You’ve packed the backpack, labeled the clothes, gathered supplies, and organized everything they’ll need for school. Yet there was one thing on parents’ minds when I asked them about preparing for preschool. “How do I help my child actually feel ready for this?” they wondered.
Preschool preparation is more than buying supplies and packing bags. When your child first starts school, they’re experiencing one of the largest life transitions they’ve ever faced. They must go to a new place, meet new people, follow different rules, and learn how to spend time away from home.
The best back to school ideas preschool teachers recommend are ones that ease children into the emotional, social, and practical changes they’ll face. You’re not going to teach your child to behave like a five year old overnight. You just want to help them feel ready for what’s coming.
Whether it’s your child’s first experience with preschool or they’re returning from a vacation, you can do small things before the school year starts to help them feel prepared. Establish positive associations with school while encouraging habits that promote independence with these back to school ideas for preschoolers.
8 Back to School Ideas Preschool Parents Need to Try This Year
1. Create a Fun Back to School Countdown
It’s tough for young children to understand the concept of time. When you say that preschool starts in “one week,” they may not fully comprehend how soon that will be.
Instead, try creating a fun countdown to school that helps them visualize how many days are left. You can make a calendar where they get to put a sticker each day. By watching the days dwindle, they will know that school is approaching.
Rather than having the countdown only focus on the first day of school, celebrate each day that leads up to it. Let your child pick out their backpack one day, practice putting on their shoes another day, and read a book about school on another day.
Small activities will help your child become more familiar with what school will be like. You want school to feel like a natural next step, not like an intimidating change.
Read also: 12 Back to School Routines for Teens to Start the Year Strong
2. Practice a Simple Morning Routine Before School Starts
Preschool mornings can become chaotic quickly if children aren’t accustomed to routines. Having to wake up early, get dressed, eat breakfast, and leave the house can overwhelm young kids.
About two weeks before preschool starts, practice a short morning routine with your child. Decide on an order of operations like waking up, brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and packing the school bag.
Keep this routine simple, and be consistent about following it each morning. Kids feel more secure when they know what to expect next. You can even make it a game by seeing how fast they can complete each step.
Preschool kids learn through repetition, so make your morning routine fun so your child wants to cooperate.
Read also: 12 Back-to-School Shopping List Essentials for 8th Grade
3. Let Your Child Help Choose School Supplies
Building anticipation for preschool is easy when you let your child get involved. Children create a better connection to activities they help prepare for.
Allow your child to pick out their backpack, lunch box, water bottle, or what they’d like to wear on the first day. Any little decision you can offer will help them feel included.
This is also a great opportunity to teach them about personal responsibility. Teach them that their backpack is their “school bag” that they are responsible for taking care of.
Children can learn simple responsibilities at a young age. Building those habits now will be beneficial in the long run.
Just remember that you do not have to buy your preschooler everything they want. Help them feel involved and excited about preparing for school, and they will likely walk into their classroom with confidence.
Read also: 6 Essential Things to Do Before School Starts
4. Read Books About Starting Preschool Together
Reading is a fantastic way to introduce your child to the idea of preschool. They may not be able to articulate their feelings about school, but books can help them open up.
Purchase children’s books about preschool and read them with your little one. School books allow children to learn that it’s okay to feel nervous, excited, or anxious about new situations.
After reading a book, ask your child questions about it. You can ask what their favorite part of school will be or what they think they’ll be nervous about on their first day.
Ask them what they think their first day will be like. Encourage conversation about school and let them know that they can tell you how they feel about anything.
5. Practice Separation and Independence Skills
For most children, preschool is difficult because they aren’t used to being away from their parents. If your child is excited about school, they may still feel nervous about you leaving them at drop off.
You can practice short separations with your child before preschool starts. Have them spend time with another family member or caregiver while you leave the house for 5 to 10 minutes.
Independence at preschool also means having them care for themselves. Let your child practice zipping their own backpack, putting on their shoes, and opening their water bottle.
