The First Day of Preschool

It’s a time when you realize your child is growing up and for many moms and children it is a time of intense emotion, the first day of preschool. Since many moms will be sending their child off to school for the first time, we thought it would be good to collect some tips and share them with you to make this transition easier.

Dealing with fear

• Feeling comfortable – it’s important for you to be comfortable with your decision to send your child to preschool. The more unease your child can sense the more uncomfortable they will become.

• Invest time in the transition – you can’t expect your child just to wake up and be ready on the first day. Start discussing the idea of preschool with your child several weeks prior to their first day, what activities they will participating in, what their day will be like and how their teacher will interact with them.

• Mock-preschool – play preschool with your child throughout the day. Set up desks and chairs and actually complete some activities that will be part of their preschool day.

• Visit preschool prior to the first day – a week or two prior to the first day stop in and visit the school. Let your child spend some time in their new surroundings. Let them play with the toys. All of these familiar things will give your child comfort the first day of school.

• Downplay the significance of this milestone with your child – remember that the more you build the first day up to your child the more they could become scared.

Try to be calm, cool and collected when you drop them off for their first day. The calmer you are, the easier things will go. Children are resilient and they will be playing with the other kids, having fun and learning soon after your departure.