Many little ones will be starting voluntary pre-school or kindergarten for the first time. It is best that some preparation be done before abandonment fears cause a meltdown the first day. If your child has a sibling that is in school, the prep work will be easier. If they have been in daycare, the transition will probably be smoother. However, each child is different. It is important for your child to know that they will be safe in their school. More importantly, they need to know they will be back home. They will need to know who will be taking and picking them up. Most schools are sensitive to the feeling of our little ones.
If your child seems particularly apprehensive, you can tuck a picture of yourself into a pocket for them to peek at or touch. This works well and after awhile, a hand-drawn picture of a heart can be a surprise in a snack or lunchbox.You should take several rides by the school whenever you can and point it out to your little student. "This is Amy's school. Look at the swings. I know you'll like playing on them."
Your child can help pick out snack and lunch items at the store and put them in plastic containers. You can talk about the music, art and other activities they will have. If your child is truly shy by nature, the teacher needs to know. Perhaps, your child can be paired with another student and ease into making multiple friends. Teachers usually take special care not to have a student standout in a way that may be embarrassing. If you have the time, you might want to make a few dry runs by getting up in the morning and preparing for school so your child knows what to expect. As mentioned earlier, some children will take to school like a fish to water. Others will need extra TLC.
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