Preschool is a great place for your child to make new friends! Childhood friends are important to your child’s development—socially and emotionally. They will learn how to interact with each other, learn how to understand others, and will learn to respond to others’ emotions. Here are questions to ask your child about their new friends at school:

Who did you play with today?

This is a great way to find out who your child is friends with at school. If your child only plays with one other friend at preschool, you can encourage them to play with other friends. Or, you can find out why this friend is so special to your child.

How can you be kind today?

One way to encourage kindness from your child is to ask them how they can be kind to their friends. Encourage them to take turns on the playground, or share their toys, or help others clean up. Follow up at the end of the day to find out how they were kind to their friends. This will help to encourage positive behaviors with their preschool classmates.

How are your friends unique?

We Are All Wondersis a great book to encourage your child to see what makes their friends unique. No two people are the same, and likewise, no two preschoolers are the same. Talk to your child about what makes their new friends unique and what they like about their friends.

How did your friends feel today?

Preschool teachers often spend time helping their students to understand their feelings. Ask your child how their friends felt today. This will encourage them to think of others and how they respond to their friends’ feelings. Why was your friend sad? What happened when your friend was upset? This will help them to connect with their friends, but also help them to connect actions to feelings.

While your child may not always remember their preschool friends, they are important for your child’s development. Encourage your child’s friendships by asking about her classmates and what happened at school each day. This will let them know that their friends are important to you, too!

There are countless factors to consider when looking for the right preschool. Use our Comparison Checklist to cover all of your bases and make the right decision for you and your family!

Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Oviedo located in Oviedo, Florida? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.