Child Care Creation: Understanding The Fundamentals

Sending your child off to preschool can be an exciting yet stressful time not just in your life, but in your toddler's life as well. Still, many children will benefit from attending preschool, as it can set the framework for more successful academic years in kindergarten and beyond. As you prepare your toddler for his or her first day of preschool, however, there are some tips worth keeping in mind.

Play Pretend

Toddlers are known for their great imaginations, so take advantage of this by setting aside some time to play "pretend" with going to preschool. Set up a learning area in your home and have your child pretend he or she is going to school, complete with a backpack and snacks. You can have a lot of fun with this, and it can be a great way to give your child a better idea of what to expect on that first day.

Read Books

There are plenty of children's books available that specifically address the subject of going to school for the first time. Check some of these out from your local library or purchase copies of your own to read to your child.

Stop for a Visit

One of the best ways to ease your child's nerves about going to preschool is actually stopping in for a visit. Check with the preschool to see if this is something they'll allow. If so, you may be able to drop by during regular school hours so your child can meet the teacher(s) as well as other students, as well as get a feel for what the environment is like. This can also be nice for you as a parent to see how things operate.

Teach Skills

Your child will benefit from having some certain skills already mastered before preschool, such as being able to tie his or her shoes, using the bathroom, and using utensils to eat. While it's not necessary that your child have all these skills nailed down, you should begin working on them in preparation for your child's first day of preschool to get him or her on the path to success.

These are just a few of the many steps you can and should take as you prepare your toddler for preschool. There may be a bit of an adjustment period at first, but it won't be long before your child looks forward to attending preschool each day.