Suggestions for making the transition back to preschool or daycare
My nieces and nephew just started back to school today and it reminded me of that nervous anticipation that most kids get when they return to school.
If your child is apprehensive about going back to daycare or child care, or it is their first day of preschool, there are a few things you can do to ease him or her back into it. I highly recommend advanced preparation and helping your child becoming familiar with new surroundings.
Visit the teacher and the classroom. Take your child for a brief meeting with the teacher. Let him or her explore the classroom setting. Play on the playground. Let them get a good sense of how the layout of the school.
Review the route to school. Take a casual walk or drive to the school. Point out landmarks along the way. Let them meet the crossing guards. This gives them a taste of the route and will give them a sense of familiarity. If driving, show them where you will drop them off and pick them up.
Have a mock lunch: Pack two lunches similar to what you will pack for your child for a normal day of school. Sit with them and have lunch, discussing that this is similar to how lunch will be at school. This way you will see if they struggle with handling usual lunch items.
