meet potential students and a visit will also help your child start to understand what preschool is. Check for proper licensing, and on your tour of the school pay close attention to how clean the school is. Talk to the principal, teachers, assistants and staff. Be sure to inquire about safety and security procedures and what their policy is about picking up your child.

You may also want to ask more questions in depth. For example, what your child learns? How your child learns? If you are permitted to do so, do not approach the teacher or children during the lessons and try to stay for at least a half hour so you can get a better feel for how the class runs.

Make your decision

After you have done several visits on your potential choices, and once you have narrowed down your choices, you may decide your top three choices that most closely matches your criteria by your child and your family’s needs. Preschool should be a place where your child learns to love school and learns to love learning.

Preschool is a great foundation for your child’s future education. A good program will help prepare your child both socially and academically. Preschool is the building block of early childhood learning and helps prepare your child for that next step, elementary school. Parents should plan ahead of time and do your research to find the best preschool for your child because preschool sets the tone for later years of education. If your child’s first experience with school is happy, then he or she will think school is a happy place-and that is what any parent wants.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

6 Steps for choosing quality child care

1. Start early and do your own researches
Start early as possible as you can since popular child care services have a long waiting list. No matter what type of care you are considering, such as a child care center, care in someone else’s home, finding the right child care option can take some time.

Make a list from online and offline resource by considering age ranges, hours and locations and narrow down a candidate list of some child care providers with contact information and address, which meet your child and your family’s needs.

2. Make calls and ask questions
Call your candidate child care providers, and ask the following questions we suggest.

Philosophy
Does this childcare focus on nurturing and providing quality care or does it have an academics component as well? How providers are trained? What types of enrichment activities do they have? Is there a schedule that is adhered to each day?

Next opening
It is usual some of child care providers you like simply are not available when you are available. Ask about waiting lists and ask for putting your child on the waiting list if you prefer.

Child care costs
Once you have made your initial selection, you need to know the costs. Depending on where you live and the option you choose, such as, uniform requirements, food/snack or other type of meal requirements, the cost could be high than you thought. Weekly costs may depend on the age of the child, setting and situation, and could easily range from $75 a week upward to $300 or even more. Know your budget and what value and benefit your child will receive from the care selected. Ask whether the childcare provider charges extra if you pick your child up late. Some child care providers charge $1 for every minute a parent is late after closing hours. Others are more lax and a few may even offer parents a couple of exceptions due to extenuating circumstances. However, a few minutes are one thing; 30 minutes late is typically never acceptable.

Flexibility
How they handle part time hours and vacations? Some centers you pay for your vacation time to hold your spot, while others waive this after a certain period of time. If your child is out for three days due to illness or away for a week on a vacation, do parents still have to pay for child care?

3. Visit and ask questions
We recommend parents visit the child care options you are considering in person. See and make observation, and find out some of the key indicators of child care quality.

Adult to Child Ratio
Ask how many children there are for each adult. Usually, the fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child since your child may get more attention, especially for the younger child. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4, one adult for four infants, while four-year-old children can do well with a ratio of 1:10, one adult for ten children.

Caregiver qualifications
Ask about the caregivers’ training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child develop and learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills?

Turnover
It is recommended children can stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on children to adjust. For children, getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things.

Meals and snacks served
Parents and providers may have different notions about what is a nutritionally balanced meal or snack. Parents must know that child care providers cannot tailor meals to individual children; however, particular requests to avoid and any food sensitivities must be stated and clearly understood, such as allergies. Ask about occasional treats, junk food, and food preparation.

Accreditation
Licensing requirements and regulations regarding child care providers may differ by state, but parents should confirm whether their provider is up-to-date. Day care centers often have additional credentialing options. Ask about any inspections and credentials, and what criteria is used.

Find out if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organization. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that are higher than most state licensing requirements. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs.

4. Make a choice
Think about what you saw and heard at each visit, consider those tradeoffs, decide your priority first and make the best choice for your child and family.

5. Contact to your child care provider
Once you pick your child’ care provider, contact to them as early as possible because some of the care providers with the best reputations often have the longest waiting lists. A few even start signing up infants as soon as they are born so they will be “in” by the time they reach a certain age. Therefore, if you are thinking about child care, contact the child care provider early. And, if there is no room at your top pick, get on the waiting list, and then find your second choice.

