How to prepare your child for preschool

Starting preschool is a big step for a child. Parents can play an essential role in preparing their little one for this new experience.

Following a routine provides opportunities for making decisions and acting responsibly, and having a daily schedule can help ease your child’s transition to the structure of a preschool setting. Children learn best when routines and daily schedules are established. Routines provide opportunities to learn about order, sequencing and concepts of time. Established routines make for smoother transitions and help children to prepare mentally for the day ahead while providing frameworks in which creative learning can occur.

If you don’t have a consistent schedule at home, your child will likely have difficulty adjusting to school.

Morning and bedtime routines

If done consistently, routines give the child a sense of belonging and reassurance and provides parents with frequent opportunities to connect with their child, so it’s best to be available, attentive and responsive to your child’s needs. An early morning routine can include helping your child make her bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and hair and assemble personal items.

Bedtime means sleeping in a dark room alone, which can often stir up night-time fears. A comforting routine before bedtime can include: bathing, changing into pyjamas, reading a book, brushing teeth, saying prayers, discussing the day’s events, singing a song, giving hugs and kisses, and tucking in. These tasks add closure to the day, settle down a restless child and provide additional bonding.

Set up daily chores

Even a child can clear his plate from the table, pick up toys, dress himself, feed a pet and make other small household contributions. Always give support and encouragement when chores are completed.

Plan a sneak peek of the school

It’s a good idea to visit the school ahead of time while it’s in session. Introduce your child to the teacher and give him time to observe and explore the room. If it’s not possible to visit a class during the day, visit the new school on a weekend or evening. Play on the playground and walk around the school. Explain what is going to happen there, like story times, meeting classroom pets, learning new things and eating snacks with new friends.

Look out for separation anxiety

It’s perfectly natural for children to experience separation anxiety during the first few weeks when they’re dropped off at school. Be prepared for a few tears, but stay positive so that your child doesn’t pick up on any anxious feelings that you may have about leaving her. On the drive to school, let your little one know how her day will proceed so that she knows what to expect. When you drop her off, calmly assure her that you will return at the end of the day. Keep your goodbyes short and sweet. Don’t linger, as that will only make the separation more difficult for both you and your child. Once your child adjusts to the new school setting, goodbyes will be much easier.

•  Information obtained from www.parents.com