By Denise Yearian

Preschool is a wonderful time of growth in young children’s lives—a time to broaden their horizons, develop social skills, and ignite a love for learning. To help your children adjust to the new environment and ease into a routine, consider these ten tips.

1. Talk it up. Weeks before preschool begins, prepare your children by using positive and encouraging words. If you drive by the building where they will be attending school, say, “Oh, look! There’s your new school. You are going to have so much fun there!” Tell your children that they are growing up and this means that they get to spend more time learning and playing with other children their age. If you, as a parent, have any reservations, choose your words carefully. Even from a young age, children can pick up on what their parents are and are not saying!

2. Stop by to visit. Several weeks before school begins, take your children to the facility so that they can familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Go as many times as your children need to feel comfortable. If you know which classroom they will be in, stop by for a visit. If possible, let them meet the teacher and play with some of the toys in the room. Before leaving, take them to the playground and let them spend a few minutes swinging, going down the slide, and sifting sand in the sandbox.

3. Invite others to play. If, for some reason, your children have had little interaction with their peers, invite several children their age over to your house to play. It doesn’t have to be a daylong event; one or two hours is a sufficient amount of time for children to begin learning skills such as toy sharing and peer politeness. Schedule this time when the children are the most likely to be well-rested—early morning or after naptime. Plan a few activities, but allow plenty of time for free play.

4. Introduce school materials. Long before formal education begins, your children should become familiar with books, puzzles, games, crayons, scissors, glue, and clay. To ease into a structured environment, set aside time each day for you and your children to work on puzzles together; play games; color; cut and glue various items; and mold things out of clay. Start with just a few minutes each day and gradually increase the amount of time you spend doing it. While you are participating in an activity together, tell your children that this is just one of many fun things that they will be doing in preschool. Be alert for signs that they are getting bored with a given activity, and stop before they get too restless.

5. Read all about it. One of the best ways to prepare your children for preschool is to read juvenile materials about first-day jitters. Library shelves and bookstores are stacked high with stories of children and animals that were afraid to go to school. Through books like these, your children will learn that they aren’t the only ones with worries and apprehensions about attending school. Most important, they will be able to see anxious characters make new friends and have lots of fun despite their fears.

6. Establish a routine. If your children don’t already have a daily routine, create one for them. While it need not be as rigid as a day of preschool, structured playtime in the morning, storytime after lunch, and outdoor play at the same time every day will help your children establish a routine. Consistency is key.

7. Go shopping. Nothing builds excitement more quickly than taking your children out to buy a new lunchbox, backpack, school clothes, or other needed school items. Make a day of it by first stopping by the school, shopping a little, and then enjoying a fun lunch together.

8. Take a dry run. The day before school begins, get your children up and out the door at the time that they will need to be ready for school. If they are attending a morning program, take them for a fun breakfast after they have made the dry run. If they are attending an afternoon program, stop by for a special ice cream cone to celebrate their upcoming day.

9. Watch and wait (if necessary). On the first day, if your children eagerly welcome their new environment, give each of them a hug, and tell them you will be back in a little while. If, however, they seem uncertain, tell them you will stay but only for a few minutes. During this time, introduce them to other children, show them some of the toys and pictures around the room, and help them get settled. When the time limit is up, give each of them a hug, reassure them of your love, and leave quickly. Although there may be tears, your children will more than likely stop crying and start enjoying themselves soon after you leave.  

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children and four grandchildren.