ParentingPreschoolers34 Comments
Get your child set for school with easy ways to prepare your child for preschool from Katie of Mommy with Selective Memory and Susan of Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers.
With school starting just around the corner, our two experts are sharing some super simple ways to prep your child for preschool! Perfect timing for Henry!
Skip the Stress on the First Day of Preschool
My daughter is a social little girl. She is always on the prowl for new friends, so I thought she would do fine when she started a Mother’s Day Out program at age two.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
She clung to me like a little monkey, begging me not to leave. She wouldn’t even look at the teachers and had no interest in the other children.
I was floored.
None of the other kids were reacting this way. They were happily playing dolls or trucks.
I didn’t know what to do and I handled it exactly the wrong way.
To help her feel comfortable, I got down on the floor with her and tried to play and get her interested in things.
I broke the Cardinal Rule of Preschool Drop-off. I lingered.
But I only lingered because I didn’t know any better.
Easy Ways to Prepare Your Child for Preschool
Preschool and Mother’s Day Out programs are often our children’s first experience away from mom. It can be scary for children and for parents.
On the other hand, some children are ready and don’t even give mom a second glance.
Either way, here are eight ways to prepare your child for preschool:
Meet the teacher
If possible, take your child to a Meet the Teacher program or Open House and let her play on the playground before school starts.
Playdates
Try to enroll her in a class where she already knows some of the other children. If that’s not possible, ask if you can have the class list before your child starts school.
You could offer to make your email available to the other parents so that you can arrange a playdate before school begins. Perhaps several play dates can be arranged or you will meet someone who would like to exchange play time.
Don’t be shy. The children will benefit from seeing a friendly face the first day of class.
Practice separation
Leave your child with others for short lengths of time so that they know you will return.
Backpack and lunchbox
Before school starts, help her be excited about starting school by empowering her to pick out a backpack. If she is staying all day, she’ll need a lunchbox.
Keep in mind everything you have to fit in these items.
In her backpack, she may need pull-ups, a special blankie or stuffed animal, pacifier, crib sheet and a small pillow.
You may need to put an ice pack in her lunchbox. Fill it with food you know she already likes.
Independent skills
If your child is staying all day, ask her to help you prepare her lunch.
She can stand next to you on a stool while you give her choices such as grapes or raisins, Grape or Strawberry Jello, and orange or apple juice.
That way, she’ll feel like she has some control and will also begin to understand what is really happening that day.
Focus on your child
Make the whole experience as fun as possible.
Give your child your full attention on the way to school. Phone calls can wait.
Tell her stories about when you were a little girl and how much you liked school.
Sing songs. Try a spin-off version of “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Make it, “If you’re excited to go to school, clap your hands!”
Be excited, smile a lot, and be happy for her.
Communicate
Tell her it is okay to be afraid, but that there are always adults to help her and she can ask for help anytime.
Promise her that you will pick her up in a few hours or after a certain activity at school – like when the teacher sings a certain song or reads the last book of the day.
Don’t linger
When it’s time for drop-off, keep your goodbyes short, sweet and simple.
Give her a quick hug, tell her how much you love her, and leave her in the hands of the capable teacher. Even if she’s crying hysterically, she will likely only cry for a few minutes once you’re out of sight.
But if you linger, the crying will probably last longer.
Get ready for preschool with easy name writing activities!
Overcoming separation anxiety and adjusting to school may be gradual.
Give her your full attention at home whenever possible. Ask and answer questions.
Listen and bond with books and play. Tell her that you are proud of her for going to school.
Reassure her with hugs and often tell her you love her.
Then you will hear the greatest words on earth, “I wuv u too, mommy.”
You can visit Katie Norris at Mommy with Selective Memory and Susan Case at Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers.
They have co-written a book filled with many playful learning activities, saving your sanity, one project at a time: The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn (affiliate link).
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Olivia Smart says
Thank you for your advice to help practice separation with your child. I’ve been wondering how to best prepare my son for preschool. I’ll be sure to start this out this summer.
kangarookids says
Thanks for such a wonderful article on 8 way to prepare child for preschool .Looking for more such content like this .
senior high school strands says
Thank you so much for this article! This was exactly what I needed.
Taylor Hansen says
Thanks for mentioning putting ice in the lunchbox when packing lunches. I need to find a new preschool for my daughter and I’m worried about her being shy. I’ll remember these tips to help her ease to preschool.
Taylor Wright says
It’s great that you elaborated on keeping goodbyes short and leaving the child in the hands of the teacher. My daughter starts preschool soon and I’m worried that she will have separation anxiety. I’ll have to come back to these tips when the time comes closer so I can prepare her for school.
Ellen Hughes says
I like that you suggested bringing your child to a Meet the Teacher program before school starts to make sure that they are going to be prepared. My husband and I want to find a preschool for our son. One of our goals is to ensure his comfort while studying. We’ll do all your tips to make sure that it will be easy for him to adjust while in school.
Hanna says
This is a great guide for parents to understand the psychology better because there are many ways you can provide motivation for your child to go school and take interest in their studies.
swetha says
Thank you for the interesting post and which could be useful for the teachers, parents, and as well as for the children.
Jana says
I’m a preschool teacher and we had many kids that would cry when mom left – even after attending a school for months, some kids would still cry. Do not linger. So true! It makes it so much harder when parents decide to hang out hoping their child will calm down and just simply go play with the kids. The crying really is longer if you linger!
