How to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool

Preschool can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking change for many families. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone—it’s normal for you and your child to experience a variety of mixed emotions. Thankfully, there are many strategies that you and your preschooler can use to help ease the process.

If you start well in advance, you can begin creating routines, practicing separation, teaching self-help skills, and more to ensure the smoothest transition possible for you and your little one.
Curious to learn more? Check out our comprehensive guide on how to prepare your toddler for preschool for practical preparation tips and advice.

Preschool can be a challenging adjustment for toddlers, especially if they’re not accustomed to being apart from their grown ups or having meals at the same time every day. It can also be difficult to get used to sitting down in class and having scheduled playtime.

To that end, here’s how to begin preparing your toddler for preschool while at home.

Consistency is key when adjusting to a new schedule. Mornings can be hectic, but implementing an easy wake-up routine can help your family begin the day on the right foot, and ease into preschool prep. Make sure that your morning routine has enough structure for kids to follow, but isn’t too jam-packed with tasks.

A consistent schedule starts with waking up at the same time every day—yes, even on the weekends. Here are the next five steps you can make part of your toddler’s morning routine:

1. Potty time

2. Brush teeth

3. Make the bed

4. Get dressed

5. Have breakfast

Of course, your routine can vary depending on your family’s needs. Maybe you all walk the dog together or draw a picture after breakfast. No matter what your schedule looks like, the most important aspect in establishing a familiar routine is ensuring you do each step in the same order every day.

Separation anxiety is a common part of childhood, especially as your toddler navigates big changes and adjusts to new routines. It’s most common around ages three and four, but separation anxiety can also follow children into elementary school.¹

So, how can you address separation ahead of time to set your toddler up for success? Here are a few ideas:

• Practice short separations – Leave your child with a relative or family friend for a short period to see how they react to the separation. You can also set up playdates—even better if they’ll see their new friends at preschool!

• Establish a goodbye ritual – In the months leading up to the first day of school, develop a special way to say goodbye that can help comfort your child. This could be a creative handshake, a funny wave, or even just a big hug. You could even say the same encouraging words to your preschooler before you go that will make them feel at ease.

• Read comforting books – Lots of children’s books tackle difficult subjects like separation anxiety and first-day of school nerves. Reading these books shows children that they’re not alone in their feelings, and can even provide helpful coping skills. Plus, reading together creates special bonding time and offers an opportunity for a conversation about preschool and their feelings about it. Your local librarian can likely provide some recommendations.

• Plan a school visit – If you already know that your child struggles with separation, visiting the preschool ahead of time can be a good way to help them become familiar with this new setting. Many schools also allow tours so that children and parents can meet their child’s teachers in advance, and this can be especially helpful. If your toddler recognizes a familiar face in the classroom, they’ll likely feel more comfortable leaving your side.

Keep in mind that separation anxiety may not manifest right when school starts. In some cases, children don’t experience it until weeks or months into the school year.

Getting ready for preschool requires more than just a supplies checklist and a consistent routine. It’s also important to emotionally prepare your little one for this big change.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Dedicate time over the summer to talk to your child about what preschool is like. Describe what to expect in a classroom, the subjects they might learn about, and how many new people they may meet. If your toddler has any cousins, neighbors, or family friends who are already in preschool, encourage your child to ask them about their favorite parts.

As we mentioned, another strategy is to read books that revolve around kids in preschool. Listening to stories about characters navigating preschool can help your child adjust to the idea of school, and may even make them more excited to start.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings, too, especially if you’re feeling any anxiety. Children are intuitive and may pick up on your nerves, making them feel nervous as well.¹ So, consider reaching out to your partner, a friend, or therapist and working through your own emotions before the school year begins.

As mentioned, visiting the preschool together ahead of time can help minimize separation anxiety. If your preschool hosts an “open house”, this could be an opportunity for your child to meet their teacher and other children that will be in their class.

Even for well-adjusted children, touring the school and preschool classroom can be a useful way to ease your child’s transition. It can even make your child more excited before preschool starts as they envision themselves in this thrilling new world!

Preschool is an immersive experience that includes learning, play, and growth. A crucial part of preparing your child is adequate socialization—specifically, helping them stock their social-emotional toolkit. For instance, by developing soft skills, preschoolers are able to work better with classmates, communicate their needs, and avoid peer pressure.

Importantly, social-emotional learning includes the following values:

• Self-awareness

• Self-management

• Empathy and awareness

• Conflict resolution

• Asking for help

• Making responsible decisions

Research shows numerous benefits of social-emotional learning both in and out of the classroom, especially when children start learning these behaviors at a young age.² To that end, here are a few ways to encourage social development.

Help your toddler break out of their shell by setting up playdates with other kids. This provides an easy way to make new friends and gain social confidence. Plus, it encourages children to learn how to communicate, share, and compromise with their peers.

You can meet other families at storytimes, in playgroups, or at the playground.

Preschool is one of the first times that children are away from their caretakers, but leaving their comfort zones is a vital part of their growth and development. To that end, your toddler can be trusted with an appropriate amount of independence as they make new friends, learn new things, and express their creativity.

The social-emotional skills we mentioned above are a valuable part of this newfound independence. But let’s explore a few other skills that are important for your preschooler to learn.

While teachers are always there to lend a helping hand, there are many tasks that toddlers can complete on their own. When preparing your child for preschool, make sure they can independently do the following:

• Express when they need to use the bathroom

• Wash their hands

• Use utensils

• Put on, zip up, and take off a jacket

• Blow their nose

Kids will only gain more dexterity and master new skills throughout the year.

Preschool is usually when toddlers get their first big-kid backpack—a lesson in managing and caring for personal belongings.

In class, kids will learn how to put papers into a folder, pack items away neatly, and not leave their belongings strewn about. As children learn these new responsibilities, they can use their backpacks to keep track of items and become less likely to lose them.

Complement their backpack with an insulated kid’s lunch box to keep food fresh and protected until lunchtime.

The common cold, stomach flu, sore throat, pink eye—illnesses can run rampant in preschool. In fact, classrooms can be hotspots for germs, but there are a few ways you can keep your toddler happy and healthy.

At preschool age, kids can start taking an active role in their personal hygiene. This can include:

• Washing their hands

• Covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze

• Blowing a runny nose

In addition to preventing illness, instilling hygiene practices at an early age can help kids develop healthy habits as they grow up.

Children typically need up-to-date vaccines in order to enroll in preschool. The CDC lists vaccine recommendations for children on their website, but requirements vary by state, so consider double-checking with your pediatrician about what your child needs.³ The doctor’s office can also provide a copy of your child’s immunization record if the school requests it.

By establishing a routine, preparing emotionally, developing social and practical skills, and taking health and safety precautions, you can set your child up for preschool success. Another step you can take before the big day?

Shop Posh Peanut for preschool essentials, including stylish and comfortable toddler clothes, designed with our custom-milled viscose from bamboo fabric that grows with your child. And, with fun designs and colorful patterns to choose from, your toddler can look and feel confident all year long.

To store all their school supplies, make sure to also check out our kids backpacks and kids lunch bags, made with high-quality materials that can withstand whatever the day brings.

Explore our new arrivals today to get started.

Sources: 

¹ PBS. Helping Preschoolers Cope With Separation Anxiety.

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-preschoolers-cope-with-separation-anxiety

² National University. What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Why It Matters.

https://www.nu.edu/blog/social-emotional-learning-sel-why-it-matters-for-educators

³ CDC. Vaccines at 4 to 6 Years.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/by-age/years-4-6.html