The first day of preschool is a milestone in every child’s life that can be both frightening and exciting. This time away from home can be full of emotions and experiences that are completely new for you and your child.
What’s the key to handling the change? A little patience and a lot of love!
In this article, we discuss what to expect on the first day of preschool and give you tips to make the transition as easy as possible.
Table Of Contents
What To Expect On The First Day Of Preschool
Mixed Emotions
The first day of preschool will be filled with mixed emotions — excitement, nervousness, fear, curiosity, and maybe even some tears (and not just from your child).
Your little one may not know how to process or communicate their feelings, so be supportive and encouraging.
Tell your preschooler-to-be it’s OK to be scared or nervous, and teach them simple coping skills (like deep breathing, counting, or taking a time out) to help them deal with their anxiety.
For more information, check out these articles from the Begin blog:
- Emotions For Kids: Helping Your Child Understand Their Feeling
- 8 Kid-Friendly Calming Strategies For Managing Anxiety
Separation Anxiety
For many young children, the first day of preschool can bring on a bout of separation anxiety. Sometimes, the emotion can overwhelm them to the point that they refuse to leave your side.
Assure your little one that you love them and that you’ll only be gone for a short time. You can also describe all the fun things they’ll get to do while you’re gone so they have something to look forward to.
If you’re curious about other strategies to help your child deal with separation anxiety, take a few minutes to read this article from the Begin blog: Back-To-School Tips For Parents.
Exhaustion
All the newness will likely take a toll on your little one, so don’t be surprised if they’re exhausted after the first day of preschool. This exhaustion may even continue for a few days or weeks. Eventually, they’ll get used to the new routine and return to their energetic self.
To help them manage their tiredness, serve their favorite meal(s) for the first few days of the school year and give them healthy snacks when they’re home to keep their energy levels up.
New Experiences
The first days of any new school year bring with them new activities, places, sights, sounds, and experiences.
Build excitement for all this newness by talking to your child about what they enjoyed during the day and sharing stories about your early years in school.
New Friends
Another big milestone that comes with preschool is the opportunity for your little one to begin developing the friendships that will continue with them into kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and even high school.
Encourage your child to be open to forming new relationships with their peers, and teach them the social skills they’ll need to make this easier.
Sharing
With new friends come new opportunities to learn about sharing and how to successfully navigate the concepts of mine, yours, and ours.
Before the first day of preschool, talk to your little one about playing together nicely with others, and model good sharing behaviors in your own parent/child interactions.
Lots Of Learning
Not only will your child be dealing with new emotions, new experiences, and new friends, but they’ll also be learning lots of new things. Colors, shapes, numbers, words, motor skills — the list goes on and on.
Reinforce this important information throughout the school year by asking your child what they learned each day and incorporating it into your communication and play.
Tip: Sometimes it can be challenging for a child to tell you what they learned after a long day at school. That’s OK! Maybe instead of asking that question, ask what their favorite part of the day was. And then use that information to get a peek into what their learning might have looked like.
Tips For A Successful First Day Of Preschool
Before The First Day
Talk About The First Day Of Preschool In A Positive Way
One of the best things you can do to prepare your child for the first day of preschool is to talk about it in a positive way.
And don’t just talk about the first day. Talk about the entire preschool experience as something to look forward to. Help them get excited about making new friends, learning new things, and developing new skills.
Doing so will help prepare your child mentally and motivate them to take part in the big changes to come.
Visit The School
You can reduce a lot of the anxiety associated with a new environment by visiting the school before the first day arrives.
If possible, introduce them to the preschool room and the teacher(s) so your child knows what to expect and everything isn’t brand new when you drop them off.
Start A Routine
The first day of preschool isn’t just about going somewhere new. It’s also about adopting a new routine. Your child may have to get up earlier than usual, and their morning or afternoon activities may change dramatically.
You can minimize the shock that often accompanies this new schedule by introducing the routine a few weeks or months before preschool starts. This gives your little one time to get used to the new way of life before it becomes a necessity.
Practice Essential Skills
To make the transition from home to preschool easier, practice the essential skills they’ll need for success.
In addition to critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, words, and numbers, consider practicing other “big kid” skills, such as:
- Self-care (e.g., potty training, dressing themself, feeding themself with utensils, etc.)
- Holding a pencil or crayon with thumb and fingers
- Stacking blocks
- Getting into and out of furniture independently
- Engaging in make-believe play
- Using words to communicate feelings and emotions
For more information about which skills to focus on, check out this article from the Begin blog: Preschool Readiness Checklist: How To Prepare Your Child.
Label Your Child’s Belongings
In the weeks and days leading up to your child’s first day, take time to label their belongings. The classroom will likely have shared supplies, but your little one may be required to bring their own backpack, paper, crayons, and maybe even a stuffed animal or blanket.
Make a game out of writing their name on these items as a way to reinforce their understanding of letters, words, and their self-identity.
On And After The First Day Of Preschool
Don’t Linger After Drop Off
The first moments when you drop your child off at preschool can be super difficult for some children. To help ease the separation anxiety, assure your little one that you love them and will be back for them soon, and then try not to linger too long.
There may be tears, but they’ll move past them soon enough once they see all the fun things going on in the classroom.
Send A Comfort Item
Sending a comfort item with your child can help them feel more secure in their new environment.
Talk to the teacher before the first day to find out if it’s OK for your child to bring a blanket, stuffed animal, or favorite toy.
Build Relationships With Teachers
Your child is going to be spending a lot of time with the preschool teachers, so get to know them as much as possible.
Communicate openly about what’s best for your child, any concerns you may have, and how you can help the teachers with their responsibilities.
Be Patient
Adjusting to preschool takes time. So, above all, be patient with your little one — and yourself.
Celebrate small victories, tell them how proud you are, and give them lots of love in the process. Soon enough, you’ll all become comfortable with the new routine.
Stay Positive
As we mentioned earlier, talking positively about your child’s preschool experience is one of the best ways to help them take the big step.
That positive attitude shouldn’t stop once their first day has come and gone. Why? Because your emotions can affect your child’s emotions.
If you start to feel and talk negatively, your child might, too. Do your best to stay positive about the entire preschool adventure. Doing so will help your little one look forward to class every day.
Take Care Of Yourself
Parents are often so busy taking care of their new preschooler that they forget to take care of themselves.
Do your best to find time in your busy week to take a bath, relax with a good book and a cup of tea, or just watch TV with your partner.
Self-care activities can help you recharge your batteries, face the day with love and positivity, and have the energy to guide your child through preschool and beyond.
Get A Head Start With Begin
The first day of preschool — and each day that follows — is filled with opportunities for your little one to learn and grow. You can give them a head start on this adventure with Begin’s line of learning products, including:
And, the fun doesn’t stop after preschool comes to an end! Begin offers digital and hands-on learning opportunities that spark the imagination of kids of all ages, including:
For more resources to help your little one thrive in preschool and beyond, visit BeginLearning.com today.