Ellen Hughes says
I like that you suggested telling your child how much you love schooling so they can see studying as fun as possible. This is something that I will make sure to remember because I’m looking to enroll my daughter in a preschool soon. My goal is to make sure that she’ll have fun while learning so she can be more motivated. Thanks for sharing this.
Sharon Wilson Smith says
I’m glad I came across your article about preparing your child for preschool. Your tips to practice leaving my child for a short length of time sounds interesting to me. I like that you talked about how you can build the trust of your child that you will come back to fetch her after a short period of time. My daughter seems very clingy to me, which I want her to minimize because I’m looking to enroll her in preschool by next school year. As much as possible, I want her to be prepared with what she can expect in her new environment so she can easily adjust. I will make sure to follow all your tips. Thanks.
Rachel says
Good luck to you and your daughter!
Theordore Winston says
My son is about to enter preschool and somehow I wanted to ready him or at least explain to him what its gonna be in preschool. I agree with what you said that it’ll be a struggle or hard for our kids to get separated to their parents for the first time since they have to go to school and it’s true that it’s really important to talk things out before anything else and assure that your kid will understand why he has to be left for a while and why they had to go to school, in that way we’ll get our children ready and open to what’s happening around them. Thanks!
Amanda Drew says
That sounds like a good idea to have your kid help you make his or her lunch so that he or she feels like they’re in control of at least one part of the day. My daughter is almost three, and I think that it’s time to start her formal education with preschool. She’s really excited to learn how to read. I’ll just have to find her a good preschool to go to.
Deb Pearl says
My son is almost old enough to go to preschool and I would love to prepare him to go. That is a good idea to practice separation just so he gets used to me not being around. I wouldn’t want him to hate preschool just because I wasn’t there. Thanks for the tips!
Janney Marin says
Love the suggestions. Parents have to be careful when choosing a preschool for their child and must not go by the face value of the school. Preparing the child isn’t the only important step, parents must plan beforehand of the admission phase for the preschool in NYC. Here’s something I wrote about that – http://bit.ly/2pRQ6Ga
Leviticus Bennett says
I like your point to prepare a lunch for your child that you know he or she likes. It’s a good idea to associate preschool with good experiences so that your child will want to keep going. Another way to do this is to go out for a treat after preschool every once in awhile.
Johnny McCarron says
I love your advice to meet the teacher. I think that a lot of people don’t understand how big of a difference it makes to be familiar with those that are taking care of your children. You want to be sure that you are familiar with the different teaching styles and philosophies. Do you have any other tips about finding someone to take care of your children at preschool?
Jay Jorgenson says
I really like what was said about practicing separating from your child. I know this is just as hard for the parent sometimes as it is with the child. I remember when I was in preschool I was afraid to leave my mom, but it was all better once I got used to pre-school. It should be a good thing because most pre-schools try to make it fun for the kids, which will help them to easily forget about their parents.
Kendall Ryder says
Meeting the teacher can hopefully help your child to feel a bit better about everything. That way, the first day won’t be so hard for them. There will be a familiar face for them! That can hopefully take away some of their anxiety!
April Cook says
I like your tip to practice separation. If preschool is the first time you are apart, it will be hard for both of you! I think it is also a good idea to not make the hellos and goodbyes emotional or drawn out. Kids pick up on emotions, and this way they wont think that it is a big deal that you are being separated for a bit. Thanks for all these great tips!
Kyle O'Ren says
I totally agree with your tip to not linger! Our first had a really hard time because we stayed too long when we dropped her off the first time. The shorter we made our goodbyes, the easier it seemed to be on her.
Sagarika Sahana says
Truly, similar experience many of us, parents must have felt before with our little kids; isn’t horrible; but until you do not know the right ways to handle the situation. A para “Teacher’s Advice” says a lot more helpful. Yes, talking to a teacher, understanding how exactly they deal with so and how you can cooperate them doing it – is what can benefit both your child and you to stay calm. Reaching to the preschool premises a bit earlier and staying with your child for sometimes can also sooth them; yes before actually the class starts off (making them feel that you would return sooner; yes very importantly).
Certainly, pretty good advices!
Elcy says
I love your blog. Life Skills and etc. I feel like I am such a horrible parent, I can’t think of these on my own. Can I read a book that could help and guide me?
Darla says
Great information, I really like the don’t linger part and getting them excited by allowing them to pick out a new backpack and lunch box. Parents would be surprise how these things help. Lingering in the class, it just upsets the child more, and its confusing to them.
handsonaswegrow says
And lingering is the hardest parts for parents not to do!
Infant toddler preschool in Yorba Linda says
As a parent, one must ensure that the kid understands that you are always there for him and preschool is not going to be a bad but an enjoyable experience for him. The little one will obviously take some time to get used to the schedule but once he is set, it will be an enjoyable experience for him.
Emily says
Good list! We also found it helpful to read books about separation for school, like Oh, My Baby, Little One (Kathi Appelt) and The Kissing Hand (Audrey Penn).
Mary Catherine says
As a preschool teacher, I absolutely love this list! And as a mama, I can understand the lingering! :) I must admit my favorite item on the above list relates to independence. It can be frustrating (and sometimes messy) to allow your kiddo the time to try things independently, but it is awesome preparation for school and life! OK, I will stop rambling now!!