Many schools today will interview your child before admitting them to nursery school. The process is, in many ways, similar to getting into the first grade many years ago. Schools will not only be assessing your child but you too. Schools are interested in knowing your financial status and the nature of your work. How you relate with your child and if you spend time with them, all of which are significant to your child’s academic progress. Usually, the questions are not too difficult, but it is never too early to prepare if you want to ace that interview. Keep reading to find out how you can prep your kindergartener for the school admission process.
- Know the school details
If this is not your first time admitting a child in nursery school, you have an idea of what a school will ask. Either way, you never know what might have changed since the last time you were there, so better to be safe by understanding the nursery school’s admission process. To get this information, you have to meet with the headteacher or other relevant staff and ask what they require kids to know before joining the school. Most schools need a child to understand shapes, numbers, letters, and rhymes. You can start teaching your child these things at home through play by buying educational toys for them.
- Work on their communication skills
Children develop at a different pace. However, by the time a child is of preschool age, they can communicate clearly what they need or want. Additionally, you trust that you can give them instructions, and they will understand and do it. The school will evaluate a child’s ability to understand and follow instructions. They will be asked short, simple questions like ‘what is your name?’ or ‘where do you live?” and they will be expected to know the answers.
- Build their social skills
Your child is going to be among new people when they go to school. The teacher will be the authority figure, and the other kids will be their playmates. How does your child relate to other kids at home? Can they take instructions from someone else other than you, their parents? Your child must be able to coexist with other kids his age and be friendly and kind, and to respect their elders. Teach them patience and how to take turns when doing an activity. A good place they can learn this is at the park or during playdates. They can learn to wait for their turn at the swings without causing a tantrum. Such social skills will be beneficial when they enter school.
- Encourage them to be independent
This can be both exciting and heartbreaking for a parent. Encouraging your child to be independent does not mean that they don’t need you. Think of your child as an individual who, at some point, has to learn how to do things on their own because they are growing. Of course, they will still need help with some things but let them do what they can on their own to boost their independence. That way, they will have an easy time adjusting to the new school environment.
- Build their confidence
A confident child will excel in most things in life, including academics. Confident children can speak up, express their opinions and feelings, and they will assert themselves when necessary. One of the best ways to build your child’s confidence is by complimenting their small achievements and allowing them to excel at what they love doing. For example, when they do some coloring activities at home, they will not color within the lines the first time but compliment them anyway. You can go ahead and frame the picture to boost their confidence further. This way, you can be sure that your child will ask questions in class and help from their teacher when they can’t do something.
- Practice reading
Reading is a great way to help your child start recognizing letters. One of the most common interview questions in nursery school admission is ‘What is your name?’. Some schools can push further to see if your child knows the letters in their name and if they can recognize them. They might not know all of them, but it will be great if they can say most of them. Reading is also an excellent way to create a love for learning, which is a significant trait to ensure long-term success.
So you want your child to have a chance at being admitted to the best private school in the area. This can create a lot of anxiety for you but try to remain calm, so you don’t put too much pressure on your child. They still have a long way to go, so do your best to teach them what they can and let the teachers do the rest.
