| A child between the age of zero and five lives in | | | | get underway. |
| a protective bubble. And that is a good thing | | | | Preschool is a great way to start that process |
| because that little one needs to be surrounded by | | | | early in life so much of that socialization is well |
| people that she trusts and that love her and will | | | | underway before kindergarten days arrive. But if |
| protect her at all costs. But even if that child has | | | | that is not an option or there are good reasons |
| some siblings, those years are often relatively | | | | not to go the preschool route, you can find |
| quiet and ones in which the majority of the | | | | situations of socialization in which you can have |
| people that child knows are primarily dedicated to | | | | your child in a group of many other children her |
| one thing and that is satisfying all of her wants | | | | age where there are some rules and the children |
| and needs. | | | | have to learn to get along. |
| Obviously this is not the kind of world that child | | | | Even if you do not work, day care has some |
| will eventually live in. To say that very young | | | | value in this area. You may wish to begin leaving |
| children are spoiled is stating the obvious but that | | | | your child at day care for an hour every other |
| is natural and the way it should be. It is the task | | | | day starting around the age of 3-4 just to give |
| of older childhood and adolescence to begin to | | | | her some time with others her age to learn how |
| reprogram your children to live in a world the | | | | to behave in groups. This is a good approach |
| rules of social behavior are far more complex. | | | | because even if there are problems, you are right |
| The first time your child will be exposed to that | | | | back and able to take her home and talk through |
| kind of environment other than an occasional hour | | | | what happened to help her make adjustments. |
| in the nursery at church or at day care will | | | | And if she doesn't go back until a few days later, |
| happen when your little one begins kindergarten. | | | | she has time to process how to handle conflict |
| There are a lot of surprises waiting for her there. | | | | and deal with authority differently so she has |
| But one that kindergarten teachers know is going | | | | more success on the next outing. |
| to be a huge challenge is reprogramming those | | | | This little exercise is also a good chance for mom |
| kids to the idea that everyone in that room is not | | | | to get used to dropping off her baby and leaving |
| all about them but that they are there to be part | | | | that child in the care of others to come back and |
| of a larger society. | | | | pick her up later. Not all of the adjustments about |
| This will be quite confusing for your child and | | | | the start of kindergarten are on the kindergartner |
| many days when she comes home unhappy or | | | | because the parents also have some processing |
| upset about what happened at school, the heart | | | | to do. And as you get used to seeing your child |
| of the problem will be this orientation issue. So | | | | go into a social situation and come out better for |
| anything you can do before your child goes to | | | | it, you will be more confident. And your |
| kindergarten to help your little one to learn to | | | | confidence will be picked up by your child who will |
| socialize in a larger circle of people and in a setting | | | | grow more socially adept and able to deal with |
| that is more normalized than the one at home will | | | | the rules of society long before kindergarten days |
| serve your kiddo well when those school days | | | | get underway. |