[prep for preschool]
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Top tips for prepping your littlest
student for a successful school year
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1. Picking the Right School—Success starts here. Tampa has an exhaustive list of preschools to choose from, everything from small, two classroom schools to larger, academy programs. Either could be right for your child, it just depends on WHO your child is. The only way to really know is to talk with the school, ask questions, and most importantly stop by or schedule a tour. Not sure where to begin? Visit our site for a list of local preschools and go to the Preschool Fair this Thursday.
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2. Practice Independence Before School Starts—We aren’t suggesting you hand over the car keys yet, but practicing some age-appropriate skills independently can help your child feel better adapted, quicker. Learning to wipe their nose, follow simple instructions (cleaning up toys, sitting when asked) and cleaning their eating space after a meal will empower your child with feelings of confidence and capability in their new, unfamiliar surroundings.
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3. Pre-Conference—Most parents and children feel very comfortable with the teacher and school after meet-the-teacher. But if your child has special needs or there are concerns that need to be addressed, a pre-conference may be helpful. Setting your child up for success on day one can very powerful in determining the tone of the whole school year. There may be resources the school offers that you didn’t even know were available to your child.
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4. Communicate in Advance with Your Child—A few weeks before your child is to begin pre-school is the time to start talking about it. Discussing in advance what pre-school is all about, what will be expected and how much fun it will be will all be important factors when the big day arrives. If your child has not been in many social situations, now is the time to plan play dates or join a local child’s play gym. Separation anxiety can be the biggest issue affecting pre-school kids; practicing a fun “good-bye” routine in preparation for the first day can help ensure success. See below for some tried-and-true “good-bye” tips from our subscribers.
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5. Keep it Fun, Keep it in Perspective--We are the first to admit we had our children on the waiting lists of some of the best preschools in the area before they took their first steps, but this intensity for the best education doesn’t need to fully transfer to our children. This is their very first experience with school, and while it is momentous, a social snafu on the pre-school playground is not going to hold your child back from attending Yale. Perspective can be everything; remember, a lifetime love of learning should be the ultimate goal.
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Good-bye Tips
“I always greet the teacher with my son and strike up a conversation between the three of us. My son sees that I am comfortable with the teacher and that instantly makes him feel better too.”
Cindy—St. Petersburg
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“The standard good-bye kiss was too emotional for my daughter. We invented a funny handshake instead and now use it every time we have to say good-bye to one another.”Lindsay—Tampa
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“Instead of a stuffed animal or picture brought from home, I let my daughter pick out a book to bring to school. As the other kids are arriving, we cozy up in a corner of the classroom and read it together. It has become a predictable ritual of our good-bye.”
Sarah—Tampa