A layette for a preschooler

What to buy a child for kindergarten? What kind of things will our child need at the start? What it should definitely contain layette for a preschooler and what a detailed list looks like purchases? What it consists of an artistic layette for a preschooler and what else do you need to complete? How to prepare not only a layette, but also yourself and your child for a stay in kindergarten? You can find all the important information and tips below.

The end of the holidays means a big change in the lives of 3-year-old children. The beginning of education, i.e. the beginning of kindergarten, is a special time for the child and his parents. It is not uncommon for the whole house to be subordinated to the ritual of a toddler attending kindergarten. How to prepare for a new stage - especially if the child has not been in a care facility (nursery) before? How to complete a layette for a preschooler so that it contains the most necessary things? To help you in this task and to make it easier to navigate in the maze of products available on the market, we have prepared a detailed list, along with tips on what is really necessary and what, apart from shopping, you should pay attention to.

What to buy a child for kindergarten? 

A layette for kindergarten should in the first place take into account guidelines in force in a given institution. Collecting all the elements of a layette for a 3-year-old child may prove to be a challenge, especially for those who are making their debut as parents of a preschooler. That is why it is worth making a list of all the necessary things and stocking up on individual items in advance. 

If the kindergarten organizes adaptation days (most often in June or August) or other meetings of this type - let's take advantage of them. They are an opportunity to get the most information first-hand about the trip requirements of a given facility.

Kindergarten layette: not only for learning and playing

Preparation layettes for preschoolers can be compared to making a typical shopping list or preparing and packing for a vacation - it's best to save all your articles and utensils and belongings in one place to minimize the risk of missing something important and then follow up on the next points. 

The entire layette can be divided into 2 groups of products.

• supplies needed for learning and playing in kindergarten; 
• hygienic utensils, change of clothes, clothes for physical activities (possibly for other additional classes, as required by the kindergarten).

A layette for a preschooler

A lot of space in the kindergarten layette is taken up by different plastic utensils. Belong to them:

1. drawing block - large and small (white and color);
2. technical block (white and color);
3. briefcase with an elastic band for art work;
4. blotting paper of different thickness (several different colors);
5. colorful cutouts;
6. scissors (preferably children's, with rounded tips);
7. plasticine;
8. modeling clay;
9. glue stick;
10. pencil crayons (preferably thick, ergonomic, matching the size and shape of children's fingers);
11. crayons;
12. poster paints (6 basic colors) and watercolor paints and a set of brushes.

Clothes and hygiene items for kindergarten

A layette for a preschooler however, that is not all. Other things needed in kindergarten concern everyday stay in the facility. Those are:

1. bed linen, traditional duvet cover and pillowcase of the agreed dimensions (unless the kindergarten provides them);
2. pajamas or sleepwear;
3. a set of clothes for a change (including underwear);
4. slippers in a textile bag;
5. clothes for physical activities (e.g. gymnastics, rhythmics, football, ballet - if they are organized), also in a special bag;
6. a cup, toothpaste and toothbrush;
7. a small towel;
8. notebook for speech therapy or other additional activities (if organized);
9. a small brush or comb for hair;
10. handkerchiefs for the nose (in a large package, removable).

Now that we know what to buy a child for kindergarten, we can go shopping. However, this is not the end of preparations. 

Shopping is not everything

A child who goes to kindergarten should know his things, to recognize them and recognize that they belong to him. Because let's sign or mark the individual elements of the layette and let us familiarize our little ones with this designation. This will help not only the child, but also teachers and caregivers in kindergarten - when it is necessary to find lost items of clothing. It will also reduce the risk of taking another child's belongings home - especially when the preschooler will be picked up by different people, e.g. a written nanny or grandparents.

Let the future preschooler get used to new things - slippers, backpack, towel or bedding. Ideally, he should be able to choose them himself, check if they are comfortable, carry them at home and like them. When your baby is in a new environment, familiar things will give him encouragement and confidence.

