How to help your child transition to preschool

Listen to the “Heading Off to School” song

Going to preschool means a new classroom, new friends, and new expectations. It can be tempting to promise, “You’re going to love it,” but experts recommend a confident, measured approach. Let your child know what to expect and reassure them that all of their feelings are okay. Here are some tips that can help ease the transition.

Give them a preschool preview

Some children are ready to talk about school ahead of time and others may get overwhelmed if you bring it up too soon or too often—follow your child’s lead. If they seem curious about preschool, you can say, “I wonder what you’d like to know about your new school.” If you think it would help your child, you can arrange an in-person tour of their new school or look at photos together—many schools have them available on their website. About a week before your child’s first day, give them the opportunity to practice parts of their new routine, like opening and eating from their lunchbox. 

Let them carry their own backpack

Independent self-care skills take time to build. In the midst of the morning rush, you might be tempted to do whatever it takes to get out the door on time. But give your child opportunities to practice independence as part of their daily routine, and praise their successes. Let them put on their own jacket, carry their own backpack or lunchbox, or put on their shoes. (It helps to build a little extra time into the morning routine.) When it’s clear to your child that you believe they can do it themselves, they’ll believe it too—and bring that confidence into the classroom.

Establish a goodbye ritual

Keep your goodbye brief and upbeat. For example, you might do a three-second hug and say, “I love you so much. I’ll be back after your music lesson.”

Even if your child loves school, being away from you is a big deal to them. Your reunion is an important part of separation, so let your child know when you’ll be back.

6 preschool skills to practice at home

At this age, your child is still learning just as much at home as they are at preschool. Here are 6 essential ways to support your child’s learning:

1. Give them tools for naming emotions: Your child will experience lots of new emotions at preschool. The Wooden Emotion Dolls in The Observer Play Kit give your child words for their feelings to help them process their day. The Emotion Book Set (also included in The Observer Play Kit) helps your child understand that all emotions are okay, and that it’s possible to feel multiple emotions at once—like when they felt excited but also nervous about school.

2. Model and practice turn taking: Taking turns is difficult for young children, because it requires patience and self-control. A collaborative board game such as the Turtle Hatch Game from The Problem Solver Play Kit lets your preschooler practice turn-taking with your help. Play-acting games like the Show, Tell & Think Empathy Game in The Examiner Play Kit nurture empathy, which also helps with turn-taking and sharing.

3. Support realistic pretend play: At this age, your child’s pretend play is all about re-enacting lived experiences. The Modular Playhouse in The Observer Play Kit can be configured in a variety of ways to let your child play out scenes from school or home—acting out routines, exploring changing emotions, and practicing social skills. Some preschools emphasize pretend play more than others, but all children need time at home for pretend play.

4. Help them set expectations for the day: The Daily Helper Board in The Connector Play Kit and the Plan Ahead Weather Board in The Observer Play Kit are visual interactive tools that help your child take ownership of their everyday routines. Being able to predict their day and plan ahead encourages their sense of independence and security.

5. Practice math concepts at home with practical tools: Help your preschooler learn to count and understand early math concepts with playthings that represent numbers in a visual, tactile way. The Number Sense Nature Counters in The Problem Solver Play Kit as well as the Stackable Fraction Cups in The Analyst Play Kit put early math right into your preschooler’s hands.

6. Offer opportunities to help and contribute: At preschool, your child will be asked to help with community tasks: lining up for the washroom, setting up for play time or snack time, and cleaning up when activities are over. At home, give them plenty of practice with practical life skills like helping, sharing, cleaning up, and cooking. The Squeeze & Spray Mop from The Storyteller Play Kit is one of our best-loved playthings because it really works. Letting your child contribute to the household as a valued helper builds confidence at home and beyond.

More expert advice

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