Surviving Drop-Off the First Day of Preschool

You have a beautiful toddler that is friendly with others, loves to play, and ready for new challenges. This is a good sign they are ready for taking on the wonders of preschool! You find an excellent program that you feel is a good fit for your family and register to start. The first day is looming, and you may even wonder if you made the right decision. Is your toddler ready for this? Are you ready for this?

The first day of preschool is one of the most important days for your toddler. The very first day will help determine how your child will adjust to this new thing - preschool. Don't be overwhelmed! There are a couple simple things you can do to help make this transition a good one for you and your toddler.

As a preschool teacher, the first day is also one of the longest and hardest. I always spend lots of time preparing my learning space to make it exciting and enticing to the new little ones. I display and showcase all my new and special activities to help the students through the door and out of the loving arms of mom and dad. Whether they are returning or new toddlers, the first day is sometimes frustrating for everyone involved. The appointed drop-off time approaches and I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what is to come. Honestly, sometimes the parents are more challenging than the preschoolers!

There are a couple things you can do as parents to make the first day of preschool a fantastic one. Make sure to talk with your toddler about what is going to happen on the first day. Tell them about their new school and explain the different activities they will enjoy - playing outside, learning new things, making friends, and eating snacks. When a youngster has an idea of what to expect, they feel more in control of what is to come. This will help the transition from being home with you to spending time at school more comfortable.

As a teacher, I always welcome parents calling about helpful hints to assist with the first day of school. Preschool teachers are a special breed of people that are willing to deal with handfuls of toddlers at a one time. Don't be afraid to contact your teacher at your preschool to see what their suggestions are, school policies you should be aware of, and ideas for your specific concerns. Many schools have pre-first day activities to allow families to spend time at the school before the first day. Make sure to take advantage of these options to help familiarize yourself and your toddler with the new environment.

On the first day, try to allow your toddler some ownership of the situation. Let them pick out their first day outfit or decide what their first day lunch will be. This will give them something to feel special about. Make sure to allow some extra time for drop-off. I usually suggest 20 extra minutes for the first day. This way you won't feel rushed and then overwhelmed when you are running late. Try not to send your child off with a special toy to take with them. If they misplace it during the day, this could be extremely traumatic. Give them a special sticker or small object from you that they can look at during the day to remind them of you. Even a colorful piece of string around their wrist is a great little reminder.

When you get to the school, remember to keep your emotions in check. This is a big day for you, too! If your toddler sees you sad or emotional, it will make them confused and frustrated, potentially creating challenges. Stay positive and take your child to their appointed area. Engage your child in an activity with other children or the teacher. Avoid getting involved yourself! This will keep you longer and make it more difficult to leave. Remind your toddler when you will be returning to pick them up and correlate it with an activity. If you are coming after lunch, let them know you will see them as soon as they finish eating, and follow through on your promise. Spend a few minutes looking around the room and telling your child how fun everything looks and that you are excited to hear how their day goes. After a couple minutes, let your preschooler know you are leaving, give a big kiss goodbye, and make your way to the door.

Hopefully, things will go well. Many times, things will not. Keep your composure when things go awry, your teachers are there to help! I have had many a morning where I had to physically hold a child when mom or dad leaves or cornered a tantruming child during drop off. Remember, you chose this preschool and trust and respect the teachers! They will call you if things don't calm down after you leave. If you show your child that you feel confident about leaving them at preschool, they will feel the same way.

Don't be tempted to run back and comfort your child, or take them home and give in to their cries. This will only send mixed signals to your little one, and then they will think if they continue the behavior, they will get the same response. Try not to linger if your child is having a difficult time. This only prolongs the disaster. Give your child a big kiss and hug, let them know you love them and leave. It's going to be hard, but keep walking out the door! Your persistence will be rewarded with your child loving going to preschool in the future! It doesn't look that way right now - but they will have positive drop-offs if you stick to your guns!

The first day of preschool is full of fun and also challenging moments. If you set up a plan of attack and use your preschool teachers as support, drop off can be a smooth transition without any complications. Set a routine and stick to it! You can have a great first day!