Back-to-school is just around the corner, and for some parents, this means sending little ones off to preschool for the first time. This can cause some serious anxiety, both on the part of the parents and the children.
For more information on how you can help your child and family transition through your first couple of months of preschool, contact your local top Holmdel preschool to speak to an expert.
While there is never a guarantee that the ride will be smooth, there are a couple of things you can do to help make the process a bit easier for the young ones. The biggest thing to remember – be honest and be firm. Your kids are much more resilient that you think.
Some of our top Holmdel preschool tips are below to help you and your young one get through your first preschool experience.
Don’t sneak out of the room, it’s scary.
Sometimes parents think they can slip away when their children aren’t looking. This is not a good idea – and can be very scary for the child who may have been comforted by the fact that you were there, only to turn around and see that you weren’t.
This may also cause some trust confusion in the future. Be honest about when you are leaving.
Don’t promise that you’ll be around when you won’t.
Along the same lines, don’t tell your child that you’ll be right outside when you won’t. Should she or he find out that you’re not telling the truth, it can be a very emotionally jarring experience.
The rest of the routine should be kept stable.
Starting preschool is a huge disruption to a routine that has been otherwise stable for your children. When just beginning, try to keep the rest of the routine the same at home, so there isn’t too much change at once.
There might be weird behavior in response.
Your child might start exhibiting some strange behavior – such as accidents if he or she is already potty trained. This is normal, and comes with being in a completely different setting and experiencing such a big change for the first time.
Experts at a local top Holmdel preschool will be able to assist you in coping with these behavioral changes should they occur.
Don’t tell your child what he or she is feeling.
Try not to say things like, “I know you don’t like school.” Instead, let your child come up with the own words to describe his or her feelings. If they’re not saying negative things about school, neither should you.
Make a play-date with an old friend.
Sometimes returning to old routines can be helpful. Making a play-date with an old friend will not only be fun for your child, but will show them that not everything is changing at once.
Remind him or her of other past fears that were conquered.
Say things like, “remember how scared you were the first time you slept at your best friends out? And that turned out not to be so scary, right?” This will remind them that fears do end, and they are capable of overcoming them.
Bring them to school before the first day.
In addition to bring them to the school, try to get them to meet the teacher if possible. This way, everything doesn’t seem so foreign on the first day.
Bring something comforting to school.
Sometimes having a favorite stuffed animal or toy from home can be comforting. Talk to experts at your local top Holmdel preschool to find out what’s safe to send to the classroom each day.
Stop feeling guilty.
Your young one will get over being sad and frightened faster than you think. Don’t feel guilty about first-day jitters.
The Home Away From Home Academy (HAFHA) is owned by Carmine and Phyllis Visone, and aims to provide the right kind of play and guidance to educate children as a whole, giving them a more individualistic education experience. To find out more about how you can enroll your kids, contact us.