5 tips to help prepare your child for preschool and make it the most positive experience and successful transition for everyone. Affiliate links are included, and I will receive a small commission off of any purchases you may make, at no extra cost to you. Thank you to JCPenney for sponsoring this conversation.
Jean Jacket // Floral skirt // Plaid shirt // Jeans (my son is wearing slim – love the adjustable waistband)
I can hardly believe we’re going to have TWO children in school this year! My son is going into the 3-day a week class, and my daughter is starting the “on my own” program (which is kind of an intro to preschool).
I’ve teamed up with JC Penney to bring you my best tips to help prepare your child for preschool. We *love* the clothes we’ve bought from them (Carter’s and OshKosh are our favorite brands to buy from them) and JC Penney’s prices were the best we found!
Polo shirt // Plaid shorts // Buffalo Check Dress
While not everything is in your control in the classroom, you can do your best to set your child up for a successful and positive transition into their new routine.
2 piece set (toddler girls) // polo shirt // jeans
- Visit the school ahead of time
- Always clear it with the school ahead of time, but most preschools let you visit before the first day.
- This will help to make the classroom a familiar place before it’s filled with other kids and noise on the first day of preschool.
- Read books
- Go to the library and check out a variety of books that talk about getting ready for school.
- This really helped my son – we read them over and over again for the first few weeks! We bought the ones we loved after renting them from the library, and now we’ll be reading them all over again with both kids.
- Get on a schedule
- It’s painful, but it’s necessary! Getting the kids to bed at a good time for at least a week ahead of school will make the transition so much easier for everyone.
- Talk it out
- Keep talking about preschool throughout your day, and always in a positive manner. Ask them questions like, “I wonder if your classroom will have blocks like these?” “Do you think there will be a lot of books at your preschool?” “What would you like to do when you get back from your first day of school?”
- Keep the conversations light and positive, and encourage any conversations they’ll bring up about preschool.
- Give them something to look forward to
- Have something for them at the end of their first day, whether that’s a trip to the playground, a special treat, or just some chill time on the couch with you.
Boys pajama set // Girls pajama set
Don’t forget to check out JC Penney’s selection of the cutest clothes and accessories this fall. We love how they’re perfect for school & play!
Any other tips to share for preparing your children for preschool? I’d love you to share them in the comments!
Great tips! I think my favorite years when my children were growing up were the preschool years, so enjoy! Today, there are so many expectations placed on children in elementary school, but thankfully, for the most part, preschool is still fun and all about learning through playing. One thing that we always did was sing a simple song on the way to preschool. I know it will lose something in the translation, but here are the words: “We’re gonna have a lot of fun at school today, gonna have a lot of fun at school today, gonna see Miss _____ and Miss _____, gonna have a lot of fun at school today! Gonna play with _____, gonna eat a snack, gonna have a lot of fun at school today!” We added in friends names and special activities as the year went on, and of course, the things that they really enjoyed about preschool. It always put a smile on my kids’ faces, and helped prepare them for the day. We also said a little prayer that they would be a good friend and a blessing to their teachers and friends. Hope you all have a great year!
So so sweet, Jeanine! I love that idea – I’ll definitely try it with my kiddos this year! And I agree about the expectations – it’s so crazy how much is expected in Kindergarten 🙁 Preschool is still so much fun, and we love their preschool!!