Helping young children get off to a good start in preschool

The topic of my interview on Indiana Fox 50 Morning news this week was how to help young children get off to a good start in preschool.

You can view the 3 minute segment here on You Tube

Getting enough sleep…

A good night’s sleep is critical for a child’s successful start in preschool. Start well before school begins getting your child into a good sleep pattern so that he or she is well rested for school.  Children who are tired or sleepy in school have a much harder time saying goodbye to mom or dad in the morning. They also struggle with their ability to get along with others. Children who are tired also struggle with keeping on task and participating positively in activities. Be sure to help your child get the sleep he or she needs to do well in preschool.

 

Visit the classroom, meet the teacher, and get a class list…

An important part of a young child’s success in preschool is feeling comfortable in the environment and accepted by the teacher. One way you can help your child feel more confident is by visiting the classroom before preschool starts Your child will feel more confident when he or she knows what to expect before arriving on the first day of school. It is a good idea to meet the teacher before school starts as well.  By meeting the teacher and seeing the classroom, you can go home and talk about the teacher. Using the teacher’s name often through casual conversation at home helps make the teacher seem a little more “familiar” to the child.

Ask if you can have a list of children’s names too. Invite your child to draw a picture for each of the children. Say the names of the other children at home through casual conversations about school. Comments like, “You are going to have a boy named Tommy in your class?” helps your child become a little more familiar with his peers before school even begins.

Know the rules of school…

Know what the expectations are regarding bringing toys to school, wearing flip-flops to school, and other school rules so your child will be prepared for a successful start in preschool.  There is nothing worse than bringing that favorite toy to school only for your child to have to put away when he or she gets into the classroom. Sometimes toys brought from home can be a distraction in the classroom or a source of conflict between children so find out what your teacher’s expectations are regarding bringing toys to school.

Know what to wear…

Make sure you dress your child for preschool play. Chances are your child will get a little messy so that brand new outfit should be something washable. Children can really worry about getting their new clothes dirty, so much so that they will not want to paint a picture or get dirt on their new shoes. Some children don’t want to wear paint smocks because they don’t want to cover up their pretty new clothes. Clothing selection can either help or hinder your child’s experience in the classroom and while playing outside so think it through and choose clothing that makes learning fun.

Plan your morning routine

Know how long it will take to get to school so you can know how early you need to leave. Allow plenty of time to get up in the morning, get dressed, eat breakfast, and get to school. Rushing through the morning and rushing to get to school on time creates stress for you and your child which can lead to very unhappy goodbyes at the classroom door.  On the first day of school, try to arrive a little earlier just in case your child needs you to stick around for a few minutes but when it is time to go, be prepared to go.  If you trust your child’s teacher, then know that he or she will make sure your child adjusts quickly and smoothly to his or her new classroom.

Backpack Talks

Find a place at home where you will put your child’s papers and other items he or she brings home from school. At the end of each school day, sit down with your child in that special place to go through the papers, artwork, newsletters, and so on that he or she brings home in the backpack. Use the items in the backpack as a way to facilitate conversation with your child about his or her day at school.

If you have other ideas for how to help children get off to a good start in preschool, then feel free to leave them in a comment below. I hope your child has a GREAT year in preschool!

Would you like to read more tips for parents of young children? Do you have some tough questions that you would like to ask? 

Hands on: as we grow has put together a team of experts  to try and help answer your toughest parenting questions! I am on the panel of experts giving an educations viewpoint but some of these questions are really very tough!! To ask your tough parenting question, click on the “raising kids is tough” button below…

This week’s tough questions are all about Eating Battles! See what the experts have to say!

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Latest Blog Posts

P is for Pizza!

While learning about the letter “P” we decided to explore with pizza! Pizza is an all-time favorite food for many preschoolers, and activities involving pizza

Read More »