5 Ways to help your Kids Settle into Preschool

When a child reaches the age of three, it is time to embark on a new phase in their life, one that will prepare them to become capable individuals in the near future — preschooling. Enrolling your child in a preschool where teachers get preschool teacher training will give his or her life a new meaning. It is the first step in the establishment of an educational pillar in which a child is given complete exposure to develop new skills and communicate.

Sending your child to a daycare center will aid in their transition to independence. The child must leave their comfort zone and venture into a new environment where they can learn about the world around them through play. Every transition in a child's life can be stressful, so you must devise stress-management strategies. Parents play an important role in this situation.

Let's look at how you can assist your child in settling into the best preschool:

Discuss the Idea about Preschool

Before enrolling your child in a playschool, they must be exposed to the concept. You can tell them about preschool and how exciting it would be to learn new things and make new friends. To normalize the concept of preschool, encourage them to watch TV shows that feature toddlers attending a playschool.

Build on the concept of staying away from home

Going to preschool means your child will be separated from you for a few hours. Allowing them to be on their own for a couple of hours can give them a taste of what they're in for (under adult supervision). You can leave them at their grandparents' house to help them get over their separation anxiety.

Take them for a visit to the preschool

Make contact with the preschool's administrator to schedule a visit. This would allow the children to become acquainted with their new surroundings as well as meet the caregivers. Assist them in comprehending how similar the location is to their own.

Start saying Goodbyes

To toddlers, saying goodbye means they will be separated from their parents, which can be stressful. Encourage them to engage in a few regular activities on their own. Ask them to tie their shoelaces or paint with a color of their choice. Bid farewell whenever you leave the room or leave the house. This will help them understand that you are only out of sight for a short time.

Try to understand and comfort them

Toddlers are frequently fearful of being separated from their parents. You can give them a tight hug and promise to always be there for them. This would boost their self-esteem when they are alone.

Fun Activities for Preschoolers

Preschool activities are critical for instilling the habit of learning in children. It shapes a child's overall personality and begins their journey into the world of structured learning and education. Preschool, also known as playschool, is the stage in a child's life when they are first exposed to the outside world. These activities are designed to teach children how to converse with their peers without hesitation or awkwardness. Sharing and caring for one another, cooperation, and conflict resolution are also important skills taught in preschools.

Basic Objectives of a Proficient Preschool

Preschools strive to provide a solid foundation for comprehensive development as well as to:

• Create a child-friendly environment in which each child is valued, respected, and feels safe, allowing them to develop a positive sense of self.
• Allow children to become effective communicators and encourage receptivity.
• Assist children in becoming active learners who think critically, are creative, collaborate, and connect with their surroundings.
• Allow for a smooth transition of children from preschool to primary school.

Aside from academics and preschool teaching videos, a Preschool curriculum includes many other activities, such as -

Storytime - Children hear various, interesting stories from their teachers and caregivers, which are frequently accompanied by moral lessons.

Water play - Water play is excellent for teaching children about the consequences of their actions. It is a firm favorite among toddlers and is frequently encouraged in preschools to provide a fun learning experience for the children.

Sand play – Sand play entails digging, scooping, and pouring and is excellent for developing self-confidence. It frequently guides creativity and instills confidence in children's constructive abilities.

Creative art – Children enjoy drawing and painting because it allows them to be creative with paints and other drawing tools. This enables them to express their worldview in a unique way. These activities are used to help toddlers develop self-expression skills.

Reading time/ library time – Colorful and appealing images often captivate young children. This encourages them to revisit stories and lessons, or in some cases, simply keeps them engaged in reading and self-learning.

Celebration of each festival and special day – Celebrations of each festival and special day have a huge impact on children. Preschools frequently celebrate events and festivals to help children learn about various festivals and cultures. Parents are frequently invited to participate in the celebration.

Dress up and role play - Dressing up as a doctor, chef, astronaut, or other characters is another way to make preschool fun and exciting. It also allows children to express their creative selves and improves their social interaction skills.

Sensory play - Sensory play is primarily concerned with play that involves touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. It encourages exploration and serves as the foundation for both investigation and science.