Many 3- and 4-year-olds will be looking forward to starting preschool in the fall, and parents can use this summer to get them ready for that big transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is different from kindergarten, especially because the child is younger. Families may not know if their child is ready, but the preschool experience is based on the spirit of getting them ready for school later. You\u2019re giving them a year or two of navigating things like social skills and getting ready for a classroom setting.\u201d<\/p>\n
1. Talk with your child.<\/strong><\/p>\n Parents can help that transition to preschool by talking to their child about where they\u2019ll be going.<\/p>\n \u201cBuild that excitement and be positive and happy about it,\u201d Foulks said. \u201cChildren, especially young children, are attuned to their parents\u2019 emotions and feelings. Let them know that it\u2019s something in the future to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Expect both parent and child to be emotional.<\/strong><\/p>\n Saying goodbye, especially for the first time can be nerve-wracking for both parent and child. But emotions are normal and to be expected.<\/p>\n \u201cFeelings are not mutually exclusive,\u201d Foulks said. \u201cThe child might be sad to say goodbye to mom, but also excited to start exploring the classroom. Mom might be excited about what they are going to learn and still feel sad. It\u2019s important to know that tears are normal.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Rehearse the goodbye.<\/strong><\/p>\n Rehearsing the goodbye is important. Get down on the child\u2019s level, look them in the eyes and tell them you are excited for them and that you will see them later.<\/p>\n Foulks tells parents not to linger or look through the classroom\u2019s windows after the goodbye.<\/p>\n \u201cA tearful goodbye is always better than sneaking out, which could send the child into a panic,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is on top of whatever emotions they may be going through.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Establish routines.<\/strong><\/p>\n Establishing routines is an effective tool for a smooth transition.<\/p>\n Foulks recommends taking the child on a tour of the preschool classroom or at minimum, driving by school so they\u2019ll see where they\u2019re going.<\/p>\n \u201cMake it a tangible experience for them,\u201d she said. \u201cDrive by on the way to the park and point out that\u2019s where their preschool is.\u201d<\/p>\n And if you they are able to meet the teacher before the first day, even better.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will give your child a connection to a face at the place where they will spend the day,\u201d Foulks said. \u201cRemind them, \u2018Remember we met Miss Maria? She\u2019s going to be your preschool teacher.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n When Foulks\u2019s son started preschool, it was the train set he saw on his tour that made him most excited.<\/p>\n \u201cMy kid was crazy over trains,\u201d she said. \u201cYou want to plant some seeds so they remember where they\u2019re going and look forward to the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Establish a night time routine.<\/strong><\/p>\n Countdown on a calendar to the first day of preschool. Involve them in picking out what they want in their lunch.<\/p>\n Ask the teacher if a transitional object or comfort object is ok to bring.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen my daughter was little, they allowed her to bring a transition object, so we cut a small corner of her favorite blanket and she carried it in her backpack,\u201d Foulks said.<\/p>\n Sometimes the transition object may be a photo to place on a family wall. \u201cMany preschools ask families to bring in photographs so the child can still feel closeness to their family members,\u201d Foulks said.<\/p>\n 6. Help the teacher get to know your child.<\/strong><\/p>\n Take time to fill out the preschool packet. Many times there are questions for a child profile, for example, a nickname the child may want to be called, or if they have any fears or interests.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a snapshot of your child that the teacher will use to get to know them,\u201d Foulks said. \u201cWriting it down is critical versus trying to share that information verbally during an open house when the teacher is meeting a dozen other families. Anything you can give them to refer to later is helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n