Susan GrahamFirst Days of Preschool
June 6th 2008 03:01
Your child’s first days of preschool can be stressful on you and your child. I just wanted to offer some advice and some tips to make this transition to school easier for you both.
The first step to prepare your child for preschool is to take your child to the school and introduce him to his teacher. Take your child on a tour and show him where everything is and what he will be doing at school. Get excited about his new adventure. Talk to your child about what to expect. Have a countdown to the first day of school, just as you would for Christmas or a birthday. If you make school a fun adventure, than your child will view it as one too. Do NOT just drop your child off the first day without a visit to the school first. They have to feel secure and know what to expect. Even if your child is a 2 year old, they still need that first tour with mom.
Try to have as normal of a routine as you can the first day of school. Walk your child to the classroom and get down to his level and give him a hug and tell him when you will be back. Be excited! Use excited tones. Tell him how much fun he is going to have at school. When the teacher gets your child involved in an activity let your child know that it is time for you to go, but that you will be back. Since your preschooler really doesn’t have a concept of time on the clock yet, give him an idea by checking his daily school schedule and say something like “I will be back to get you after naptime” NEVER leave a child without saying goodbye. He will feel abandoned and scared. Try to have your child to school at the same time every day and pick him up at the same time every day. Routine and structure are so important in the life of a preschooler.
Do not hang out at the doorway to watch, if you child sees you there it will upset your child. If your child is crying when you leave then reassure the child that school is fun and that you WILL be back. Then leave. Let the teacher do his job. In my many years of experience with the drop off of children to school, I have found that children can be little drama kings and queens. When they no longer see their mother, the tears stop, and they start engaging in the fun. Ask the teacher later how your child did after you left, or if it makes you feel better, call and ask how he is doing. A lot of preschools now have cameras so that you can see for yourself without your child seeing you.
If you did your homework on picking the right preschool and you took the proper steps to get your child excited about his preschool experience – have no fear – your child will adjust, learn, and have a great experience! Be strong, be excited and your child will be too!
The first step to prepare your child for preschool is to take your child to the school and introduce him to his teacher. Take your child on a tour and show him where everything is and what he will be doing at school. Get excited about his new adventure. Talk to your child about what to expect. Have a countdown to the first day of school, just as you would for Christmas or a birthday. If you make school a fun adventure, than your child will view it as one too. Do NOT just drop your child off the first day without a visit to the school first. They have to feel secure and know what to expect. Even if your child is a 2 year old, they still need that first tour with mom.
Try to have as normal of a routine as you can the first day of school. Walk your child to the classroom and get down to his level and give him a hug and tell him when you will be back. Be excited! Use excited tones. Tell him how much fun he is going to have at school. When the teacher gets your child involved in an activity let your child know that it is time for you to go, but that you will be back. Since your preschooler really doesn’t have a concept of time on the clock yet, give him an idea by checking his daily school schedule and say something like “I will be back to get you after naptime” NEVER leave a child without saying goodbye. He will feel abandoned and scared. Try to have your child to school at the same time every day and pick him up at the same time every day. Routine and structure are so important in the life of a preschooler.
Do not hang out at the doorway to watch, if you child sees you there it will upset your child. If your child is crying when you leave then reassure the child that school is fun and that you WILL be back. Then leave. Let the teacher do his job. In my many years of experience with the drop off of children to school, I have found that children can be little drama kings and queens. When they no longer see their mother, the tears stop, and they start engaging in the fun. Ask the teacher later how your child did after you left, or if it makes you feel better, call and ask how he is doing. A lot of preschools now have cameras so that you can see for yourself without your child seeing you.
If you did your homework on picking the right preschool and you took the proper steps to get your child excited about his preschool experience – have no fear – your child will adjust, learn, and have a great experience! Be strong, be excited and your child will be too!
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