Whether your kids are entering from a child care setting or coming from home, you can help them smoothly transition into their next early learning experience!
Talk about the change
• You can mentally prepare your kids by talking about going to school, reading books together about going to school, and having them talk to friends and family members who go to school
Practice meeting new challenges
• Your kids will need to use their everyday skills to meet new challenges and expectations, such as taking off their coat, pulling up their pants, and putting on their shoes
• Even though a teacher will be there to help, practicing at home will help your kids feel confident and comfortable when they are met with these expectations
Visit the school and meet the teachers
• Give your kids an opportunity to see what their new environment is going to look and feel like, and to get to know who is going to be there
• This gives you the opportunity to start an ongoing, communicative relationship with your kids’ teachers
Establish school-day routines
• This may include picking out what clothes to wear the night before and packing a backpack, listening to the same song each day on the way to drop-off, or using words and phrases to say “goodbye” and “hello” that are special just between you
• Routines are reassuring; they create comfortability and can help transitions go more smoothly
Be confident and instill confidence
• This can be a big transition for adults, but when you help your kids prepare for the change, and when you confidently tell them they are going to do great, they will believe you – you should believe you, too