A child’s first day of pre-school is one of the most exciting times in a parent’s life. Sending your little ones off to school for the first time is a major milestone for parents and can also be a little scary for the children. Preparing yourself and your child for pre-school will help make the transition a positive one for both of you. Follow these easy tips to help make the first day the very best it can be.
Talk it Up
Several weeks prior to the first day of pre-school, you will want to start talking to your child about pre-school and painting a positive picture of what they will be encountering in the weeks to come. If you express apprehension about sending your child to school, they will pick up on this and be apprehensive too. One idea is to call ahead and see if you can speak with your child’s teacher and get a feel for the kinds of activities your child will be doing while at school. You can begin doing some of these activities with them at home and when the school year begins, they will feel more confident when they arrive on the first day. Using the name of your child’s teacher in conversations about pre-school will help your child associate calmness and familiarity with their teacher from day one.
Role Play
Role playing is a successful tool that is used by large corporations to train their sales staffs. The same theory can apply for sending your child off to pre-school. Playing “school” is a great way to help your child understand how pre-school works and what will go on while he or she is there. Get them used to raising their hand when they have questions or need to use the restroom, hanging up their coat and backpack, and taking turns speaking and playing games. You can also introduce some academics to your role playing exercise and practice going over things like colors, shapes, numbers and the alphabet.
Back to School Shopping
When you start your back to school shopping, involving your child will be a helpful tool for making the first day a success. Having them help you pick out items like their backpack, lunchbox, and even clothes for their first week will be fun activities for them to do. As pre-schoolers they may not need a lot of supplies right away, but have them pick out some pens, pencils, etc. that are fun and easy for them to use.
Visit the School
In the days and weeks leading up to the first day, find time to visit your child’s school as much as possible and bring them with you. Whether you are meeting at the school for a community event, charity event, or sporting event, your child will become more familiar with the school grounds and associate it with something fun and exciting. Even if there are no events scheduled, take a walk with your child around the campus when no one is there and point out the different things they see and explain to them the fun they will be having at this location. The more time your child spends in the school or on the grounds, the less intimidating it will seem on his/her big day.
Attend Orientation
Most pre-schools will host orientations a few weeks prior to the beginning of the school year. These sessions give parents and children their first real opportunity to get familiar with the school they will be attending, the staff that will be teaching them, and the other children they will be interacting with in class. During the orientation process children will get an opportunity to explore the school and classroom and begin to get comfortable with the idea of spending time there. This is the point in time where parents will want to point out important things like where the bathroom is, where they are supposed to go when the arrive at school each morning and where they go when it is time to go home. If your child will be riding the bus, take advantage of this opportunity to show them where their bus will be and who can help them if they have trouble finding it on the first few days. You will want to point out all the fun toys, activities, and “exciting” things they will be doing while at school; again, your enthusiasm will help them feel comfortable as well.
The Night Before
Set aside some time to have your children help you pack their lunch. They will remember the fun you had making it and will be eager to do it again the next day. It is important that you get them tucked into bed a few minutes early and do everything you can to create a calm and confident environment for them. You will have more success with this if you get your little ones used to going to bed earlier a week or two prior to school starting. A nutritious dinner and a good night’s rest are the best remedies for anxious little minds.
The Morning Of
The morning of the big day will come and go in a flash for both parents and kids. You will want to give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your kids dressed, bathed, and fed before heading out the door. Getting them up a little early will help eliminate any additional stress and ensure that you get to school in plenty of time to get your child settled in.
When You Arrive
When you arrive at your child’s classroom for their first day, walk them around the school one last time to reaffirm their comfort level with the school grounds. When the time comes to take them to class, you will want to do your best to get them in and settled and get out as quickly as possible. If your child wants you to stay, it is okay, but give them a time limit; 5 minutes is a good timeframe. When your time is up, give them a kiss and a hug, tell them you love them and that you will see them soon, and leave the room. This will help them get over the fact that you are leaving and they will start interacting with their classmates and teacher.
After School
When your child arrives home from their first day, you may want to consider making a mini-celebration out of their arrival back home. Bake them some cookies, or stop for some ice cream or maybe even go out to dinner. Tell your child how proud you are of their BIG accomplishment and ask them all about their day. Continue with your positive, excitable attitude towards school and talk to them about the exciting adventures they will be experiencing tomorrow, next week and the rest of the school year.
Day One is Over
Once your little one is tucked back in their bed and dreaming of the fun they will have tomorrow, give yourself a big pat on the back. You should be very proud Mom and Dad; you made it through the first day of Pre-School! |
