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