6. Stay involved
Early childhood care and education need parents and child care providers’ collaboration. You and your child’s caregiver should work closely in order provide your child the best care and education. There are many ways for parents to get and stay involved. Some of them are

• Talk to your caregiver regularly, and ask questions whenever you have a chance.
• Offer to volunteer when needed.
• Be there for your child’s birthday party.
• Join in special events, like field trips, Christmas party, or other holidays.

When you check in at drop-off and pick-up times, ask the caregiver how your child is doing. Visiting and participating in events at your child’s provider sends a strong message that tells your child and your child’s caregiver that you think what your child is doing and learning is important and you are doing your best to help your child develop healthily.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

From the post of “Review of the Most Popular Preschools”, we know that the Montessori Approach is one of the most popular preschool systems in U.S. Since by now there are over 5,000 schools in the U.S, Montessori schools are also found in North and South American countries, throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. We would like to share more about it with parents who are interesting to find a right preschool for their child.

Montessori’s believes

Montessori believed that children could grow and develop very well if left to do so without too many restrictions but with an orderly environment that promoted their efforts at being independent and critical thinkers. Order, most especially within the child, but also in the child’s environment, is prerequisite to the child becoming an independent, autonomous, and rational individual.

The Montessori approach believes all children are uniquely intelligent, which is related to each person’s “multiple intelligences” these days. This is the belief that intelligence is not fixed at birth and that the human potential is without limit. The validity of this belief has been confirmed by the research of Piaget, Gardner, Goleman, and many others.

Montessori’s teachers

The role of a Montessori teacher is that of an observer whose ultimate goal is to intervene less and less as the child develops. The teacher creates an atmosphere of calm, order and joy in the classroom and is there to help and encourage the children in all their efforts, allowing them to develop self-confidence and inner discipline. With the younger students at each level, the teacher is more active, demonstrating the use of materials and presenting activities based on an assessment of the child’s requirements. Knowing how to observe constructively and when, and how much, to intervene, is one of the most important talents the Montessori teacher acquires during a rigorous course of training at AMI training centers throughout the world.

Montessori’s Curriculum

A Montessori classroom is filled with children of mixed ages engaged in activity. Most classes are large, usually from 25 to 30 kids, with a two- to three-year age span. Some work alone while others work in small groups. The room is warm and inviting, filled with plants, books, art and puzzles. There is likely to be some kind of music playing softly in the background. Children move at their own pace through the classroom, which includes “practical life,” “sensorial,” “language arts” and “mathematics” areas - each with their own materials for children to work with. The teacher’s role in a Montessori classroom is to guide the children. Independence is encouraged, and a love of learning is instilled. Children progress at their own speed without boundaries.

The exercises in Practical Life are the very heart of Montessori education. As young children wash tables, pour liquids, sweep and dust, they are developing the inner aptitudes of calmness, order, concentration, coordination, and fine motor skills. At the same time, through the process of learning to meet their own needs, learning to take care of the classroom environment, and through the experience of helping others, children in Montessori programs begin to develop independence, self-confidence, and self-respect. For example, in many early childhood programs, there seems to be the assumption that five-year-olds are ready for “real work.”

In Montessori preschools, guided by teachers trained to observe and identify children’s unique learning capabilities, children learn in educational partnership with their teachers. Because children’s interests are heard and honored, Montessori students develop confidence and become self–directed. A powerful learning formula emerges as a result of this self–directed, self–initiated orientation to learning. When interested, a child becomes self–motivated. Self–motivation leads to becoming self–disciplined. When self–disciplined, a child engages in a process of mastery learning and fully develops his or her potential. Dr. Maria Montessori called this a “normal” approach to education.

Is the Montessori approach right for your child?

Some Montessori schools only offer early childhood programs; others offer early childhood through elementary or secondary. Most of them are private or independent schools, founded either by an individual teacher or a parent board. There are a growing number of public school programs, and many home schools implement aspects of the Montessori approach.

