Education is, no doubt, a journey! Preparing your child for elementary school is just the first step in this journey. But even before entering elementary school, how can we ensure we are setting our children up for early success in developing their executive functions and their life-long love for learning?

As a first-time parent enrolling my young one in a Calgary preschool, I worried, stressed, and pondered about how to best prepare my little one for elementary school and beyond. The common question that I found myself asking was how to best prepare them – Mentally? Physically? Emotionally? What approach will serve them best in the long term, without knowing what type of learner they may be in the future? 

Although child care centres  are traditionally not academically focused, I still wanted to set them up for educational success when the time came for it. How could I help their young mind learn skills to manage their immature impulse controls, to regulate their unstable emotions, be flexible when needed, while remaining curious, confident, and happy as they learn and grow?

When I came across Kids U Preschool and Daycare, and their unique 3-in-1 program following the LRM curriculum I was very intrigued, to say the least! 

The Left Brain Classroom (Montessori-based) helped my child learn self-regulation, structure, order, etc. They developed a sense of independence, and evolved interests that encouraged them to engage and excel in areas that they may not have explored otherwise at that young age. 

The Right Brain Classroom (Reggio-inspired) helped them learn to be social, more out-going, and expressive with their ideas. They learned to be involved with their peers rather than a bystander watching from the sidelines, and also became an expert in engaging their peers when they were not keen to take part. 

The Movement Classroom (Physical Literacy) helped them develop an understanding of the reasons and benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They were exposed to various sports and activities that helped strengthen their physical skills – balance, stability, locomotion, etc. As I watched their skills develop, I also watched their confidence skyrocket!!

While chatting with a friend (and Kids U alumni parent), she commented on how impressed the parents/teachers at her child’s current school were with how they were able to dress themselves for outdoor time, and undress/clean up when they returned! “They were able to do that at 2.5 years old. I can thank Kids U for that!” she replied back to those parents. 

Once during Parent-Teacher Interviews my child’s teacher told us of a few instances she witnessed my child go over to another student who was alone at lunch or recess, and engage with them because they didn’t want the student to feel lonely. I know Kids U helped develop compassion and social skills in my child early so they can connect with peers more deeply today. 

I wholeheartedly believe that the combined effect of Kids U’s 3-in-1 LRM curriculum is key to my child’s current elementary success – teaching how to learn rather than what to learn. My child has the cognitive flexibility to quickly and easily switch gears from work to play when they need to, and I see that life-long love for learning that Kids U has helped engrain into them carrying through into adulthood and beyond. Kids U helped my child prepare for elementary school in all the right ways, and 5 years after leaving the program my Kids U graduate still talks about their Kids U teachers, friends, and experiences!

Written by  proud parent of a Kids U graduate, class of 2016