Tips For Parents Enrolling Their Children Into Preschool
Enrolling in a preschool program is one of the first major life events that your child may experience. Attending preschool can be intimidating for many children that are unaccustomed to spending time in public around other children. If you are unsure of what you should be doing to help your child prepare to start preschool, you may find these guidelines useful.
Attend Open House Or Orientation
Many preschools will have open house or orientation events for new or prospective enrollees. It can be tempting for a parent with a very busy schedule to want to skip these events, but this can be a serious mistake for a couple of reasons. During these events, your child will get the opportunity to become familiar with the staff of the preschool and many of the students that will be attending it. If the preschool that you have chosen does not offer these events, you may want to arrange to tour the building with your child so that they can become familiar with the grounds.
Attempt To Spend Time In The Area Around The Preschool
For many children, being in preschool is one of the first instances where they will be away from both parents for extended periods of time. The stress from this experience can be further worsened by being in an unfamiliar neighborhood or part of town. One of the best ways to help alleviate this issue is to spend time in the neighborhood where the preschool is located with your child. Local parks, restaurants and other activities can help your child become familiar with the area, and this may greatly reduce your child's stress by allowing them to know where their home is located in relation to the school.
Use Preschool As A Chance To Teach Your Child To Be Organized
Being properly organized can be one of the most important and beneficial skills that you teach your child. Developing strong organizational skills can help your child at almost every stage of their life. From the first years of formal schooling to pursuing a professional career, this is a skill that can see almost endless use. To help your child start developing organizational skills, you should allow them to assume responsibility for getting their backpack and clothes ready. While young children will be unable to do this on their own, you should let them make as many of the decisions during this process as is reasonably possible.