However, it is not every child fits the Montessori approach very well, because Montessori’s teachers are trained as only facilitators and not the primary focus, some experts say the teacher is too passive in a Montessori environment, and some parents claim that their kids had adjustment problems when moving into a traditional classroom because they were so used to working cooperatively.

For more information, please refer to www.montessori.org.

There are more preschool options than ever before, in fact, alternative preschool philosophies have been around for a lot longer than we think. We have done some research and found out that the following preschools are three of the most popular preschools in the United States. In order to provide your child the best education and start early, we suggest parents use this review as a reference and do your own research to find the right preschool for your child, which lays a strong foundation for your child’s future success.

Montessori Preschools

The Montessori approach was pioneered by Maria Montessori, who was the Italy’s first female physician, specializing in pediatrics and psychiatry. Montessori believed that learning is cumulative. As children develop the ability to take care of their own needs, they learn best from firsthand experience. Montessori urged teachers to conduct naturalistic observations of children in carefully prepared environments. Teachers in a Montessori program are to observe and direct children’s learning, so they are called directresses rather than teachers. In a Montessori classroom, they have practical life experiences such as gardening, buttoning and zipping, and flower arranging. Directresses make sure that each activity builds a foundation for a more complex and difficult activity. Children move freely about the classroom and make their own choices to become human beings able to function independently and hence interdependently.

The children’s innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult. Through their work, the children develop concentration and joyful self-discipline. Within a framework of order, the children progress at their own pace according to their individual capabilities.

Waldorf Preschools

The Waldorf approach was pioneered by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist and educational theorist. The first Independent Waldorf School opened in 1919. Today, there are over 750 Waldorf schools worldwide.

Like Montessori, students in a Waldorf classroom are rarely found sitting at desks. You’re more likely to see them doing “real work”, such as baking bread from wheat they grew themselves, playing the recorder. In addition, art and dance play a large part.

Unlike a Montessori classroom, where the teacher’s role is to guide the child and let the child work independently, Waldorf instruction emphasizes the relationship between the teacher and child. The teacher stays with the same group of children for up to eight years, and a familial bond is created. This is a homelike environment where open ended, creative play is viewed as the work of the young child.

In preschool and kindergarten, Waldorf practically ignores academics and focuses on providing children with opportunities for creative play. Television and computers are discouraged while preschoolers are more likely to play dress-up, cook, paint or sing than learn phonics. In preschool and kindergarten, students are not exposed to academics, for example, reading is not often taught until the second or third grade.

High/Scope Preschools

This is a program, which has been highly successful with Head Start students. The first school is founded in 1970 in Michigan, by Dr. David Weikart. Active learning, complete with hands-on experiences is the driving force behind the High/Scope method. Students are encouraged to choose what materials they would like to use and teachers are in place to guide. The program takes an “intentional learning” approach to education that makes teachers and children active partners. A daily routine is designed to help children understand what happens next, each day starts with a plan-do-review sequence: first, kids plan what they will do for the day, for example, who they will play with, what areas they will visit, which materials they will use, then they have an hour of work time in which to carry out their plans, and finally they discuss what they’ve learned and done. Computers are a key component in the classroom.

The curriculum has five main focuses: approaches to learning; language, literacy, and communication; social and emotional development; physical development, health, and well-being; and arts and sciences. These areas are then broken down into 58 “key developmental indicators” that include singing and role playing. To assess a child’s development, High/Scope uses the Preschool COR (Child Observation Record) as well as their own Preschool Program Quality Assessment (PQA).

Just like the old adage, “there is no such a thing that one size fits all”. None of the three, the Montessori, the Waldorf, or the High/Scope approach is for every child. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages; the most important thing is parents should think what values and believes you want to pass to your child, and what kind of adult you wish you child to be. In addition, parents should think over your child’s own personality, do your research and find the right preschool for your child and help your child excel.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

Why care about kindergarten readiness?

Many parents worry about their child’s first day in kindergarten, because they are concerned that the child might feel scared or lost, or that learning to get along with a group of new children might be overwhelming. Starting kindergarten, for many children, is their introduction to a school environment, and we all want children have a great start.

Unfortunately, for many children, the transition to kindergarten does not always go smoothly. A recent study sponsored by the National Center for Educational Statistics, indicated that about 20% of kindergarten children lagged behind in the cognitive area of development and 31% lagged behind in the social and emotional area of development. What we also know from research is that children who have an unsuccessful experience in kindergarten are less likely to catch up and do better in later grades.

