Getting Ready for Back to School Time

Starting preschool is a big milestone for children and parents. Separation anxiety can be a significant hurdle for both of you. Our team at Kids ‘R Kids Avalon Park has years of experience helping families overcome this anxiety.

We work hard to create a welcoming and calming environment where children can safely overcome their phobias and thrive. Ensuring the safety of the children and families in our care has never been more important to us. (Scroll below to find out more about how we have stepped up our safety precautions to protect the children, staff, and families in our care from COVID).

How you prepare your VPK-age child at home for preschool can also help them defeat separation anxiety. We’ve rounded up a few of the best strategies from child development experts that you can use to make this transition easier for you and your child.

How to Help Your Preschooler Overcome Separation Anxiety

Talk them through the new routine.

Reach out to the preschool to find out what the daily routine will look like. Then walk your child through what their school day will look like. Try to be as specific as you can, mentioning the name of their new school and teacher and what to expect at the beginning and end of each day. Also, let them know about any fun activities or facts about their preschool that might excite them.

Visit the school and meet with their teacher.

Taking your toddler to visit their new school and meet their teacher beforehand can play a vital role in making your child feel comfortable there. It allows them to get familiar with space and see that you know and trust their teacher.

Playschool at home.

Playing pretend school with your child is another tool to make the adjustment easier. Use their preschool’s routine as a guide for how you play out school with your child and their toys.

Talk about preschool positively.

Children pick up on your attitude as much as they do your behaviors. If it sounds like you are worried about sending them to preschool, they are more likely to worry about it too. Try to sound excited and confident when you talk to them about preschool. When you touch base with them about their feelings about this new transition, be sure to ask open-ended questions. Instead of asking, “What scares you about attending preschool?”; ask, “How are you feeling about starting preschool?”

Read books to them about preschool.

Reading books to your child about going to preschool is another way to prepare them mentally. These stories can help them process their feelings and learn coping strategies. Brightly has a wonderful list of books to help get your child ready for PreK.

If you’d like more tips on how to help your child overcome separate anxiety about VPK, chat with one of our team members! Many VPK-age children and toddlers have phobias about entering preschool or child care. Our teachers and staff are experienced in helping parents and children navigate these fears. We know that anxiety is running exceptionally high this year. Creating a safe, supportive environment where young children can begin their education is more important than ever.

To protect our students, staff, and their families, we have enhanced our safety procedures. We have:

Increased Sanitation – All surfaces in our facility are disinfected multiple times a day, before and after use.

Mandated that Staff Wear Masks – All of our teachers and staff wear masks.

Facilitated Frequent Handwashing – Teachers practice frequent hand washing and ensure that the children also follow handwashing procedures

Limited Contact – No unplanned, outside visitors are allowed on the premises.

Upgraded to Keyless Entry – All locked doors have a keyless entry at all times.

Our new, state-of-the-art building will be opening soon! It will have four dedicated VPK classrooms where your student will participate in interactive learning with Smart Boards and ABC Mouse curriculum. Sign up to be notified when registration for the new facility opens!