An important element of the layette is our child's favorite itemse.g. a blanket, a cot to sleep on or a cuddly toy taken everywhere. They are a substitute for home - their presence in difficult times will be comforting and help the child to cope with emotions.

Layette and the preparation of a preschooler 

Answer the question, what to buy a child for kindergarten, is fairly simple, though the list of products for a plastic layette it can be quite long. However, preparing a preschooler is much more than just equipping them with the necessary accessories and utensils. It plays a huge role parents' attitude and emotional preparation of the child for a change in the environment. Children are like a barometer - they perfectly sense the stress and anxiety of their carers. Important, and maybe even the most important, are the emotions with which a toddler enters the kindergarten. Because adults should make efforts to present a positive attitude to the upcoming change, talk about the kindergarten without fear and fear, with trust in the facility and the people working in it. If there are any fears and anxieties, do not show them in the presence of the child - they may not be justified, being only an expression of concern and overprotection. Everyone has concerns about the new, so let's help the child to cope with the "fears" that may have big eyes.

Layette and independence in kindergarten

It is extremely important to allow our children to be independent in kindergarten. In addition to the accessories that the child will get to know better during the classes, the layette for the preschooler also includes everyday items that should be used. Even if it is a bit clunky at the beginning, independence is a great help in carrying out everyday activities or tasks during teaching activities organized by the staff and all additional activities. Let's help the child build a sense of agency, i.e. the conviction that he has this power: he knows, can, has an influence on what is happening and is able to perform tasks. It is this feeling that will be crucial for better, faster adaptation and future development of the child. Let us take care of our child's independence in advance, teaching them to dress, wash their hands and teeth, eat meals without the help of adults and follow the basic safety rules., also in dealing with others. When registering a child for kindergarten, we must be aware that the toddler should take care of his physiological needs and cope with the toilet.

A good approach is essential

In addition to the list and tips for layette accessories, there are some additional tips that will make starting the preschool adventure easier for everyone.

1. Trust in the facility's staff

Let us trust the teachers and caregivers from the kindergarten, assuming that they will take good care of our child and help her go through the new stage with a smile and joy. 

2. Trust in the child

First of all, let us trust the future preschooler, believing that he will be able to cope perfectly and overcome all difficulties.

3. Knowledge and adaptation

The new stage may evoke different emotions in a child, so it is important to approach them with understanding, calmness and great patience. Let's show the toddler the kindergarten and tell as much as possible about it - the greater the knowledge, the less fear of a new place. It is worth taking advantage of the adaptation days, getting involved in preschool life from the very beginning. We should also remember that introducing typical rituals - a constant daily rhythm - will help the child and the whole family get used to the new situation and new challenges.

4. Cooperation with the kindergarten

If you have any concerns, it is worth discussing them first with the teachers in the kindergarten. Do not hesitate to ask them questions and ask for advice - maybe they will tell you how to solve a given problem or prevent difficult situations. Do not disregard the rules in force in the facility, e.g. regarding the hours of starting classes or bringing toys - let our children know about them and try to follow them.

When a child has a more difficult morning and does not want to get up, we should not let it go too easily, agreeing to leave him at home or in the care of grandparents. The implementation of the time ritual and regularity are crucial in this case. If, after bringing the toddler to kindergarten in the morning, it is difficult for the toddler to say goodbye and part, try to ask the teacher for help in distracting him. The goodbye should be firm and short. In order to deal better in emotionally difficult moments, remember that setting specific rules, communicating them clearly and following them consistently will make it easier for our child to understand and assimilate them.

5. Acceptance of the new stage and the changes taking place 

Sometimes the hardest thing is to come to terms with the fact that a child grows up to the next stage of life, he ceases to need us all the time and someone else takes care of him. Let the toddler grow up, be independent and become more independent. The preschooler is entering a new stage - developing his skills, getting to know a new environment, especially his peer environment, and learning to cooperate with other children. It is worth being positive and believing that everything is done for the sake of our child, and then it will certainly be easier for her and us to come to terms with the new situation.