When your child is ready to start preschool as part of a Head Start program, you might be excited for them to start their educational journey but unsure about how you can prepare them. Here are some things you can do before your child starts the program in order to make sure they are ready for what lies ahead.
Use the School Schedule
One of the best things you can do to prepare your child for preschool is to get them used to a preschool schedule. Drop by the school's office and ask for a copy of the daily schedule, and use it as a guide for your own activities at home. This will ensure that your child isn't surprised or unhappy when they need to shift from one activity to the next in a certain order.
Start Giving Directions with More Than One Step
It can be tough for small children to follow directions that have more than one step. However, when your child is in preschool, they might be given a set of directions they need to follow. For example, their teacher might ask them to fetch their jacket and get into line near the door.
Be sure that your child can handle multi-step directions of that kind by asking them to do a set of tasks at once. For instance, you might ask them to put their toys away, get into their pajamas and get into bed.
Be Enthusiastic
It is important for you to remember that your child looks up to you. If you have a positive feeling about going to preschool, they are likely to have good feelings about it as well. If you seem worried or sad that they are not going to be with you all day, they might also feel that way and be reluctant to let you leave when it is time to drop them off.
Wake Up Even Earlier on the First Day
When it's finally time to go to preschool, plan to wake up even earlier than you need to. Getting up earlier may stop you from being late because of spills, tantrums or other problems. You might be able to get ready at a relaxed pace instead of a frantic one, and that can help your child to be more comfortable.
Now that you know some of the ways you can prepare your child for preschool, use the tips in this article to help you. If you get a chance, talk to staff members or a facility such as Child Focus Inc to get more suggestions that can help your child transition easily from home to a school setting.