What is kindergarten readiness?

A child’s kindergarten readiness includes certain pre-academic skills such as being able to recognize letters, words, hold and show interest in a book, and count on one’s fingers. It is also very important to have certain social/emotional skills, such as being able to share and get along with other children in a group, to sit still for a period of time, and to focus on an adult that is speaking to them.
School readiness is related to characteristics of not just of children, but of families, schools and communities. Involved parents who read to their children from birth, schools that respect cultural and individual differences, and communities that support schools and families all play an essential part in school readiness.

How to help your child’s school readiness?

The first few years of life
Science research shows us that the first few years of life are crucial for a child’s brain development, and that the quality of development in those early years sets the stage for the child’s future. The nurturing that the child receives from parents and other significant caregivers and the learning he or she does in those early years shapes the child’s ability to learn, to be associated with others, and thus to be successful in school and in life. Actually, school readiness begins at birth.

Pick a right child-care and preschool for your child
It becomes clear that the quality of the care environments, such as regular child care, care from a nanny, relative or neighbor, plays a huge role in early learning. There is a wealth of research that shows that a high quality child care environment has a positive impact on cognitive skills and on social emotional development that lasts throughout the school years, and children’s life. Therefore, increasing the skills of child care providers, including family, friend and neighbors who care for children, are promoting school readiness.

Getting school ready is a collaboration of many community organizations, school districts, parents, teachers and child care providers. We should increase the number of children making a successful transition to kindergarten. For parents to find a safe, affordable, high quality child care for your child is very important to prepare your child for school. Pick a right day care, a right preschool for your young child consider the providers’ choices all day long as to how often to read to the children, how much to coach social skills, and how to infuse a child with a sense of pride and accomplishment that will forever aid him or her in future learning.

Help your child develop pre-reading skills
Pre-reading skills are the skills children need before they can learn to read. By talking and reading to your child, parents will help your child to develop these essential skills. It is recommended to parents to know these pre-reading skills, so that you can make the best use of your child’s natural inquisitiveness during the pre-school years.

Help your child develop fine motor skills
Young children naturally want to play; it is how they learn about the world. Help your child develop the small motor skills to handle writing. Access your child’s development on fine motor skills, for example, can your child copy simple shapes? Color pictures? Cut with scissors? Kindergarten teachers will expect him to handle most of these tasks easily. In the meantime, you can help your child develop his or her fine motor skills by giving him or her many opportunities to play games, such as finger paint, draw with a marker, use a pencil, pick up small objects with his fingers, build with small blocks, and do puzzles.

A checklist
Many parents are concerned about the emotional readiness of their children for kindergarten. It is as important a factor as your child’s physical, intellectual, and social readiness for starting school. Here is a checklist of some behaviors your child who is emotionally ready for school:

• Does not cry easily, even cries, can recover soon
• Does not require constant support from parents or caregivers
• Separates from parents without being upset
• Is not easily frustrated
• Acts confident in new situations
• Like to try new things
• Has strong and positive sense of self
• Makes decisions
• Understands the idea of acceptable behavior
• Begins to exercise self-control

Young children change very rapidly. The child who is emotionally immature today can easily be handling his or her emotions in just a few months. And remember to on children’s readiness to enter kindergarten on more than emotional readiness, parents also need to consider your child’s age as well as his or her physical, intellectual, and social development.

Young gifted children
If your child already has advanced reading or writing skills, and if a more advanced school is not an option for him or her, it is alright as long as parents continue to challenge your child at home and maintain a friendly working relationship with your child’s school. For parents’ reading, we recommend “Bringing Out the Best”. It has many helpful hints for parents of young gifted children.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

Help Your Child learn to write well

Preparing children for school is one of the most important responsibilities of parents. Children must be ready to learn from the first day of school. If parents want your child to do well in school from beginning, which is a key for your child to build his or her self confidence, just like reading, we think parents should help your child with writing before your child starting school as well.

