10 Things You Need to Know About Your Preschooler

Even though pre-school has been back in session for over three months, still in the back of your mind may be the question, What Do I Need to Know for Kindergarten? and, Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? 

However, for parents of even younger children, the question is, What do I Need to Know About my Preschooler to Help Him to Have a Valuable Preschool Experience?

While in a another post, I focus on the kindergarten questions, for now I will list The Ten Things You Need to Know About Your Preschooler. 

Here they are:

1. Infants can see color and shapes very early in life.

2. Preschoolers like to hear the same story over and over again.

3. A child in the womb grows accustomed to her mother's voice.

4. Preschoolers like to sing, chant, and tell stories.

5. Listening is a receptive skill that requires preschoolers to think and interpret.

6. Speaking and listening habits profoundly influence of preschoolers’ ability to write.

7. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers understand many more words than they can say.

8. Preschoolers need to see that reading and writing are useful and enjoyable things to do

9. Preschooler natural curiosity and desire to make sense of their world are the only motivation they need to learn.

10. Preschoolers learn by doing things – – actively exploring books and print. 

Go to the The Critical Pre-School Years for more valuable preschool information on raising your pre-schoolers.


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Single Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - A Growing Situation

Across the country, more than 2,400,000 grandparents, regardless of income, background, or race, are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren.

In Illinois more than 103,000 grandparents are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren with over 41,000 of these grandparents living in Chicago alone.

These grandparents, many of whom are single, are caring for children whose parents cannot or will not care for them due to substance abuse, illness and death, abuse and neglect, economic hardship, incarceration, divorce, domestic violence, and other family and community crises.

If you are among this growing number, no matter why or how they came to live with you, your grandchildren will benefit from being in your home. When children cannot be with their parents, living with a grandparent may provide:
- Fewer moves from place to place
- The comfort of a familiar language and culture
- A chance to stay with siblings
- More contact with their parents, depending on the situation

 Nevertheless, despite these benefits, the children will face some unique challenges:
- They may feel insecure and unsure that you will take care of them.
- They may act out or challenge you.
- They will miss their parents.
- They may be anxious or depressed.
- They may seem young or act too old for their ages.

As grandparents caring full time for your grandchildren, you will encounter many of these emotional and psychological issues faced by the children. The world is much different for children now than when you as a parent raised your children. Consequently, you may need help not only in meeting the emotional needs of your grandchildren, but perhaps also with the legal, financial, medical, and educational issues that come with this new role. If you need help, don't hesitate to seek it.


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