As a toddler mom, I wanted to make sure my son was ready for preschool. I didn’t want to drop off an anxious child on the first day of school. That’s not good for anybody involved. As a teacher, I see dropoffs happen daily. Some are good, some need improvement. So I decided to do a few things to make sure my son was ready. Here are 5 ways to make sure your toddler is ready for preschool.
Talk to your child daily about their big day of starting school.
Children love structure and routines. They like to know what’s coming next. Speak to them about starting preschool. Tell them when they will start, talk to them about how their day will be and tell them how great it is going to be. It is a great idea to begin a countdown with them so that when the day comes their excited and not nervous or afraid.
Take your child to see their new school and new teacher on a few occasions.
It is important that you are not just dropping your child off at a random place and expecting them to be okay. Take your child to meet their teacher and their new friends that will help them to adjust well on their first day.
Start working with your child at home.
Kids love to participate in class by showing what they know. Working with them at home will boost their confidence to do this. This will also be a help to the educational partnership between you and your child’s teacher. Now I know as a busy mom sometimes it can be hard to find the time, but find 15-20 minutes a day to work with your child. I recently started to do this at home with my toddlers. I got ABCmouse for them and it’s great. They love the iPad and playing games and ABCmouse combines the two. It’s just like they are playing the games they love but they are learning at the same time. So for a busy mother like me, it’s perfect. Plus I got the first month free!
Bring a lovey or picture of the family.
Your child can look at it throughout the day. It is normal for your child to start missing you throughout their first few days of preschool. Having a picture of a special toy can comfort them during those times. Talk to the teacher about allowing them a few minutes with it during the day if needed.
Make your goodbye short and sweet.
If you have done the above your child should be okay. Smile and reassure your child how great their day is going to be. Give them a hug and kiss, turn them over to their teacher and leave. Simple. If your toddler is having a hard time, do not allow it to upset you. Drop them off just as you would if they were not upset. You must show your child you trust their teacher to care for them, for your child to trust them too. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your long extended goodbye at drop-off is making it worse.
When your child knows what to expect and is ready for preschool they will be much happier.
It will make the transition so much easier for you and them.
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