My 3-year-old has his preschool screening next week. I’m as nervous as I am excited about him showing his stuff and finding out if he’s ready to embark on his academic voyage.
I’ve already been through the preschool screening process before, so it’s a lot less nerve-racking for me this time. I’m prepared for the lengthy pages of personal questions about my son, from how well he communicates to whether or not he’s abnormally aggressive toward other kids. I know he’ll be taken to another room and tested on basic skills and then brought back to me with a little “report card” indicating whether he’s ready to start preschool or not.
The first time I took one of my kids for a screening, I was pretty freaked out about what to expect. Would my son be behind the other kids? Would he clam up and not respond to their questions? Would he suddenly forget the difference between triangles and circles?
I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of the whole process. A teacher came and introduced herself to Kyan and asked if he’d like to come play some games. As soon as I told him it was cool with me, he took her hand and walked out the door. He could have at least hesitated a moment for my benefit. Kids.
Is it time for your child to be screened? Have no fear. The tests are fairly simple and, while they may vary slightly, commonly ask your child to perform basic tasks such as these:
- Stating her first and last name
- Indicating her correct age
- Identifying shapes, colors, letters and numbers
- Solving simple puzzles and problems
- Doing memory exercises
- Demonstrating basic social skills
- Understanding simple instructions
- Basic organization and planning exercises
- Demonstrating basic language and vocabulary skills
- Showing how she tolerates basic sensory stimulation
This sounds more complex than it is. The person who is conducting the screening is trained in fun and simple ways to perform the tests without stressing your little one out. The results of the test are based on the typical development of children in your kid’s age range. He or she is not expected to be reading, writing and memorizing Shakespearean soliloquies.
If the test results indicate that your daughter may need a basic therapeutic intervention, such as speech therapy, you’ll find that out, too. Early intervention is a wonderful thing, and will really give your child a boost.
The preschool screening process is usually more stressful for us than for our kids. Don’t tie your stomach in knots worrying about how it will go before you even get there. Take a deep breath, and trust that your child will be fine. She’ll be playing while you’re filling out all that paperwork. Believe me, she’s got the better end of the deal.
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/2818428449
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