10 Tips for Preparing A Child For Preschool (from a former teacher!)

With the school year quickly approaching, there are a whole new group of children getting ready to step into a classroom for the very first time.  This whole change and its period of adjustment can be quite upsetting to both the parent and the child.  As a teacher, I experienced the whole range of attitudes toward the beginning school transition in my students.  There were the ones who were excited to start school and adjusted to school almost immediately, and then there were the ones like Princess, who suffered from some extreme separation anxiety for weeks and weeks at drop off time. (Which is what lead me to teaching, so I wouldn't have to go thru that horrible drop off!)

Thinking back to those weeks, both Princess and I were emotional wrecks.   When I later started teaching I realized that it is not uncommon at all, and as a parent I should not have felt so embarrassed or upset about it.  So here are my tips for parents of soon to be preschoolers that will hopefully make the transition as smooth and happy as possible, especially for the children like my Princess.

1.  Give yourself at least two weeks to get adjusted to your school schedule.  A lot of people will tell you one week, but if you're regularly going to bed past midnight, you should really start earlier.  At least two weeks before the first day, get your child (and yourself) to bed much earlier, and use the enemy of sleepy people everywhere (an alarm clock) to wake up at your school year wake up time.  A longer period to adjust your sleep schedules makes the adjustment easier to handle.

2.  Read books about starting school to your child.  There are plenty of books out there that are great for introducing what school is all about and some of the things a child can expect there.  As you read the story, take time to point out and talk about the activities and items that your child will be seeing and using in their classroom.  A few great ones are (all can be ordered thru Amazon for just a few dollars!):

Froggy Goes To School by Jonathan London Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins David Goes to School by David Shannon

 3.  Give them a chance to become familiar with their new school surroundings.  If your school offers a "meet and greet" afternoon, definitely make sure your child gets to attend.  If they don't (as I've found many schools don't) take your child on a tour of the school grounds that you can explore.  Let them play for awhile on the playground, look thru the windows at the classrooms, point out where the bathrooms, office, and water fountains are.  Do this a few times before school starts.  The more they visit the grounds, the more familiar they will become with their surroundings.  Familiarity breeds comfort and security.  

 4.  Teach your child how to be self reliant.  Send them to school in clothes that are easy to pull off and put back on.  Teach them to wash their hands after using the bathroom, and how to unzip their jacket.  A self reliant child is a confident child, and it prevents them from having to shyly ask the teacher for assistance, or worse, being too uncomfortable and scared to ask at all!

5.  Talk to them about what they can expect.  A lot.  Go thru the whole day from drop off to pick up, explaining what they can expect each part to be like.  Let them ask questions.  Answer them in a calming (not excitable) way.  You don't have to know the exact schedule, just be assuring that it isn't going to be hard or scary.  Remind them that someone will always be there to pick him/her up at the end of the school day.

 6.  Write a note of introduction to your child's teacher.  Give your child's teacher some background on your child.  Tell them about your child's interests and favorite activities.  Include a little about your family, pets, just anything that can help the teacher start a conversation and relate to your child and help make everybody feel a little more at ease.

7.  Send your child to school with a little piece of home.  It can be a bracelet, locket, even a folded up love note that they can keep in their pocket.  Something simple that can provide a connection to you and their home.  This adds a little layer of security and comfort that can help calm fears when a child is in new surroundings.

8.  Send your child to school with everything they'll need.  Granted, some preschools provide the supplies, so you won't need to buy a ton of stuff.  There is no harm however, in sending a little folder, pencils, markers, crayons and a glue stick along in your child's backpack.  Not only does this provide for a little confidence boost (children love pulling out their own supplies!) but it also gives the teacher an opportunity to praise your child for their smart thinking, instantly adding to the child's feelings of 'yes, this school is fun.  I like it here.'

 9.  At drop off, let the teacher take the lead.  Some teachers will ask that your drop  offs and goodbyes to be kept brief, while others will ask that you take your leave slowly after your child has had a bit of time to transition into school mode.  There is no right or wrong way to deal with drop off times.  Teachers know that transitions can be hard for little ones, and they have strategies and ideas in place for these tough times.  Teachers are also trained in gauging the emotions of each child and adapting their strategies to make each child's transition as smooth as possible.  If you're unsure how your child's teacher would like your drop offs to be like, just ask!

10. Don't be embarrassed by how your child initially reacts.  As I mentioned, my students reactions ran the gamut from excited to scared silent.  If your child runs right into class and starts dumping out blocks, that's okay!  If your child suddenly has the grip of a hundred men and will not let go of your leg, that's okay too!  Really, it is.  Teachers know this happens.  It's not a bad reflection on you as a parent either way.  They won't hold it against you, so just shrug it off as no big deal.

 Also, remember, as a parent when you're dropping off your baby on their first day, that it's okay to cry a little yourself.  They've grown up so fast, the time has flown by...and now you both are embarking on the long journey through the school years.  It's a big step.  Good job!

Here's where I linked up!

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/