Stepping out of home and beginning a new journey at preschool can be overwhelming for toddlers. The beginning of preschool can be exciting and emotionally challenging simultaneously, as it marks the time children come out of their cocoons to explore the outer world. Early training is recommended to ensure this transition’s smoothness. To help you prepare your child, we list below some of the best tips out there, hoping it helps you and your child in your new journey.
Introduce the Concept of Preschool to your Child
Role-playing can be significantly effective in introducing the idea of going to preschool to toddlers. For instance, you may take turns as a teacher, child, and parent and act out different preschool routines, like lunchtime, playtime, nap time, and so on. This helps to reduce their anxiety and fosters a positive attitude towards preschools.
Read Out Loud
Reading should be at the top of your child’s daily schedule. Integrating reading as part of their daily routine in the early years is a constructive way to develop their curiosity and a fondness for learning new things and asking meaningful questions. Additionally, it enhances their language skills and vocabulary, making them confident in school.
Fix the Sleeping Routine
A child needs 11-14 hours of daily sleep on average. Any irregularities in your child’s sleeping time can make them cranky and irritable. Therefore, maintaining consistency in their sleep routine before starting preschool is critical since it contributes directly to them being more sociable at kindergarten.
Develop Self-Help Skills
At schools in Tokyo, children are seldom on their own. Nevertheless, basic self-help skills, like packing the bag, fastening their shoes, unzipping their coat, etc., can go a long way. In this regard, you can use gamification. For example, you can race with your child to see how quickly they fasten their shoes.
Take a Tour of the Preschool
Taking a tour of the schools in Tokyo before its commencement is highly advisable. Show your child the playground, classroom, and other school facilities to familiarise them with this new environment. The preschool’s joyful ambience can remarkably lessen some of the child’s fear.
Listen to Your Child’s Worries
Listen to understand and not to respond. Hear your child’s perspective about the preschool and attend to their fears, anxieties, and questions about their new beginnings. Try to patiently answer them and give them the necessary support and courage. Sharing personal experiences and other interactive stories to make them feel comfortable can be productive.
Saying Goodbye
On their first day of kindergarten, staying a little longer with your child can make them feel somewhat homely and comfortable. Being enthusiastic and energetic as you drop your child at school makes them pick up the same moods as those of their trusted adults. Make a ritual — something like a goodbye kiss, a hug, or anything special between you and your child. Moreover, be patient and do not rush to hold them if you see them crying.
In a Nutshell
Giving some prep to your little one before beginning their preschool is instrumental to helping them overcome the jitter of their first day at school. We hope that the tips given above are helpful for early preschool training for your child. Happy Preschooling!
