Drop-off is one of the hardest parts of preschool, but, fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to make it easier for both you and your child. The following guide explains how to encourage your child to feel excited about starting school each morning. 

What Can Make Preschool Drop-Off Easier?

1. Schedule Playdates 

Help your child nurture friendships with their classmates to give them something to look forward to each morning. If your son or daughter seems nervous when you’re getting ready to leave, remind them they will see their friends again. Be as specific as possible—for example, “Are you going to show Abbey your loose tooth today?” This tactic can help them reframe their perspective of school to be more positive. 

2. Create a Goodbye Ritual

Routines will help your child feel more comfortable and secure. Create a short routine and repeat it every morning when saying goodbye. This could be a fun phrase or rhyme, hug, or special dance, for example, but try to keep it relatively short. Spending too much time at the door can make your child feel more apprehensive about going inside.

3. Radiate Positivity 

It’s natural to miss your child when they’re away at preschool, but try not to let that affect them. Make sure you smile and explain how excited you are for them to learn and play with their friends. Children are perceptive of reading nonverbal emotional cues, so try to project an air of confidence to help reassure them. 

4. Read About It

If your child continues to feel nervous about preschool drop-off, go to the library together and check out a book. Many children’s books address this issue, including Llama Llama Misses Momma by Anna Dewdney, The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing, Hello, School! by Priscilla Burris, and I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child. Reading these books can help prepare your child for the adventures they’ll enjoy at school and make them feel less alone.

If you’re looking for a compassionate preschool guided by the latest innovations in child development and psychology, visit the World of Knowledge Child Development Center Inc in Lincoln, NE. This early education center offers parents and their children a supportive environment for drop-offs and pick-ups. To learn more about their credentials, visit their website. To schedule a visit for you and your preschooler, call (402) 483-4769 today.