5 Ways to Get Your Child Ready For Preschool

Your child going to preschool can be a very exciting time. If they did not go to a daycare before, this will be their first time on their own in a group of their peers.

Preparing them for preschool early and sending them to an inspiring classroom environment like Thrive Preschool can make this transition much smoother. Read on for 5 ways you can get them prepared for their first school experience. 

Schedule a Doctor’s Check-up

Before you can drop your child off at preschool, you will want to make sure they are physically and mentally ready. There is likely to be certain vaccines they will need before school and you will want to schedule a physical while they still have more free time. To find a provider in your area, search online for ‘best pediatrician in Fort Myers’ or your city. This will give you a list of local pediatricians and access to office information and reviews. If you think your child may have a learning disability, you can look for a pediatrician that has an ADD/ADHD doctor on staff. Although this is not usually diagnosed until later in development, it will be nice to have a doctor to monitor your child as they get older. 

Read to Them

Reading to your child will greatly improve their readiness to begin school and to start reading themselves. Carve out time everyday that you can spend reading to your child. Doing this before bed every night allows it to become part of your routine and also helps them wind down. You can also play audiobooks in the car when you are on the go to help fit this into your busy schedule. Bringing them to the library and having them pick out books is a great way to get them more interested in reading. 

Schedule Playdates

Scheduling playdates with children who are the same age as your child can help them develop the social skills needed for school. This is especially important if your child never attended daycare or doesn’t usually spend time with other children their age. If you know any other children that will be in their preschool class, you can schedule a playtime with them. This way your child has a friendly face when they walk in on the first day of school. 

Encourage Independence

Before you send your child off on their first day, take note of what things you usually do for them that they will now have to do themselves. Make sure they are able to put on their own shoes and are comfortable asking their teacher if they need help with anything. Raising your child to be as independent as possible at this stage in their life will make going to preschool much easier for them. You can practice independence in the time leading up to school by sending them to a friend or family member’s house without you. This will give you an idea of how well they will do without you at preschool. 

Establish a Schedule

Getting your child into a daily routine can make the transition to being in a classroom easier for them. In a preschool setting, they will likely stick to a similar schedule each day they are there. Implementing a daily schedule at home, such as a certain time to eat lunch, work on chores, and read, will help to prepare them. Having a sudden routine for the first time in their life at a new place can be very overwhelming for them and starting this at home first can lead to a smoother transition.

Sending your child off to preschool for the first time can be a stressful experience for both you and them. Rest assured that if you prepare them with the ways mentioned above, they are ready to successfully take on preschool. This is an exciting time that you should spend enjoying watching them go on their own for the first time.