Writing is the necessary skill we need from first-grade throughout adulthood. Writing helps us sending messages, keeping records, and expressing feelings, it also plays a very important role on provoking our thoughts and to organize them logically and concisely. Writing is more than putting words on paper; it is a final stage in the complex process of communicating that begins with “thinking.”

Due to students and teachers ratio is high in many preschools and schools, your child may need additional help for building his or her writing skills. That’s why we suggest that parents help your child with writing. We believe that parents can make a big difference for your child’s future success. Parents can use helping strategies that are simple and fun to help your child learn to write well and to enjoy doing it! We discuss how as follows.

Tips for parents

In helping your child to learn to write well, remember that your goal is to make writing easier and more enjoyable.

Provide a place
It is very important for a child to have a good place to write, a desk with a smooth, flat surface, an age appropriate chair and good lighting.

Have the materials ready
Provide plenty of paper, lined and unlined and things to write with, including pencils, erasers, pens, and crayons.

Help your child hold the pencil properly
Sit next to your child when you write, not opposite. Developing and maintaining an effective and proper pencil grip is very important for handwriting.

Allow sufficient time
Help your child spend time thinking about a writing exercise. Good writers do a great deal of thinking. Be patient, your child need time to think. Do not transfer any worries onto your child. Be relaxed and have fun!

Respond
Do respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in the true function of writing which is to convey ideas. This means focusing on “what” the child has written, not “how” it was written. It’s usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.

Praise
Praise your child at every opportunity. The more he or she feels successful, the more your child wants to practice; and the better he or she will get.

Ask your child involve in a real writing
Real writing tasks abstract your child’s interest more than artificial ones.　Encourage your child to write to relatives and friends. It is more important for your child to write a one-line note on a greeting card and write a letter to a relative. Your child may enjoy corresponding with a pen pal as well.

Write together
In order to let your child see firsthand that writing is important to adults and truly useful, ask your child to help you with letters, whenever you have a chance.

Suggest note-taking
Encourage your child to take notes on trips and to describe what he or she saw. For example, a description of nature walks, a car trip and a boat ride, could be a good start for form a good habit of note-taking.

Suggest making lists
Most children like to make lists just as they like to count. Making lists is good practice to help your child to become more organized. A list of toys, books, game cards, and furniture in your child’s room, are good examples. Your child must be exited about his or her Christmas wish list as well. Helping your child on “to-do-list” on schoolwork including dates for tests, social events, and other reminders is crucial for your child’s planning skills.

Encourage copying
Copying is also a great way to learn. If your child likes a particular song, suggest learning the words by writing them down replaying the song and trying to write down the words whenever the song is played. Also encourage your child to copy favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.

Brainstorm
Talk with your child as much as possible about his or her impressions and encourage your child to describe people and events to you.

Encourage keeping a journal
Keeping writing a journal is an excellent writing practice. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, write about personal feelings, pleasures as well as disappointments, things to remember or things your child wants to do.

Use games
There are numerous games and puzzles that help your child to increase vocabulary and help your child more fluent in writing. Building vocabulary builds confidence. Let your child try crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams and cryptograms designed especially for children. In addition, flash cards are great ways, which are easy to make at home.

Using above tips to help your child learn to write and enjoy writing. Remember, do not work when one of you is tired, hungry or bored. Forming a good writing habit as early as possible is the key to help your child to succeed in school and life.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

We suggest parents to ask the following questions while you access your child’s fine motor skills.

• Is your child able to adequately perform the various activities involved in the fine motor skills by his or her age group listed bellow?
• Are your child’s fine motor skills developing “normally”?
• Does your child need “extra help” developing these skills?

Age Group Milestones (0 – 6 years)

0-3 Months

• Hands most often remain closed
• Can retain an object if placed in palm
• Can play with hands
• Can plays with some baby toys that produce sound

3-4 Months

• Can reach for objects on purpose but inaccurately
• Clasps hands together often

4-8 Months

• Can hold small objects in hand
• Can pass objects from one hand to the other
• Can pick up medium sized object easily
• Sometimes places objects in mouth
• Can use pads of fingertips to grasp small objects
• Can pull objects out of container

9-10 Months

• Develops accurate forward and side reach
• Can use fingers, palm, whole hand to scoop up cereals, raisins etc.
• Can drop or release objects intentionally
• Can place objects in containers
• Can pull a string to activate a toy

