First-Day Fun: Tips for a Great First Day of Preschool

Whether your child is starting preschool for the first time or has attended preschool in the past, the first day of school can be scary for little ones and nerve-wracking for Mom and Dad. There are many things parents can do to make the day start and finish on a happy note.

Try to have your child get plenty of sleep the night before. Some would say this is stating the obvious; others would call it the Impossible Dream. While it is always difficult to settle children down for sleep when there is excitement in the air, most parents would agree that adequate sleep is essential in this case. Make sure discussions about school take place well ahead of time so that children can be relaxed and confident the evening before starting school. Now is not the time to bring up anything that can cause distress in the child. Start the bedtime routine early and keep it peaceful and relaxed.

Plan to have your child's favorite breakfast. Even if your family normally starts the day with cold cereal or toaster pastries, today is the perfect day for a special breakfast. This also allows you to be sure that your child has begun the day with adequate nouishment since preschoolers sometimes must adjust to eating at school because the excitement and distractions can be overwhelming at first.

Help your child choose an outfit. Hassles and delays over getting dressed can often be avoided simply by allowing the preschooler to choose his own clothes. This is most easily accomplished by laying out two outfits yourself and having your child choose between the two. If you are buying new clothes for school, consider taking your little one with you to choose the first-day outfit himself even if you will be doing most of the school shopping alone.

Pack a backpack. Pack a change of clothing including socks along with extra diapers, pull-ups, or underwear. If your child sleeps with a stuffed animal, pacifier, or favorite blanket, be sure to include these for naptime. The small toddler-size backpacks are perfect for several reasons. Storage space for such items will be limited in the classroom and larger bags can be a problem for some teachers. Also, the smaller bag limits what can be carried and allows the child to carry his own things. Do not allow your child to pack toys in the backpack. No matter how much he begs or promises to leave the toy in the bag, it inevitably happens that the toys are taken out in the classroom. This, of course, causes arguments and tears when every child present wants to hold the toy, but the owner of the toy naturally does not want to share what belongs to him personally. Your child's teacher will appreciate you for helping her avoid this scene by leaving toys at home. This also applies to candy, gum, jewelry, money, and small trinkets. These are always best left at home. Books are the one exception to this rule because they can be read to the children by the teacher and most teachers will be happy for your child to bring a book to share with the class. Packing the backpack the night before will, of course, save a great deal of time in the morning and will ensure that nothing is forgotten.

Pack a lunch if needed. If your child's preschool does not provide a lunch, you will need to provide lunch in a lunchbox. The first day of school is not the time to try something new. Pack your child's tried-and-true favorites so that he will be more likely to eat when lunchtime comes. In most states, the Department of Social Services will have rules and guidelines about what schools and daycares may give preschoolers to eat. Do not send popcorn, hard candy, or any type of nuts in your child's lunchbox. Hot dogs and grapes should be cut lengthwise and apples should be peeled and sliced. Otherwise, these items can be a choking hazard. Do not expect your child's teacher to cut, peel, slice, or heat any foods. With a roomful of children to watch, she will be too busy. Send your child's foods to school ready-to-eat. Cold foods may be packed with a cold gel pack and hot foods in a small Thermos. Alway use an insulated lunchbox to keep foods at the proper temperature.

Talk to your child ahead of time about what will happen at school. Explain to your child that he will be attending school and tell him what he can expect from the experience. Emphasize the positive. Don't dwell on he fact that he will be separated from you during the day. If your child has attended preschool previously, explain that when returning to school in the fall, he will have a new classroom, a new teacher, and probably a mix of old friends and new. Small children are always confused by this. Again, the night before school starts is not the best time for this talk. Begin to prepare your child a couple of weeks before school starts.

Do a diaper check or have your child potty just before leaving home. The big day has finally arrived! Now you must get your child out the door and on the way to school. In the rush to be on the way, take time to make sure your child's diaper is dry or have your potty-trained preschooler use the bathroom before leaving home. The classroom will be a hectic place during arrival time, especially on the first day. Your child's teacher may not have time to check diapers right away (and she will thank you if your child is always dropped off clean and dry). A child who is trained or training may forget to go to the bathroom in all the excitement.

Arrive on time. A late arrival may embarrass even the smallest children and make them feel self-conscious. Your child will also miss out on valuable learning experiences and bonding time with friends. A late arrival can also be frustrating for the teacher because certain activities may need to be delayed in order to accommodate all children.

Have your child walk into the building and into the classroom rather than being carried. Teachers know that young children who are carried into the classroom in a parent's arms will usually have a difficult time separating from the parent and will cling to the parent and refuse to be put down. Allowing your child to walk into his classroom sets up a physical separation and boundary that makes emotional separation easier. Your child enters the room on the same level as his peers (both physically and mentally) which puts him at a great advantage over the child who is carried like an infant. This independence is often hard for parents to accept, but is essential for the well-being of the child.

Have your child carry his own things. Children feel very grown-up and important when going to school carrying their own bags. A small toddler-size backpack will make it easy for your child to wear the backpack and a lunchbox with a short handle is easy for a small child to hold. This will help to foster independence and pride in the child and helps to make separation from the parent easier, just as walking into the classroom does.

Do not delay your departure. The sooner you can make a discreet but hasty exit, the better for your child. Say your goodbyes at the door and keep it short and sweet. If your child cries or begs you not to leave, prolonging your departure will only prolong the tears. Your child will feel more secure and confident if he sees that you are confident about leaving him in the teacher's care. Teachers are experienced in helping the distraught child to calm down and integrate into the classroom and most children will only cry for a few minutes. The sooner you can leave your child in the teacher's capable hands, the sooner the teacher can help your child settle down and have fun at school. Save socializing with other parents for the hallway, out of sight and earshot of the classroom. If you find that you have forgotten to leave something or you have a question, do not return to the classroom under any circumstances. This is a fool-proof way to upset your child even is he was happy when you left the first time.

Do not plan on remaining in the classroom with your child. This is the child's time to learn independence and relating to people other than Mommy and Daddy. If you stay at school with your child, even for a short time, you are defeating the purpose of having him there. A parent sitting with the child in the classroom is confusing to all of the children, especially the one whose parent is present. It will cause even more tears and upset than simply dropping the child off because your child will always be unsure of when you will stay or go and will never know what to expect. Your child's teacher may smile and chat with you if you are in the classroom, but secretly she may feel a lack of respect for you because of your inability to be firm with your child and trust her to care for your child. Once your child has adjusted to being at school, he will be very proud of himself for learning to handle a new experience.

Pick up on time. Just as arriving late is hard on your child, so is being picked up late. Most children will begin to worry and may become upset if picked up late.

Relax and enjoy your day! Trust that your child is in capable and loving hands and will be having fun while at school. Your little one will quickly adjust to school and the classroom routine and will soon be anxious to get to school and play with friends!