Getting Ready for the First Day of Pre-K

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Remember how the summer seemed to last forever when you were a kid? For a preschooler, the summer has been an eternity and the first day back to school can bring excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and maybe a little fear. Here are some tips to help make the first day a little easier.

 Meet the Teacher

The unknown can be intimidating, especially for kids. Take advantage of Meet Your Teacher Day so your child will be familiar with the classroom and the teacher before the first day of school.  They can locate their cubby, meet other classmates, and get excited about exploring their new classroom! A trial run can do a lot to ease some of that first day anxiety.

Be Positive

In the days leading up to the first day, talk about preschool in a positive and encouraging way. Involve your child in picking out a first day outfit and picking out snack and lunch items. If possible, arrange a playdate with a classmate.

Go Shopping for a Backpack

Let your child pick out a new backpack. You'll want to guide their choice to a generous sized backpack that can hold their lunch, snack, and water bottle, with room to spare  for artwork, papers, and projects they will be carting home.

Foster Self-Help Skills

Your child will be working all year to become more independent so do what you can to make this an attainable goal.  Keep in mind that buttons, snaps, and zippers can be tricky for little fingers so try to choose clothing  that enables your child to use the bathroom independently.  Use lunch boxes, bento boxes and other food containers that your child is able to open on their own. 

Read Books About Going Back to School

Reading back to school books will drum up some excitement for the first day and there are many great options available. Check out The Kissing Hand, Biscuit Goes to School,  and  If You Take a Mouse to School.  For more suggestions, Scholastic has a this list of first day books especially for preschoolers.

Talk About School

Encourage your child to talk about how they feel about starting preschool. Ask open-ended questions, such as "what do you think is going to be the most fun thing about preschool this year?" to get a conversation going. When the first day arrives, take pictures, plan a special snack or dinner to celebrate, and be sure to ask "what did you do in preschool today?"

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