Teaching Your Kids Great Lessons

Every child is different. While some more outgoing children may settle into the preschool routine and make friends within a few days, some quieter, more reserved children may take longer to settle in and feel comfortable going to preschool every day. If your child is  on the quieter end of the spectrum, here are some tips for making the first few weeks or preschool easier on him or her.

Meet the teacher beforehand.

Meeting a new person for the first time can be stressful for a quiet, reserved child. See if you can make plans for you and your child to meet with the preschool teacher or teachers before the first day of class. Then, when preschool does begin, your child will already be familiar with the teacher. He or she will still have to get used to being with the kids, but at least this can be done without also worrying about getting to know the adult authority figures in the room. When you meet with the teacher or teachers, make sure your child knows that he or she can trust the teachers and should feel comfortable talking to them about problems mommy or daddy would take care of at home. (Such as feeling sick, needing to use the bathroom, or being picked on by other kids.)

Send a lunch with your child.

In time, your child might come to love school lunches. But during the first few weeks, it's best to pack a lunch for your child. This lunch will serve as a little reminder of home so your child does not feel so lonely. You can include your child's favorite foods and a personalized little note. Packing a lunch also eliminates the need for your child to stand in the lunch line and talk to the lunch monitors about what he or she wants to eat,  which can be stressful for a quiet child.

Make some play dates with other parents.

When you drop off or pick up your child from preschool, talk to the other parents and try to arrange a few play dates. If your child can spend some time with classmates in a quieter, more comfortable environment like your own home, he or she will have an easier time forming friendships. Then, these friendships can be carried back into the classroom where your child will start to feel more comfortable and like less of a stranger. These play dates don't have to be long. Just an hour or two of letting your preschooler interact with a classmate or two by playing board games or watching movies will go a long way. Contact a business, such as Wooden Shoe Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten, for more information.