How to prepare your child for preschool

Caregivers of preschool-aged children will soon discover that helping their children adjust to a nursery school environment takes time, patience and skill.

Older children certainly have their needs, too, and not all of them pertain to finding and buying the correct school supplies.

But the under five set needs more “TLC”. (Tender Loving Care). Luckily the beginning of most preschool sessions happens mid-September.

Those who also have older children can devote time to their older students, then concentrate on helping the younger sibling to adjust.

Here are some helpful tips to making the transition a smooth one that I gathered from a Program Director of a large pre school. Her years of experience have found these ideas to work well and make it easier for both the child and the adult to adjust to the first days, weeks and months of coming to preschool. 

Enrolling 

If a parent or guardian has enrolled the child in a preschool, then they must have thought it was a good idea and that the child will benefit from the experience.  Being “positive” about going to school is very important.  Adults should not send “mixed signals” to the child.  For instance, remarks like, “if you don’t like it there, the teacher will call me and I will come and get you”, or “if you don’t like it, you don’t have to go any more”, might tell your child to look for something that he or she will not like about school.

However, if a adult concentrates on more positive dialogue, like describing to the child the fun activities in school, like painting, playing in the gym, doing arts and crafts, then the child will be more enthusiastic about going.  It is quite natural for young children to be hesitant about going to pre-school and it often takes at least six to eight visits before they are comfortable with their new surroundings. 

Speaking of school activities, dress the child appropriately to participate in these events.  Comfortable clothing is a must, as well as safe, sturdy sneakers for them to run and play in.  Don’t dress your child in clothing that cannot be soiled by playground grass stains or easel paint.

You would be surprised how many times the teachers hear students tell them, “My mommy said not to get my clothes dirty or to make sure he “doesn’t scuff his new sneakers”. This is pre-school and a time for fun and not worrying about paint splatters. Children must get plenty of rest before each school day.  Perhaps your child only goes to pre-school several times a week.

Children spending a busy day at school need to go to bed at a sensible time, by at least 8 p.m., so they have enough rest to fully participate in the fun, but tiring, day ahead.   

Dismissal 

According to many pre-school teachers, one of the most important ways to help young children adjust to is one of the simplest.  At the end of the day, parents should make it a point to be on time for dismissal.  Young children become “anxious” when they see their friends being picked up and their mommy, daddy or babysitter has not arrived yet.

Until children are secure in their new surroundings, the pickup person should make every effort to arrive early, or at least exactly at the school’s dismissal time.  This is also a courteous thing to do for the teaching staff that may need to have their lunch recess after the morning.

Or perhaps it is an afternoon class, and the teachers have their own appointments or personal obligations to tend to after school.  Being prompt has all around benefits for everyone, including the parent that will not have to deal with a crying and upset child who will be hesitant to return the next day. 

Another important note for parents to think about is the conversation they will have during the car ride home from pre-school. Young children often will not relate what happened during class and so it is up to the parent to solicit information. A blanket question like, “What did you do in school today”, will be answered with the time old response, “nothing.”

However, if parents ask more pointed questions like, “What story did you hear today during circle time?” or “Did you paint on the easel or do finger painting?” or “Who did you play with on the playground today?” will give the child a starting point for conversation. Besides learning about your child’s day at school, this conversation will give your child practice in sharing experiences, master verbal skills and review the parts of the day he and she particularly enjoyed.

Then parents will know and understand their child’s feelings about pre-school, thereby learning that the decision made to enroll the child was indeed a very good idea!