Getting Ready for Preschool

Getting Ready for Preschool

As a parent, are you ready to send your child to preschool?  Support for preschool has been a hot topic recently across the nation.  A Harvard University study of Boston Public Schools’ free pre-kindergarten program published in March, 2013 - reveals that children who attend preschool can acquire lifelong advantages; including learning to focus and staying on task.  And according to an Oregon State University study, your child will have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college.

Starting preschool can be an anxious time for your child and yourself.  Often parents have more trouble with the transition than the child does!  Here are some practical tips for helping you and your child have a successful start to preschool this year!

1. Routine is king.  Practice the new routine of getting ready and going to school - before the first day.  The more prepared everyone is, the better.  Children perform best when they know what to expect.
2. Meet and greet.  Set up a time for your child to meet her teacher and see the classroom.  Some preschools have teachers conduct a home visit or have students visit the school to explore the classroom.  Setting up a play date in your home with a future classmate is also a great way to make that first day go more smoothly.
3. Calm fears.  Ask your child about anything she might be afraid of.  Explain that other kids feel the same way and that’s fine.
4. Be comforting.  Reassure your child she will have fun and believe it yourself.
5. Make your exit short and sweet.  Don’t linger once you say goodbye at the classroom door.
6. Keep informed.  Touch base with your child’s teacher regularly.
7. Get involved.  Participate in school functions.
8. Be positive.  Even if your child had a bad day, find one thing she enjoyed.
9. Have a routine.  Preschool helps regulate schedules for naps, bedtime and wake-up times.
10. Have a backup plan.  Prepare to have a child who cries or melts down at preschool.  Ask your teacher if it is OK to bring a comfort object.  Inquire if there is a quiet space in the classroom for your child to go to if she needs to calm down.
11. Get those shots.  Licensed preschools follow state vaccination requirements.  Be sure your child’s shots are up to date.

Information provided by Ari Brown, M.D., FAAP