Kindergarten Readiness

Posted by Carla Snuggs Aug 14, 2008

Skimming the news today, I came across an article about a unique approach to kindergarten readiness and choosing a preschool that ties in with my series of articles about learning through play.

Hirsh-Pasek, co-author of A Mandate for Playful Learning: Presenting the Evidence, says that parents should select a preschool with a kid-friendly environment and the five “Cs”.

Those five C’s are: collaboration, communication, content, creative innovation, and confidence.

When selecting a quality preschool, look for one that fosters a strong social environment. Consistent with my articles on learning through play and verbal cues, there should be a balance of guided and unguided play (creative innovation). Also be sure to look for a healthy amount of dialogue and communication in the classroom.Your use of verbal cues is an important component of creative innovation and communication.

There should also be a balance of objective (content) focused learning and social and creative learning. The school should also foster a sense of confidence by allowing opportunities for students to try new things and take harmless risks.

When you think along these lines you may increase your chances of choosing a preschool that will best prepare your child for kindergarten.