Tips for helping your preschool child prepare for school
-Attend all the school parent education meetings.
- Come to the New Family Orientation on August 18 so that your child can come and visit the classroom and meet me before school starts.
-Try and arrange for both parents to attend the conferences and have questions already prepared to ask your child's teacher.
-Routines: It is important to create a set bedtime and wake-up time. This will help ensure that they get plenty of rest. Before school starts it is also important to practice the morning routine of getting ready for school. This way when school starts students will feel comfortable with going to school.
-Your child should get plenty of rest. the recommended amounts of sleep for a 3-5 year old is 11-13 hours and 10-11 hours for 5- 12 year olds.
-It is important for your child to have a nutritious breakfast every morning.
-GIve your child plenty of time to dress him/herself in the mornings.
-Let the ride or walk to school be child centered. This could be done by singing with your child, talking to them about what they see, count cars or traffic lights. You could also play a I spy game or make up a story.
-It is very important for your child to arrive at school on time because by coming in late they miss the initial socialization and it can be difficult for your child to settle down as well as being disruptive.
-Let you child's teacher know if your child may be reacting to unusual situations such as lack of sleep, visitors at your house, parents will be out of town etc..
-Be reliable and let your child know if you will be late picking him/her up.
- Have your child spend time with other children: It is important that your child has lots of opportunities to socialize with children there own age. This helps them practice sharing, taking turns and getting use to being around other children.
-Have them go with you to get their school supplies as well as go to the library and find books about going to school. It is also great to have them pick out books that they want to read.
-Independence: It is important to nurture your child's independence by allowing them to make choices such as what they want to wear to school, what books they want to read or even a snack they would want in their lunch. Teach them to open up their drinks and food containers so that they can feel a little more independent.
-The first day of school: When your child arrives, you can help them find their cubby and hang up their coat. They will than find an activity to do at one of the three tables, wotk on the flannel board or they can read a book in the reading area.
-It is important for children to wear comfortable clothes and that are easy for them if they wait until the last minute to use the bathroom.
