When your little one finally reaches the age where they’re ready to attend pre-kindergarten, you might not be ready to let them go. However, this period will significantly enhance their future academic experience, and it’s your job to prepare them for it. If you’re having trouble getting acquainted with this new chapter, use the following tips to ensure your son or daughter is excited to start pre-K.

3 Tips to Help Your Child Adjust to Pre- Kindergarten

1. Start Early

In the weeks leading up to their first day, make discussions about pre-kindergarten a regular daily occurrence. As your child enjoys some of their favorite activities—whether it’s listening to you read a book or filling in a coloring book— explain that these will be regular events at school.

You should also mention some ways that pre-kindergarten will be different, such as interactions with other children, having an assigned seat, or conducting science experiments, as your child’s curiosity might have them looking forward to these new experiences.

2. Visit the Classroom

If your child is apprehensive about starting pre-kindergarten, it’s probably because they’ve never experienced anything like it before. By making several visits to the classroom in advance and allowing your child to return home whenever they’ve had enough, you can eliminate their fear of the unknown in small doses. With a clear picture in mind of where they’ll sit, snack, play, and nap, your little one will have an easier time mentally preparing for their new day-to-day routine.

3. Prepare for the Goodbye

Even if your child seems to be adapting well to the idea of pre-kindergarten, revealing anxiety or sadness as you say goodbye could trigger a similar response in your son or daughter. On the first few days of school, walk your child over to the teacher and step away, signaling your trust in this new authority figure. Instead of a long, emotional goodbye, give your child a quick hug, tell them you see them later, and step out of the door. While it might feel unusual, the more casual your farewell is, the more your child will feel there’s nothing to be scared of, and they’ll trust you’ll return at the end of the day.

If you want to help your little one adjust to a trusted pre-kindergarten program in the Greensboro, NC, area, turn to Guilford Child Development. This collection of community organizations has been helping families since 1967, providing access to early childhood development programs at affordable rates. From catering to literacy, you can turn to this collective for a wide variety of child care needs. Visit the website to learn more about pre-kindergarten offerings, or call (336) 887-8224 today.