what should my 3 year old know before going to preschool

If your child is starting preschool this autumn, you lot may be approaching this major milestone with alien emotions. Y'all're probably excited about all the fun (you hope) your child volition have and the new friends he'll make. At the same time, yous may feel a little sad that your babe is venturing out into the big world without you. These emotions are normal. Your kid is as well spring to take a host of feelings most this transition, feeling proud to exist a big child but at the same time worried about being separated from you and starting something unfamiliar.

Having Fun With Preschool Prep

At that place's a lot you can do in the weeks earlier to get ready for the big twenty-four hours. But try to keep your efforts low-key. If y'all make too large a deal out of this milestone, your child may stop up being more than worried than excited. Hither are some ideas to go along the focus on fun.

Use pretend play to explore the idea of preschool.

Take turns being the parent, child, and teacher. Human activity out common daily routines, such as saying skillful-bye to mommy and/or daddy, taking off your glaze, singing songs, reading stories, having Circle Time, playing exterior, and taking naps. Reassure your child that preschool is a expert place where she volition have fun and larn. Answer her questions patiently. This helps children feel more in control which reduces their anxiety.

Read books almost preschool.

In that location are many books nigh going to preschool available from the public library in your surface area. Choose several to share with your child over the summertime before school starts. Talk about the story and how the characters are feeling. Ask how your child is feeling.

Make a game out of practicing cocky-assistance skills.

These skills include unzipping her glaze, hanging her coat on a hook, putting on her backpack, fastening her shoes. For instance, you might desire to have a "race" with your child to see how apace she can put on her shoes. When you lot play school together, you can requite your kid the gamble to exercise taking off her glaze, zipping her backpack airtight, and sitting "criss-cross applesauce." If your child will exist bringing lunch, pack it upwards 1 day earlier school starts and have a picnic together. This will requite her the gamble to practice unzipping her tiffin box and unwrapping her sandwich—important skills for the first day!

Play at your new preschool.

Visit your kid'south preschool together. Enquire when you lot can tour the school with your child. Play on the school playground a few times earlier your child starts the program. These visits increase your child'southward comfort with and confidence in this new setting.

Worries and Watching

Your kid may also have some questions or concerns about starting preschool, either before or after he starts in the fall. Help him become ready with these two key strategies:

Heed to your child'due south worries.

Although it's tempting to quickly reassure your child and move on, it's important to let your kid know that his worries accept been heard. No affair what they are, big or small, children's worries about preschool can significantly influence their experience there. Will you remember to choice him up in the afternoon? Will his teacher be nice?

Allow your child know it'due south normal to feel happy, sad, excited, scared, or worried. Explain that starting something new can feel scary and that lots of people feel that way. Information technology tin be helpful to share a time when you started something new and how you felt. When you permit your child to share her worries, yous can assist her recall through how to deal with them. For example, if she is worried virtually missing yous, the two of you can make a book of family photos to continue in her cubby and look at when she is solitary.

Detect nonverbal messages.

As much as three-yr-olds may talk, about are not yet able to fully explain how they are feeling or what they are worried nearly. Your child may "act out" his worry by clinging, becoming withdrawn, or past being more than aggressive. Another common reaction as children take a large movement forrad is to actually motion backward in other areas. For example, if your kid is fully potty trained, he may commencement take toileting accidents. He may ask that you feed or apparel him fifty-fifty though he can do these things by himself.

It is natural to be frustrated by this regressed behavior, and you may be concerned that if you do these things for him, he won't go back to doing them himself. In fact, letting him play this out often leads to children returning to their "big kid" selves sooner. Remember that your child is facing—and managing—a big alter in his life. He may demand more than back up, nurturing, and patience from you while he makes this transition.

The Preschool Countdown: What to Practice and When

The last few weeks before starting preschool seem to fly by! Every bit you lot brainstorm the countdown to the first day, hither are some things to keep in mind:

During the two Weeks Before Preschool Starts:

Buy a backpack together with your child. If possible, let your child choose it himself. This gives him a sense of command and emphasizes the fact that he is a "big kid" starting preschool.
Label all items—backpack, jacket, shoes, coating, teddy bear, etc.—with your child'due south name and teacher'due south proper name in permanent ink.
Contact the preschool'southward wellness professional if your kid has medication that he or she takes on a daily footing. There volition be special rules and forms to fill out for your child to receive medication at schoolhouse.
Figure out how your kid will get to school and how she will come dwelling house. Talk to your child about the forenoon and afternoon routine so that she understands that she will exist safe, okay, and cared for. Make certain your child meets her before- and/or afterwards-school caregiver, if you are using one.
Start using your child's "school bedtime." Children often become to bed later every bit the summer months, and longer days, kicking in. Assist your child get into a preschool schedule by keeping to his school bedtime, offset about two weeks before school starts.

The Night Earlier Preschool:

Answer any last-infinitesimal questions from your child.
Let your kid cull (conditions- and school-appropriate) dress for her first solar day.
Make certain that your child goes to bed on fourth dimension.
Pick a bedtime that gives your child a good night's rest before the first solar day. Proceed the bedtime routine soothing and relaxing. Don't focus too much (or at all!) on the first day of school unless he wants to.

The First Twenty-four hours:

Wake up early enough so that you and your kid don't have to blitz to go to preschool.
Brand breakfast for your child and, if possible, sit downwards to swallow together—or at least talk with her as she eats and you become ready.
Review the twenty-four hours'due south routine (what preschool will exist like, how your kid volition become to school/come home).
Pack your child'south backpack together. If your child is bringing lunch, select foods that you lot know are his favorites. Having some familiarity on his commencement twenty-four hour period is helpful as he adjusts to so many changes.
Let your kid choose a special stuffed animal or blanket to bring to schoolhouse with her. These "loveys" can help children brand the transition from home to schoolhouse, and can also make naptime easier, as well. You may want to ship your kid with a family photograph or favorite book too. These familiar objects tin can help if she feels lonely during the mean solar day.

Saying a Good Good-Goodbye

These strategies can ease the jitters of separating on your kid'due south first 24-hour interval at preschool.

Plan to stay a little while.

Staying for 15-30 minutes on that get-go morning can help ease the transition. Together, the two of y'all tin explore the classroom, meet some other children, play with a few toys. When yous run into that your child is comfortable, it is fourth dimension to leave. If he is having a harder time getting engaged, yous may want to enquire your child'southward teacher to stay with your child as you say practiced-goodbye so that when you go out, he can plow to some other caring adult for support.

Keep your tone positive and upbeat.

Children option up on the reactions of the trusted adults in their lives. So try not to await worried or sad, and don't linger also long. Say a quick, upbeat proficient-bye and reassure your kid that all will be well.

Recollect almost creating a special good-bye routine.

For case, you lot tin give your child a buss on the palm to "hold" all day long. Or, the ii of you tin sing a special song together before you exit. Skilful-bye routines are comforting to children and help them understand and fix for what will happen next.

Resist the Rescue.

Attempt not to run back in the classroom if yous hear your child crying, as upsetting as this can be. This is a big change and your child may, quite understandably, feel sad and a little scared. But if you run back in, it sends the message that he is only okay if you are there and it is likely to prolong your kid's distress and arrive harder for him to adapt. Rest bodacious, teachers have many years of feel with helping families make the shift to preschool. Instead, you tin can await outside the classroom for a few minutes to ensure that all is well, or call the school later in the morning time to check in.

Annual Briefing 2019

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Source: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/78-preschool-prep-how-to-prepare-your-toddler-for-preschool