10-12 Months

• Can pick up small objects using fingers
• Can point with index finger
• Can place one peg into a hole repeatedly

12-18 Months

Can hold a crayon with whole hand

2 Years

• Can hold a crayon with thumb and fingers
• Can put on shorts, socks, and shoes
• Can takes off shoes and socks
• Can use a spoon
• Can draw and copy a vertical line
• Can stacks large objects

2 1/2- 3 Years

• Can string large beads
• Can cut paper with scissors
• Can roll clay into “snake”
• Can draw and copy a horizontal line
• Can throw a ball

3-3 1/2 Years

• Can complete simple puzzles
• Can build a tower of nine small blocks or more
• Can get himself or herself dressed and
• undressed independently; only needs help with buttons and zippers; sometimes still confuses front or back for clothes, and right or left for shoes
• Can feed himself or herself with little or no spilling, drinks from a cup with one hand

3 1/2- 4 Years

• Can string small beads
• Can pour drink from a pitcher if not too heavy
• Can hold a pencil with 3 fingers, but moves forearm and wrist to write, draw and color

4-4 1/2 Years

• Can use scissors to cut both straight and curved lines
• Can manage snaps, buttons, and zippers
• Can draw and copy a cross with one vertical and one horizontal intersecting line

4 1/2- 5 Years

• Can hold fork using fingers
• Can feed soup with little or no spilling by himself or herself
• Can fold paper in half, making sure the edges meet
• Can put a key in a lock and open it

5 Years

• Can get dressed completely by himself or herself
• Can tie shoelaces
• Can use a dull knife to cut soft foods
• Can draw and copy a diagonal line
• Can cut square, triangle, circle, and other simple pictures with scissors
• Since small muscles of hand have developed, can use a “tripod grasp” with thumb & tips of 1st two fingers and uses fingers only to write, draw and color
• Can copies simple shapes

5 1/2- 6 Years

• Can cut out complex pictures accurately following the outline
• Can copy a sequence of letters and numbers correctly
• Can complete complex puzzles

By 6 years old, children’s fine motor skills have developed sufficiently enough to complete feeding, dressing and writing tasks properly and efficiently. They have developed adequate skillfulness in the use of the hands and body, their bilateral coordination and eye-hand coordination are developed well to complete cutting and writing tasks. Children will continue to develop and refine these skills; however the foundation is laid down within the first six years. This is why parents should assure that your child’s fine motor skills developed are in the normal range during your child’s early childhood.

Parents can do a lot of things to help your child’s fine motor skills develop, to provide your child sufficient crayons, papers, toys, games, and activities and let him or her practice and enhance these skills during his or her early childhood are crucial for your child’s future success in both personal life and professional life.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

Fine-motor skills development demands that children are able to accurately and effectively use the small muscles in their hands. These intrinsic muscles will be used for the rest of their lives and for essential functional activities. Childhood is the critical time to properly develop these muscles. Well developed fine motor skills are essential for kids’ future success.

Help your child develop strong fine-motor coordination

Fine-motor is usually defined as the ability to coordinate the action of the eyes and hands together in performing precise manipulative movements. As we know, most activities, which are called bi-manual activities require the use of the two hands working together to perform the task. There are some single-handed manipulative tasks are referred to as uni-manual activities; for example, using a hand to do drawing and handwriting.

In general, children show the most improvement in simple fine-motor control behaviors from 4 to 6 years, more complex control behaviors tend to improve gradually from 5 to 12 years, some fine-motor skills, like isolated finger, hand, wrist, and foot movements tend to improve significantly from 5 to 8 years. Proficiency in fine-motor control allows children to develop skills that will have both consequences immediately and in their later life.

Tips for parents

Well developed fine-motor skills are foundation for kids to learn writing and perform many essential functional activities in their lives. Fortunately, parents can do a lot of things to help your child’s fine-motor skill development.

We recommend you to encourage your child do the following activities to help him or her develop the balance, precision, and hand-eye coordination that are needed to perform the fine-motor skills used in handwriting and other tasks your child will involve in his or her life.

