It's normal for a child to be apprehensive about the first day of preschool. The new situation and changes can cause separation anxiety. Spend some time talking about what the preschool day will entail. If possible, visit the preschool ahead of time so she can visual where she'll spend her day. If she knows what to expect, she'll be better able to look forward to the experience with excitement instead of apprehension.
Benefits
The preschool experience will help your child learn to interact with other children of the same age. It'll give her extra practice in subjects such as phonics and fine motor skills, and will help her learn to pay attention to the teacher in smaller time segments than a kindergarten class will offer. With so many schools going to full-time kindergarten, the preschool class will help him make the transition from home to school without being away all day.
Considerations
A full night of sleep before the first morning of preschool classes will help your child be better prepared when the experience comes. A tired child will have a harder time making the transition to the new situation. A healthy breakfast the morning of preschool classes will give her energy as she learns to sit and listen to the teacher and to interact with her classmates. Expect a certain amount of anxiety or tears when she first arrives and faces the goodbyes.
Types
There are many different types of preschool programs to choose from. If a child switches from one preschool experience to another, he'll likely feel apprehension with the new change on his new first day, even though he's attended preschool before.
Montessori preschools use child-directed studies and offer a child the chance to learn at his own pace and ability. Learning centers allow him to explore many different learning situations. Traditional preschools offer a more predictable, structured schedule, which can be good for a child who needs to know what comes next.
Features
The teacher will usually greet students as they arrive on the first day. She'll gather her new students into a circle and will introduce herself and explain how the preschool day will go. The students will take turns telling their name or doing other activities that will help break the ice and help them learn about each other.
A standard preschool day will usually offer learning centers, story time and outdoor play. The preschoolers will usually do an art or craft activity. There will be access to computers so the students can familiarize themselves with computer science. Some preschools offer formal math and language arts instruction, while others prefer to offer more free-style interactive group activities.
Time Frame
The time frame for most preschool programs will also differ from school to school. Most preschool programs offer class choices of two or three days per week. The preschoolers will usually spend about three hours per day in class. Some preschools offer introductory classes or programs where the child can check out the classroom and parents can ask questions about the program. This helps break the ice and make the first-day transition run more smoothly.
