When to Begin the Process - Pre-School Readiness

It’s never too early to bring up the idea of pre-school and all the fun and cool things you get to do there!

Use pretend play to explore your child’s idea of what preschool is all about.

o   Take turns being the parent, child, and teacher

o   Take turns playing out things that they might see and do there like putting your coat in the cubby, getting toys off the shelf, helping to clean up, laying on a cot or sleeping mat

o   Pretend saying goodbye AND hello again

o   Pretend you are having circle time to sing a song or read a story

o   Use stuffed animal friends to “meet and greet” new friends

Keep scrolling down for more ideas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Read books about pre-school or watch kid friendly movies about starting pre-school (check out what the local library has)

Talk about how they are getting bigger and will be starting school when they are a little older

Talk about how they might feel about meeting new friends, or in going to a school to play for a while without you being there

Continue scrolling to read about developing Self-Help Skills >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Start to make a game out of developing their self-help skills

Pre-School is a time to start becoming comfortable with basic self-help skills. The ideas that follow will help to promote the development of these basic skills that are part of being pre-school ready, and which are needed when a child begins Pre-K and then Kindergarten.

Try one or all of these ideas as your child is able to participate and tolerate. Remember the idea is to become comfortable and to not over-whelm, so just “go with the flow” and be aware of how your child reacts to these activities, stopping or ending the activity as needed.

o   How sudsy can they make their hands when they wash them

o   How fast can they get in-to and out-of their coat or jacket

o   How quickly can they take off their shoes and/or socks and then get them back on – can they do this in sitting or standing? Let them put YOUR shoes and socks on if they do not like doing their own shoes/socks

o   Can they help pack a pretend school backpack with a furry stuffed friend, fidget or sensory calming toy, an extra shirt, and so on

Continue on for more ideas! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Drive or walk by where they would go when they are older

o   Talk about how this is the place they will go to school one day

o   Watch children go in to the building and come back later to see how they come out when ready to go home – talk about how they will only be there for a little while and that they will come home to you, their own bed, their own toys.

o   Wave at the school buses as they come and go

o   Check out the playground after school hours (many school play areas are open to the public after hours, but call the school to check if this is OK)

o   Play on age appropriate playground equipment if your child tolerates

o   Talk about the fun they will have when they get to come to school here

o   Take some pictures of the building, playground, buses, entrance to the building, and so on so that you can pull them out later at home to look at and talk about

o   Call and ask if you would be able to bring your child in to the building after school is dismissed to see the hallways and classroom doors, the office, and so on. Some schools will allow you to meet the pre-school teacher(s), the principal, and check out the empty rooms.

Yes, more ideas continue below! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Start Early and Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!

Be ready to talk about any worries or fears your child may bring up. You are not pushing them if they are not ready, but repeated efforts, visits, and talking about school will help make your child feel more comfortable with the idea and surroundings.

Start early and repeat, repeat, repeat, practice, practice, practice!

Start with only one thing if that’s all they can handle or tolerate and slowly, slowly, add a little more at a time. When you start early you have lots of time to ease your child into the idea of change and transition!

It’s a big deal to go to school! The sooner they get used to the idea, become comfortable with being at the school or playground, the easier the transition will go.

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