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Congratulations! Your toddler is finally big enough to be sent to preschool. As you prepare to put your toddler in a preschool, your biggest worry is how he would adjust. You do not want him to cry his heart out every day, so even before the school starts, you start the “school pep talks”. You tell him how exciting the school would be, how he would make new friends, how he would get to play with new toys and how he would be back home soon so there is no reason to worry or cry. However, what you do not prepare him for– and this is what mostly worries the kids apart from the anxiety of being away from you – is how his schedule changes in the pre-school.
Every child is a stickler for routine. The consistency that comes with a set routine makes the child happy and secure. You would have already experienced crankiness when your little one misses his afternoon nap, for instance.
When a child knows what to expect and what not to expect at different times of a day, it makes him more grounded and disciplined as there are few unknowns in his day. When he knows what is coming next, he will not be cranky and tune in accordingly. The predictable pattern of his day also helps instill trust between him and the adults around him.
When your child starts preschool, he is effectively forced to change the routine he has been used to all his life! Imagine this, he is cranky when he misses a nap at home. In preschool, he is asked to nap at a different time, and as if that is not enough, he will be in a new place, away from home, away from mommy and surrounded by friendly-but-strange faces. Anxiety and insecurity enter the scene very quickly and it all translates into “I don’t want to go to school!” and other wails every day. Further, just as consistency in routine helps him trust his care provider, he feels threatened by adults who disrupts his schedule, in this case, the preschool teachers, which obviously is not desirable.
Do not worry, this is not a lost cause. By understanding how your child’s schedule changes, and by preparing him for it, you can ease his anxiety.
When your child starts pre-school, the following are the major schedule changes that can happen:
One of the most effective way to prepare your child for the preschool is to understand how his new routine will be and slowly transition him to the routine at home itself. Here are some tips in evolving your child’s schedule:
Naps and meals are the two most important items in the daily schedule, so get these two right before you move on to play and activity times.
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or working mom, preschool would change your life too! If you are a SAHM, congratulations – you now get at least 2-3 hours to finish your household chores. If you are a working mom, congratulations – you also get few more productive hours when you know your child is well taken care of. That said, your daily schedule is also bound to change. For instance,
Even after all these efforts, your child might still cry when he goes to preschool, mind you. However, he wouldn’t be crying because he is not getting his meals or naps on time! Establishing a routine help them transition to school faster as they are mentally more prepared on what to expect during the day. And that is progress! ?
M
Mysha
Jan 18, 2016
Very usefull piece of information. I totally agree to this and insist every parent to go through this article
M
Mysha
Jan 18, 2016
Very usefull piece of information. I totally agree to this and insist every parent to go through this article
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