Preschool and Your Child

If you are ready to send your child to preschool, you should start preparing your little one and yourself. Here are a few ways to start the process of preschool readiness.

Make a list of the preschools you are interested in. Make time to go and visit the schools without your child. Spend at least half an hour to an hour at each school. Observe and make notes. Do the children seem happy? Are the teachers happy and calm? Are the children respectful? Is there structure or are the children just running about? Are the classrooms clean and orderly?

Ask questions of the teachers. How long have they been teaching? What are their behavior standards and expectations? How do they handle behavior problems? Find out what the routine is every day. Ask about the educational aspects of the program at each school. By visiting and observing schools, and meeting the staff, you will find the preschool that is right for you and your child.

Visit the preschool with your child. Let your child know that you are both visiting, and seeing what the other children do at school. Have your child meet the teacher. Your child will feel better knowing that you and his soon to be teacher are friends. Find out if you can repeat this visit once or twice more with your child, if you feel this will help your child get accustomed to the school and the other children.

Talk about the new school at home. Remind your child that you will be letting him stay and play sometimes and then you will be coming back to pick him up. Pretend play and act out the dropping off and picking up. Listen to any concerns your child has, and reassure him.

Set up a playdate as soon as possible. Try and meet some other parents and their children and set up a time for your child and theirs to get together and play outside of the precholl setting.

Keep to a routine. Always take the same steps when you drop off your child at preschool. If you walk them to the cubby to put away his things, then always follow that routine. If you go with your child to greet the teacher next, then always follow that routine. Routines make the child feel secure and less nervous. Always remind your child that you will be back to pick them up after nap, snack time, story time, or whenever you usually return. Try to keep the picking up routine as stable as possible, especially in the beginning weeks. Always call if you are going to be late. Your child will be looking for you when he knows you should be arriving.

Do you stay or do you go? This is the hard part. The first day that you will actually be taking your child to preschool and leaving can be emtionally tough. Some children will be fine (mommies and daddies may not!). But some may cry and beg for their parent not to leave.

Do you stay, or do you go? I think this is a decision that only you as the parent can really make. Talk with the teacher, and get advice, but ultimately do what is best for you and your child. It can be a tough transition for some children, but ultimately all children do get used to the routine of preschool, and making friends and bringing home treasured artwork for their parents. Preschool is undoubtedly good for children, but if and whenyour child goes is a personal choice parents make. And how you as a parent introduce your child to preschool is your choice. Follow your intuition and do what you feel is best for your child.