Make The First Day Of Preschool More Exciting And Less Stressful For Your Toddler
Sending your little one to preschool will give them an opportunity to gain some independence as well as learn valuable life skills that they'll use well into adulthood. They'll learn how to manage stress and get along with a variety of different personality types which are skills that can be used to excel in elementary school and beyond. If your toddler is not used to spending much time away from you, they may feel a bit intimidated or scared upon entering preschool for the first time. Here are a few methods you can use to make your little one's transition into preschool life a less stressful and more exciting:
Visit the Facility Beforehand
An excellent way to make sure that your toddler is well prepared for their first experience at preschool alone is to visit the facility, such as Advantage Learning Center, together beforehand. Schedule a lunch time visit so your child can get to know the other kids, and you can learn more about the facilitators. If possible, schedule a morning and afternoon visit as well to gain some insight into the facility's daily routines and structures.
Taking the time to participate in some of the games and activities that are going on during your visit can also help your child acclimate to new people and surroundings. Spending some time at the preschool before your little one's first official day there will help familiarize them with the teachers, environment, and schedules they'll soon be exposed to on a daily basis.
Commit to Practicing at Home
It's also a good idea to obtain a daily schedule from the preschool so you can start practicing some of their processes at home during the days leading up to your child's first official day of attendance. Use the preschool's itinerary to mimic snack and lunch times, nap sessions, lesson plans, reading hours, and other daily activities that will soon be a part of your toddler's everyday life.
You don't have to turn your home into a preschool into order to successfully prep your little one for a successful first day at your chosen facility. You can make a positive impact by scheduling meal and nap times around the preschool's schedule whenever possible, and spend a bit of time practicing the ABCs and basic math concepts as time permits.
These methods should help give your toddler some confidence on their first day of preschool and help them feel comfortable as they settle into their new daily routines and regimens.