• Play with small blocks and other miniature toys, such as Lego’s
• Learn to master some everyday skills such as tying his or her shoes, buttoning and zipping his or her clothes
• Turn things over or turn pages of a book
• Screw and unscrew the cover of a bottle of water
• Play some games that involves the handling of cards and small pieces
• Play games that require precise hand and finger control
• Do drawing, painting, and coloring
• Play puzzles
• Play with small objects such as coins
• Make crafts using crayons, marking pens, scissors, glue, finger paints, and tearing paper
• Be able to use one finger at a time, such as in playing the piano or typing

Above all, be patient with your child because it does take longer for children to learn skills than parents think. Give your child sufficient time let him or her practice, enhance, and evaluate his or her fine-motor skills. Encourage your child by praising his or her efforts often. Please remember, every child has a different pace in acquiring the fine-motor skills. The more your child uses his or her fingers in activities, the sooner and the better he or she will acquire these skills.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

Research shows that children who develop phonemic awareness and letter-sound knowledge early on are more likely to be strong, successful readers. Children can build these skills by reading aloud, practicing nursery rhymes, and playing letter and word games. Based on an understanding of phonemic awareness and basic print concepts, children are ready to learn phonics and to start understand words.

Pre-reading skills are the skills children need before they can learn to read. By talking and reading to your child, parents will help your child to develop these essential skills. It is recommended to parents to know these pre-reading skills, so that you can make the best use of your child’s natural inquisitiveness during the pre-school years.

Ways to Build Pre-Reading Skills

Encouragement and exposure to learning experiences will help your child to develop the skills needed to read and write. Here are some tips helping your child build pre-reading skills.

Matching skills
When we read, part of what we do involves matching. Children learn to match shapes, colors, patterns, letters and, finally, words. Children build matching skills by playing blocks, coloring, practicing nursery rhymes and playing sound and word games etc. This is a time to get down on the floor with your child and play act, build blocks, fit shapes together, draw and paint, play with balls and many other activities that delight and excite your child. While these activities are not immediately related to reading, they are vital in teaching your child skills for life, not just in preparation for reading.

Phonemic awareness
Phonemic awareness deals with the structure of sounds and words, by understanding it, children know that words are made up of sounds which can be assembled in different ways to make different words. Once your child has phonemic awareness, he or she is aware that sounds are like building blocks that can be used to build all the different words. Research shows that children who developed Phonemic Awareness have a head start in learning to read and, even more to spell.

Children build phonemic awareness and other pre-reading skills by practicing nursery rhymes and playing sound and word games. Common exercises to develop phonemic awareness include games with rhymed words, games based on recognizing initial consonance.
Milestones:

• Your child can name several words that begin with the same sound such as boy, bell, and bat
• Your child can replace one sound with another; for example, replace the first sound in pig with “d” to make dig.

Letter skills
In terms of letters, children need to learn what sounds the letters can make. The more letters your child is able to instantly recognize and name by the time he or she starts kindergarten, the quicker he or she will be able to focus his or her attention on other tasks such as the sounds associated with each letter. It is recommended for your child to begin learning the letters in his or her name.
Milestones:

• Your child can sing the ABC song
• Your child can recognize the shape of letters
• Your child start to learn the sounds of letters, such as “B” makes the “buh” sound

Concepts of print
It is very important for your child to know that we read words, not pictures, and that the words we see in print are related to the words we speak and hear. Your child also needs to learn following print and turning the pages in the right way. Asking your child questions, for example,”Where are the words?” to help him or her gain Print Knowledge. Give your child lots of chances to explore books on his or her own and read together every day.
Milestones:

• Your child can recognize print in everyday life, such as on cereal boxes, street signs
• Your child know you can use print for many different purposes, from writing letters to grocery lists
• Your child can hold a book, turn the pages, and pretend to read
• Your child can follow the series of events in some stories
• Your child can ask questions and make comments that show he or she understands what you read to him or her

Direction
In English, print goes from left to right, in order to know that, children need to practice it, especially left-handed children.

Language skills
The more experience children have of language, the more easily they will learn to read. Your child needs to hear and join in conversations with adults and children, and listen to stories and poetry of all sorts. You can help your child make the connection between letters and sounds through conversation, rhyming, word games, and other activities.

