We, here at Fun-A-Day, would like to share some back to school tips for parents of preschoolers. These tips will help make preschoolers’ transitions to school smoother.
Heading back to school can be an overwhelming time for everyone involved – the kids, the teachers, and the parents!
In fact, I have to tell you a secret . . .
Even seasoned teachers get a little worried when it’s almost time for school to start. Especially if it’s her child starting preschool or kindergarten for the first time. Not that I’d know from first-hand experience, or anything. 😉
These back to school tips for parents of preschoolers come from years of teaching kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. But they’re also from my perspective as a parent to a child starting preschool. A double whammy, if you will.
A Preschool Teacher’s Back to School Tips for Parents
Get a school routine going early.
Summertime schedules are often different than school year schedules, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Kids do well with routines, though, so establishing a school routine early is important.
Two to four weeks before school starts, get the preschoolers used to getting up at a certain time every day and going to bed at a certain time. This will get their little bodies used to school day hours. It will also give everyone the chance to iron out any wrinkles before school starts.
KCEdventures has some tips for getting into a school routine.
Get appropriate gear for your preschooler.
I know that there are TONS of cute and fun school supplies out there! With that being said, keep in mind what your child actually needs for preschool. A tiny bug backpack might be super adorable, but it will be pointless if it won’t hold your kiddo’s lunchbox or school folder.
Your child’s school will likely have a list, so be sure to refer to that. Many preschools also have small lists of items to not bring to school. It will help the teachers and students if those lists are adhered to.
CraftWhack has some cool back to school items the kiddos might like.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Talk and read about school.
Listen to your preschooler and answer any questions she might have. Share insights into when you were in school and all the fun you had there.
Read and make books about school with your child – it’s a great bonding time, and often the books will spark a great discussion.
Check out the preschool digs, and meet the teacher.
This is oh-so-important for your preschooler! Even if your child’s been at the preschool for years, he’ll have a new teacher and a new classroom. Try your best to bring him to any preschool orientations at the preschool.
If you’re not able to, see if a grandparent or a family friend can take him. Knowing his classroom and teacher ahead of time will ease some of the beginning of the year anxieties.
Encourage independence.
While no one expects a 4-year old to do everything on her own, age-appropriate independence is important. Real tasks allow children to learn to take care of themselves. They also give kiddos a sense of true accomplishment.
Some suggestions – cleaning up after themselves after meals, choosing clothes for the day, getting themselves dressed, etc. While perfection isn’t necessary, working towards independence is the goal.
Coffee Cups and Crayons shares ideas for learning independence through play (her post is geared towards rising kindergartners, but it can be adapted for the younger set as well). Mess for Less shares ideas along those lines too!
Prepare for back-to-school emotions.
Sometimes young children deal with separation anxiety when back to school time rolls around. Honestly, some parents have trouble separating from their children too. In both cases, those feelings are totally normal!
Many of the above tips will help ease back to school anxieties. Additionally, consider reading up on separation anxiety and how to ease it. Most importantly, you know your child best and you know how to address his concerns.
I love No Time for Flashcards’ photo book to help with separation. And Still Playing School has a wonderful article about the back-to-school attitude that sometimes rears its head.
Keep having fun!
While I think the above tips for parents are important, so is having fun as a family! Keep up your weekly and monthly traditions, as well as your nightly sleep rituals. Reading together, having dinner together, going swimming together — all of these things will keep you connected to your child.
Anything else you’d add to my back to school tips for parents of preschoolers? If you’re looking for more back to school ideas, I have a Pinterest board dedicated to the topic!
Done-for-You Preschool Resources
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I’m finding everybody’s back to school tips really useful as my daughter is starting school in September. It’s a totally different experience when you are a parent!
I love your ideas. I share them frequently on Facebook.
We had a lot of feelings to work through when my son started school.
My kids are still too young for school, but my husband is a teacher. I find that we have to have a routine to make our lives work. Also, my oldest son and I play school to help him get used to a routine. Then I sneak in some fun lessons so he’s learning while playing.
As a teacher back to school time is exciting and nerve wracking! When I was a child I would get so nervous and stressed out about finding my room, my teacher, and even where I would sit. I meet so many students who feel this way. So like you pointed out, it really is so important to meet your child’s teacher beforehand, If possible, to ease those fears!
Wow! Great prizes. I am gearing up to send my three back to school and preparing for my preschool class. Busy month!
Awesome back to school post
Great back to school ideas! Thanks.
Our back to school plans consisted of reorganizing our learning room and going shopping for supplies. My kids loved helping to move stuff around and choosing where to put their new supplies. It has been fun. However, we school year-round, so it’s not too different. 🙂
My daughter is SO excited to start preschool this year! Thanks for all the tips! I definitely need to start the schedule change ahead of time!!
Great tips for sending my preschooler back to school. thanks!
Back to school is exhausting so I try to leave some unscheduled time on the weekend for everyone too just chill. Easier said than done since fall seems to get busy…but we all feel better if we chill a little.
I’m pretty sure I’m more pumped than my daughter about our first of homeschooling! I hope she takes on my love of learning.
It’s my kids’ first back-to-school so they’re quite excited 🙂 We homeschool so there isn’t much change to our daily routine, phew!
Wow!!! says it all . Great tips and great giveaway. As both a preschool teacher & grandma to preschooler.
Preschool is likely the first time your child will ever go to a place where you, as a parent, cannot follow. For you and for them, this can be trying, so the advice above about answering any questions your child may have about school can help relieve some of the fear. Not knowing what’s coming can be terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be. By explaining to your child what school is, and showing them beforehand that learning and school is fun can help not only them but you as well.
It always surprises me how fast the school year comes and goes. I like your tip to get a school routine going early. That’s something I can work on with my children. They have the worst sleeping habits in the summer. I need to help them wake up earlier and go to bed earlier.
I love that you mentioned working out a routine early on. My mom did that for me when I was a kid, and it helped me out every year. My brother is struggling with his kids right now, though, because they aren’t used to waking up early for preschool. I’ll definitely have to send this to him, so he can use some of these tips in the future.
I agree with what you’ve mentioned about “Talk and read about school”. the One of the easiest back-to-school ideas for parents, and one that seems to help a lot, is to talk about school and read books about it. There are tons of kid’s books out there that address things like going to school and what to expect on the first day. Many of them may even feature characters they are familiar with. Talking with kids about what to expect and listening to their anxieties will also help them to deal with the things that worry them.
Awesome tips! As a parent, we just want what’s good for our children. Anyways, thank you for sharing this.
Thanks, Krystal!
Hey Mary Catherine, great post! My daughter started daycare this month, and the transition has been hard for all of us. Before she started, we spent about two weeks adapting her to her new schedule, i.e. waking up earlier and earlier bed time, and I took her with me to every meeting so that she could become familiar with the classroom and teacher. We also spent a lot of time talking and reading about it. I think these small actions made all the difference!
Awww, I love hearing how well you got your daughter ready, Samara!
I like how said that it is important to have your child meet his preschool teacher and classroom before school begins. My sister’s son will be starting preschool soon. She will be interested to know that it will help him ease into class on the first day if he has a chance to meet the teacher beforehand.
Yes, it’s so important to meet the teacher beforehand if possible! I hope everything goes well with your nephew.