Our toddler is already a preschooler: how to prepare a child for kindergarten?
How to prepare a child for kindergarten? This question is faced by most parents of 3-year-olds who have decided to send their toddler to a new facility. What can be done at home to gently introduce a toddler to the preschool world, when to start preparing?
What strategies are worth implementing during the first days in kindergarten? In this article, we present proven advice on how to prepare your child for kindergarten to support your toddler in this important life change.
Jak we want well prepare your child for kindergarten, it's worth starting ... right away
On the forum, many parents admit that sending their child to kindergarten is just as - and maybe even more - stressful for them and for the toddler himself. Will the child cope, will he find friends, how to prepare the child for kindergarten to minimize stress related to separation from parents? Instead of worrying about the preparing your child for kindergarten it's worth starting… right now.
Expert advises
First, let's take care of the toddler's independence. If we want to prepare the child well for kindergarten, it is worth focusing on increasing the child's independence a few months earlier, primarily in terms of self-service: using the toilet, dressing/undressing, eating. It is worth getting the child used to the absence of parents, regularly leaving him for a few hours under the care of his grandparents, beloved aunt or nanny.
If we want to prepare the child well for kindergarten, we should remember that the toddler takes over all emotions from us, especially the negative ones. On the forum, many parents advise talking to the headteacher of the kindergarten and/or teachers working in it. It's worth earlier write down the questions on the sheetthat bother us, e.g.:
- What is the schedule of the day in the kindergarten, what time do we bring and pick up the child?
- Does the facility provide for adaptation to kindergarten? If yes, what does she look like?
- What layette is necessary for a preschooler? It is worth completing it with your child at home, letting you choose the color of slippers, a small backpack, etc.
Thanks to the conversation with the teachers and the headmaster, after visiting the facility, parents usually become calmer and have a chance to get advice from experienced people on how to prepare a child to attend a specific kindergarten.
Checked tips: how to prepare a child for kindergartenalready a few weeks before the first day at the facility?
- Visualization of staying in kindergarten: When we know the schedule of classes in a given facility, we can prepare with the child picture plan of the day in kindergarten. Approx. 2-3 weeks before the start of the preschool adventure, let's focus on getting up earlier and earlier and practice getting ready in the morning to leave the house - here you can also prepare a picture diagram of the morning activities that need to be done.
- Conversations about kindergarten: if we want to prepare a child well for kindergarten, it is necessary to talk to a toddler about what a kindergarten is, why children go there, what is done there (or what we, as children, did in kindergarten), etc. Very helpful for a child in taming the new one, life change will be reading books about kindergarten together - you can find them in almost every bookstore.
Expert advises
However, in positive, encouraging stories about kindergarten, avoid over-idealization - not everything will probably be perfect. There are less tasty lunches, boredom, etc. in kindergarten. Don't want to wash your hands/eat dinner? You will see, there will be no such discussions in kindergarten! and let's not embarrass the little one: If you do this, the children in kindergarten will laugh!
- Kindergarten walks: it is good to take a walk with the child to the facility, show the building and the playground (at the beginning, even from behind the fence)
- Kindergarten fun: you can play in a kindergarten for dolls and teddy bears, in this way practice the moment of saying goodbye and greeting with a parent
- Encouraging play with other children: When we want to prepare a child for kindergarten, the best advice is to ensure that the child has frequent contact with peers. Let's take the toddler to the playground every day, organize meetings with friends' children, etc.
Adaptation in kindergarten: that is, checked meetings, how to prepare your child for the first day of kindergarten
Each facility has its own own way of adapting children. Therefore, it is necessary to ask about it in advance to avoid promising the child something that is not practiced in a given kindergarten, e.g. joint classes with parents on the first day. During the adaptation, the child can see the kindergarten rooms, meet the teachers, get used to the new place.
If the kindergarten we choose does not offer adaptation with a parent or we know that our child has particular difficulty in parting with mum and dad, it is worth asking on the parent forum about adaptation classes for kindergarten, in our area. They are often organized by toddler clubs, playrooms and libraries for children, e.g. during holidays.
How to prepare a child for kindergarten, during adaptation classes?
- Encourage your toddler to play with children, participate in art/music activities on their own.
Top tips: let's sit on the side of the room, let's try not to interfere in the course of classes, if necessary, let's hug the toddler and provide support, but not intrusively.
- After a few days, let's try to leave the child for a dozen or so minutes - half an hour, under the care of teachers. Let's tell the child that we will return, for example, after art work and keep our word. We are gradually extending the time of our absence.
- If we want to prepare the child well for kindergarten, let's agree with him in advance what the farewell with the parent will look like - it is worth preparing a funny slogan or gesture for goodbye with the toddler, e.g. nailing a "turtle" with a jump. On the forum, many parents give the following advice: you should always say goodbye to your child, but the goodbye should be cheerful, firm and, above all, short. Prolonging the goodbye can intensify the child's despair and the parent's stress.
Especially in the first days of adaptation to kindergarten, it is worth explaining to the child exactly when we will come for them. However, it must be operated on events (e.g. after lunch) and not specific hours. If possible, try to pick up your child a little earlier in the first few days.
These are examples of tips that can be helpful as we want to prepare your child well for kindergarten. In case of any problems with familiarizing your toddler with the kindergarten, it is worth observing the child, seeking advice from teachers from a given facility, and trusting your own parental intuition.
Author
