The transition from home to school can be hard for some kids. If you’re reading this article, it probably means that your child is getting ready to enter preschool and you’re looking for a way to help them make the transition as smoothly as possible. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution that works for every kid, there are steps you can take to help your little one adjust to life in their new classroom (and save yourself some stress!).
Hopefully, after reading this post and other articles on this site, you’ll be able to take the right steps forward with your child — even if they don’t like school at first!
What To Do When Your Preschooler Hates School
If your child is unhappy at school, you should gain an understanding of the problem before making any changes. Ask them what they don’t like about school and listen to their response. Often unhappy children have very specific reasons for it, such as one teacher, a classmate, or a certain activity that makes them unhappy. Listen carefully to what they say and attempt to understand the root cause of their unhappiness so that you can better help them feel more comfortable in their environment.
When discussing concerns with teachers or other administrators at your child’s preschool, be sure not to let emotions get in the way of productive conversation: remember that there is no such thing as being “too polite” when trying to resolve disputes between adults who might otherwise be tempted towards confrontation or conflict resolution through passive-aggression (which never works anyway!).
How to Choose a Preschool
When choosing a preschool, the first thing to do is get in touch with the school and ask for a tour. You should also ask about the school’s philosophy, curriculum, and teaching methods.
Ask about nap time and what kind of interaction your child will have with other kids outside their classroom setting. If they offer an extended day program (running from 8:30-5 pm), consider whether that would be helpful for you or not.
What to Do if Your Child Doesn’t Get Into Your Preschool of Choice
If your child didn’t get into the preschool of your choice, don’t worry. There are a lot of different possibilities available. Here are some options for you:
- Talk to the school about why your child was not accepted. You may find out that they require children to have certain skills or work with them on their weaknesses before they can be accepted into their program. You can then work with your child on those specific skills for them to reapply next year (or even another school).
- Consider homeschooling as an option if you’re displeased with all of the public schools near you and don’t want to try private schooling yet or at all. It takes some commitment on behalf of both parents, but it’s worth it if done correctly!
7 Signs It’s Time for Preschool
Your child is ready for preschool when they:
- Can follow simple directions
- Are motivated by the idea of being with other kids
- Want to go to school
These are all signs that your child is ready for the social and academic challenges of school, whether it’s kindergarten or a preschool program. The same rules apply: If your child shows an interest in learning new things, interacts well with others, and has a positive attitude about a school—that’s when you know it’s time.
You can prepare your child for preschool by visiting the school, talking about what they want from school, and making the transition a smooth one.
The best way to find the best preschool for your child is to visit the school. You can then talk about what your child wants from school, and make sure that you both feel comfortable with the transition.
It’s easy! All you have to do is:
- Visit the preschool of your choosing.
- Have a frank discussion with your child about expectations, responsibilities, and feelings regarding their new learning environment.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering where to start, we have some advice: visit the school. You can ask for a tour of the facilities and classrooms, talk with teachers and other parents about their experiences there, and get an idea of whether or not your child would be happy at that particular preschool. Beyond that, it’s important to think about what kind of learning environment your child needs at this age—does he need more structured activities? More free time to play on her own? Once you find the right fit for your family, don’t forget to make the transition as smooth as possible! A good way to do this is by talking about what preschool will be like beforehand so that everyone knows what is expected when they arrive each morning.