Beginning Writing
Since reading and writing have very close relationship, they are best taught together. For beginners, pencil control is important. Scribbling is your child’s first effort to use print in a meaningful way. Playing with blocks, coloring and drawing also help your child build fine motor skills, which are necessary for writing.

Using workbooks, games, and structured computer programs
All these tools can help teaching and reinforcing your child’s pre-reading skills. Parents help in this process by providing high-quality educational materials, establishing a pattern of daily reading, and creating a rich language environment. Some of the best books to start with for your young child in this stage are wordless picture books. Take advantage of your child’s questions if he or she has, because your child is establishing a naming and identifying skill needed in early reading.

Long before children can read books they need to master key skills. Pre-reading stage is the one to prepare children’s reading readiness. During this time parents can help your child establish good habits and routines, such as story time before bed, which can help in later years when the habit of independent reading is establishing. The focus should be on enjoyment and togetherness at this stage. Try to make books a big part of fun activities and grow your child’s love of reading, which benefits his or her next learning stages to read and eventually his or her whole life.

To improve your parenting skills refers to Great Parenting Books.

1. Make reading fun

Make reading more interactive by asking questions and ask your child read by himself or herself, retelling the stories you have read and encourage your child to tell you how a story ends in the rest of your day.

Connect outdoor activities with reading by packing several books and going outside. In warm weather, read next to a pond or lake, under a tree, by the pool, on the beach, or even in the backyard. Bring your child to the park and read a book before you leave.

Consider a reading series by choosing relevant books, which can connect what your children already know to what they hear or read helps your children understand more about their world. There are many book series tailor made for your child’s age, and if your child likes one means there is a high likelihood your child will enjoy others about the same characters. There are series on princesses and action heroes, popular characters such as Snow White and Bob the Builder, the classic Dr. Suess collection. In addition, kids like the series about beginning school for the first time or about going on vacation, etc.

Plan ahead with exciting books on vacation by bring several books with you when go vacation. Vacation is a prime time for reading enjoyment; everyone is relaxed and enjoys a fun family time. Reading is a great activity for around the pool or in the hotel room in the evening.

2. Build reading activity into routine

From preschool forward, parents should build a reading activity into the daily schedule throughout the year to foster a love of reading by fun reading activities. Evening or before-bedtime is popular times to read, reading after breakfast or before children go to an activity also sets a routine that most children like. Younger children always enjoy being read a story on a topic of interest to them, and older children can read in their room, read to their parents, or even to younger siblings.

3. Build a reading activity into life’s planning

Ask children do some research and involve children into each task. Children of all ages should read and learn the connection between reading and knowledge. For example, if your family is traveling somewhere, suggest your child read all about your destination, food, history and natural environment etc.

4. Involve the entire family

Studies show that in most families, moms read more to their children then dads and other family members. Make reading time with dad, grandpa and grandma a priority for your child’s positive reading experiences. Each family member has different tone when reading a book and your child will flourish with the perspective and experience of all.

5. Discuss with your child

Discussion is an important part of a positive book-reading experience. Ask your child simple questions, such as: Did you like the book? Why or why not? Who was your favorite character? Did you like how it ended? Would you like to read it again someday? To guide your child understand more and deepen his or her thinking, which foster a love of reading.

6. Choose right books for babies, toddlers and preschoolers

For babies
Because babies cannot focus well, it is recommended to use the books with large, simple pictures and bold colors, such as red, green, blue, orange and black.

The following three kinds of books are recommended for a baby:
• Safe books, since babies like to ‘taste’ for books, please check safety labels carefully
• Bright, bold picture books to help babies focusing and identification
• Books with poems, songs, or stories with rhyme parents enjoy to read

For toddlers and preschool children
It is better to let your child choose, however parents need some guidance as well.

The following kinds of books are recommended:
• Books which your child really likes
• Popular picture books with very few words since your child hears them often from preschools, TV or other media
• A variety of different types of books to read to your child including everyday stories, poetry, traditional stories and mystery as well

Parents will find that talking, singing, and reading will help your young child to learn and be ready for school. The written word is all around us, not just books, help your child to read road signs, birthday cards and advertisements etc. The key is to always make the reading experience fun and a time to look forward to for your child.