The first day of preschool is hard for both parties. It may be the first time the children have been away from the parents for an extended period of time. Extra planning and preparation can help make the first day of preschool easier for you and your child.
Stay Positive
Children will pick up on any negative emotions you convey. If you show that you are worried or stressed, they will start their day off on the wrong foot. No matter what your emotions are, stay positive and keep smiling on their first day of preschool.
Checklist
Ensure that you have everything prepared the night before. Have your child help pick out their outfit, pack their lunch or snacks, and more the previous day. Make sure you have a backpack ready. Pack pencils, erasers, a pencil box, notebooks, folders, and tissues!
Arrive Early
Arrive with plenty of time for a thorough goodbye. This will allow your child to adjust to their new surroundings before you leave. Don’t ever sneak off without saying goodbye to your child, even if they get distracted with another activity. They need to get used to the idea of being without you, which includes saying a proper goodbye.
Adjust to the Schedule
Help your child adjust to the schedule the week before starting preschool. Set a specific wakeup time and go through the morning routine. This will help minimize new experiences that may overwhelm your child.
Provide Expectations
Describe preschool thoroughly to your child, so that they will know exactly what to expect. Having expectations can help them become more easily accustomed to new situations.
Proper preparation will make preschool much easier for you and your child. Though tears are very common, you must stay positive. Communicate thoroughly with your child to ensure that they understand what to expect from this new part of their life.
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