Every skill you teach your child will make them feel more confident and capable at school. Instilling independence doesn’t mean your child has to do everything alone. It means they feel confident to try.
6. Create a Special First Day Tradition
Starting preschool is an exciting time for children and parents. Help your child build positive feelings about preschool by creating a first day tradition.
Your tradition could be as simple as taking a first day of school picture, buying them something small, or cooking a special breakfast.
First day traditions don’t need to be costly or stressful. Children tend to remember how you made them feel more than the activity itself.
Creating a tradition lets your child have something to look forward to that feels familiar to them. You’re taking something scary and unknown and making it special.
7. Set Up a Comfortable After School Routine
Going to preschool can be exhausting, especially when your child doesn’t know what to expect. Your child will come home with lots of feelings because they spent the day learning, playing, listening, and spending time with other kids.
Your after school routine should allow them time to decompress after a long day. After school, you can have a snack together, talk about their day, and allow for quiet playtime.
Don’t overwhelm them with questions when you first pick them up from school. They may need time to unwind before they feel like talking about their day.
Instead of asking how school was, you can ask them what their favorite part of the day was. Open ended questions will result in longer conversations.
8. Use Play to Prepare Your Child For Preschool
Preschool students learn through play. You can use play before the school year starts to help them feel prepared for the classroom.
Take turns playing school with your child at home. Let your preschooler take the teacher role while you are the student. They can practice sitting still, cleaning up toys, raising their hand, and following directions.
Pretend play helps your child understand the dynamic of a classroom. It also removes the unknown and can help children feel more comfortable with new situations.
During play, have your child teach you about their feelings. If their toy is scared of school, what can they do to help their toy feel better? This encourages emotional development.
9. Prepare Healthy Snacks and Lunchbox Habits
Learning to take care of lunch boxes and snack routines is another important part of preschool. Some children have a hard time at school because they don’t know how to open their lunchbox or drink from their water bottle.
Practice opening different containers before school starts. Teach them how to clean up after themselves during mealtime.
Like with independence, you’re teaching your child that they can take care of their things at school.
You can even ask your child to help pick healthy snacks to take to school. Teaching them about healthy eating habits from a young age can help them understand how food fuels their mind and body.
10. Talk Positively About the Preschool Experience
Your attitude towards preschool will set the tone for how your child feels about it. Children are very receptive to their parents’ emotions.
Encourage your child by speaking positively about preschool. Tell them about all of the things they’ll learn, like the alphabet, social skills, and how to make friends.
Remain positive if your child starts to become nervous before school. Let them know that it’s normal to feel scared before trying something new.
Help them understand that preschool will feel different at first but that they are smart and capable of learning.
Conclusion
Getting your child ready for preschool goes beyond organizing their supplies or packing their lunch. The best ideas preschool teachers recommend are ones that allow your child to feel excited and confident about school.
Little things like creating routines, teaching independence, reading books, and having positive conversations about school will help your child feel ready for their big adventure.
Children adapt to new situations at different paces. Give your child time to adjust to their new routine. With your help and patience, they’ll look back on starting preschool as a positive experience.
FAQ
What are some good back to school tips for preschoolers?
Some of the best back to school ideas for preschool involve practicing routines, reading books about preschool, picking out supplies together, and teaching your child independence before school starts.
How can I emotionally prepare my child for preschool?
Talk to your child about school and practice short separation times. Help them understand that it’s normal to feel nervous before starting preschool.
When should I start preparing my child for preschool?
Ideally, you should start preparing for preschool a few weeks before it starts. You don’t want to overwhelm your child by preparing for school too far in advance.
My child cried during drop off on the first day of preschool. What should I do?
Many children cry when their parent leaves them at school the first few days. Keep your goodbye short and sweet, and your child will be okay. Teachers are used to this, and they’ll know what to do.
How do I make preschool fun for my child?
Letting your child pick out their supplies, establishing a fun tradition for the first day of school, playing school at home, and emphasizing all the fun they’ll have at preschool can help build positive feelings.
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