It all seemed so endless during those long days of bottles, potty training and teaching him that you are not supposed to paint walls with spaghetti. Now your preschooler is approaching the end of the school year and needs a letter of recommendation for the next preschool class or kindergarten. Next fall will be a whole new ballgame. A well-written letter of recommendation can give an accurate description of where your youngster is both academically and socially, and possibly give him an edge over other applicants when limited space is an issue.
Personality
A letter of recommendation for a preschooler should include a section describing the child’s personality. For example, “Beth is a bright, happy girl who loves to participate in class and plays well with others.” Future teachers will want to know that the child respects authority and property, knows how to pick up after herself and is patiently able to wait for her turn in line.
Academics
A more to-the-point portion of the letter will list your preschooler’s academic abilities. How many letters and numbers does he recognize? Does he know all of the basic shapes and colors? Note your child’s speech and vocabulary skills along with his ability to tell or repeat a story. If your child has advanced skills, such as performing mathematical equations or playing an instrument, note those in the letter.
Behavior and Skills
Potential teachers will want to learn about your preschooler’s behavior patterns and skills that she has developed. Write, for example, “Sara transitions easily from one activity to the next. She is a wonderful listener and always follows directions. Sara always makes sure that her work is neat and finished in a timely fashion.” List other skills that are important in school, such as, “She is able to hold a pencil correctly, knows how to write her name and can tie her own shoes.”
Additional Information
The final portion of the letter of recommendation is an opportunity to add any extra information, such as whether he has any special needs, unusual habits or fears that might affect his time in the classroom. Note if your preschooler sometimes needs a little nudge to finish his worksheet when everyone else is playing or if he needs extra help on the playground. Make the effort to write a positive, but honest, assessment of your child.