Starting preschool is a huge step for most toddlers. It marks the beginning of a new phase in your child’s development. If your 3-year-old is starting preschool in a few months, you may be approaching this incredible milestone with conflicting emotions. Preparing your child academically for preschool may be different than what you are expecting. Simple things like reading, playing, exploring together, and making sure your child can follow simple directions will help prepare them for the more structured environment of preschool.
Check out some of these helpful tips our preschool educators put together:
- Visit the Preschool. Schedule a trip to your child’s new classroom and ask to meet their new preschool teacher sometime over the summer so they know what to expect. Letting them get a preview of the layout of the classroom and who they will see every day can help ease their fears of jumping into the unknown. The more your child knows what to expect, the less they will have anxiety about when they get dropped off the first day at school.
- Share “Ready for School” Books. Spend time reading books right before bedtime or during a relaxing part of the day that discuss the topic of starting school. Some excellent books include”: “Maisy Goes to Preschool” by Lucy Cousins, as well as “Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney.
- Pretend Play. One great thing about young children is that they have a penchant for pretend play. Utilize this to prepare them for preschool by “acting it out.” Pretend that you’re going to school, hanging up your backpack, and sitting in circle time with their friends, and meeting new people. You can help your child learn what to expect by playing games, reading stories, and mimicking the type of daily schedule they can expect during their time at school. This is a great opportunity to show your children how to get someone’s attention, take turns, or join in play with their peers.
- Hone Self-Help Skills. One of the major changes your child will face when going to school is the developmental need for independence. You can assist your toddler in mastering self-help skills by making them practice washing their hands, pulling up their pants, buttoning their jacket, putting on their shoes, using utensils, etc. All of this will be expected of them as they enter their new daily schedule at school.
- Listen to Your Child’s Worries. Beginning preschool is an exciting adventure that many kids & parents look forward to, but it’s normal for both of you to have feelings of anxiety and apprehension. The best support you can give your child is to allow them to express those feelings. Although it may be tempting to simply reassure your toddler that everything will be OK and move on, it’s important to let your child know that his worries have been heard. No matter what they are, big or small, children’s worries about preschool can significantly influence their experience there. Young children may regress in one area as they make developmental growth in another. Just know this is all normal and expected, and with proper support, these will only be minor, short-term setbacks.
- Get in the Schedule. Your toddler will have a new wakeup and generally a new bedtime routine beyond just their new schedule at school. Work to create a calm, peaceful environment at home and start working over the summer to develop a morning routine that includes getting dressed, eating breakfast, gathering up everything needed for school, as well as a new bedtime routine that includes laying out clothes for the following day and talking about any emotions that they’d like to discuss. Developing consistent, predictable routines a few weeks before school starts will make the transition much smoother.
Contact our Preschool Teachers and the Early Education Team at Kids ‘R’ Kids Avalon Park and schedule a visit at our beautiful new campus. We are excited to offer the very best in preschool curriculum and a fantastic & fun first educational experience for your child.