I am a full time stay at home mom and if I can afford to do so, I will continue in this role until my boys are ready for school.  I had the following concerns about preparing them for school, so I contacted Mary Cantafio, an elementary school teacher with many years teaching experience for some advice.  Here’s what I asked her:

My children have never been in a daycare setting.  I’m afraid this could put them at a disadvantage when they begin school.  What can I do, if anything, to help them prepare for school?

This is what she told me:

A stay at home mom…how lucky you are!  Make that extra time “quality time” and not “quantity time”.  Get your child involved in play groups two or three times a week.  It is important that children learn the art of sharing, waiting their turn, and possibility not getting what he/she wants at that very moment.  Being around other children is the only way that goal can be accomplished.  Take your child on field trips.  Go to local supermarkets and talk about fruits, vegetables, etc.  Discuss what is good to eat.  Visit local parks and play areas where children your own child’s age will be seen playing.  It is important for the development of your child for him/her to associate with other children, and not to be around adults all the time, every day.  And, of course, read, read, read to your child as often as possible!  Let your child look at the book as you are reading it to him/her.  Point to the word as you say it.  Discuss the pictures.  Encourage your child to verbalize his/her thoughts.  Have lots of building blocks around the house. 

Let your child get creative…using his/her imagination.  Sheets of construction paper around the house and a wide variety of crayon colors to choose from will encourage creative art.  Bring in lots of color choices.  Don’t be afraid to break the crayons in half…then your child won’t be upset if one breaks.  Use paint and markers, your child will love the variety.  Let him/her create whatever comes to mind…don’t worry about going out of lines or colors that don’t match.  And don’t be afraid to use scissors.  There are some great choices on the market that are safe for little fingers.  Discuss the color choices your child used and why he/she picked that color.  Again, you want your child to speak in complete sentences.  Encourage it every time throughout the day.

If you follow these simple tips your child will be a happy little one ready to enter the school system.  Don’t worry if he/she can’t read yet.  It will happen before the end of first grade.  Recognizing the alphabet and the sound of each letter is what is important at this stage in your child’s life.  Stress the vowels, long and short, for they are quite important. 
Have your child count to ten, showing understanding by using counters (anything will do…buttons, money, cereal, candy).

Enjoy the time with your child, for it does go fast.  A little planning on your part will go a long way in his/her development.  Create a happy, safe environment in your own home.  Learn to laugh and be prepared to be exhausted at the end of the day.  It is worth it.

At least I know I am on the right track with my boys.  I do make an effort to take them to the park, playgroup and mom-and-tot gym classes so they get interaction with other children.  It’s good to know that with a little effort on my part they will not be at a disadvantage when it comes to starting school.