First Day in Preschool

Have you decided that it is time for your little one to attend preschool? Are you ready to become acquainted with new friends, fun activities and wonderful teachers? Are you a little bit anxious about saying goodbye to your child?
Here I have summarized some suggestions to help you and your child on your first day of preschool. Feel free to add or change the steps to help your child feel most comfortable during his/her first day at preschool.

Before the FIRST DAY:

 1. Visit the preschool with your child before the first day.
 Visiting the preschool is a great opportunity to introduce the environment and teachers.  Knowing where you are going can take a lot of stress away from your child and you.

  2. Take a picture of your child together with his or her teacher.

  3. Arrange a play date with one of the children in his/her group (class lists are often available).
Knowing one of the peers ahead of time can make the transition easier.

  4. Read a book related to first day of preschool or create your own.

  5. Prepare your child by drawing a simple picture of what will happen during school time and when you pick him/her up.
For example: “Tomorrow we will go to your new preschool. There will be children to play with and teacher Ms. Susana. Remember we met her when we visited the preschool? First you will get to play, and then Ms. Susana will read a story and sing songs with you. When the story ends you will have a snack. After Snack Time it will be time to go outside and then time to go home. I will pick you up when you will be playing outside.
If you plan to stay the entire day at school, let your child know.

6. It is great if you can bring a special toy or “blankie” to school. They can help a child feel more secure. Also you can place a few family pictures in her/his cubby or backpack.

At PRESCHOOL:

1. Once you arrive, play with your child for 5-15 minutes. Let your child know that you will stay for x number of minutes.  During this time, the message must be clear about your intentions: do not play with your car keys or pick up your purse while engaging with your child.

2.  Never sneak out!! Your child will not forget about you, so leaving without saying goodbye will not ease the transition. Instead it could create a much more challenging departure in the future. Remember you are building trust!


    3. Make eye contact with the teacher. See if he or she is available. When the teacher joins you at the activity, let the teacher and your child know that you will be leaving in 5 minutes and state the time you plan to return.


    4. Be consistent: leave promptly after you said you were leaving. If parents’ seem  unsure and worry, the child will feel it. Your child might react to your statement of “I’m leaving” by clinging to you or crying…it is important that you comfort your child by saying “I hear you, I will return at x time to pick you up, you will stay with Ms. Susana.


    5. Develop a goodbye ritual. Your child and teacher may choose to walk you to the door or gate; however, your child can stay with his/her activity and say goodbye from there. Children often find comfort in developing a ritual when saying goodbye. This might include  their parent pushing them on the swing for 5 minutes, reading a story together, or two kisses and two hugs, etc. Agree on a procedure and then stick to it. Or you might already have your own ritual.

After PRESCHOOL:

 1.    Make sure you return on time. This is a wonderful opportunity to build trust.


 2. Have a relaxing time after preschool. Your child might be overwhelmed for a few weeks to months after starting school, don’t plan other activities for your child, so she/he and you can process the information and emotions related to starting a school.



 3. Listen To – what your child might want to tell you about his/her new experiences. Try not to judge or tell your child how he should feel or do instead.


  4. Create a book about this event and read together before going to bed.
 
Separation is a lifelong process. Separation anxiety is a natural part of child development. Children learn that even though mom or dad say “goodbye,” they will come back.  Children learn to trust another adult in their lives. Parents learn to trust that teachers care for the safety and wellbeing of every child. Parents learn to “let  go” and allow their child some autonomy. Learning to successfully separate from their parent and settle into their peer group is often a major focus of the first few months of preschool.

Wishing you all the best in the difficult yet exciting journey of parenting!

Cheers,

Teacher Kira

Our Parenting Place will be participating at the 7th Annual ArtWalk in Pasadena – Saturday, October 13, 2012 11 am – 5 pm at Colorado and El Molino, Join us and Vladi, our resident artist, for a Jackson Pollock Inspired Art Project – Golf Ball Painting & Expression.  For more info, visit www.playhousedistrict.org/artwalk.

To learn more about Parenting Classes and Exploration classes, visit our website: http://www.ourparentingplace.com

What if He Doesn't Want to Learn?

We all hope and wish our children will love learning. And what if they don't? What if they are bored in class? What if they don't want to listen in class? What if homework becomes a dreaded chore?

As a teacher or parent, we struggle with when to respond and how to respond. Have you encountered the kid who just does not want to follow the routine in the class? Ignore it or face it. What should you do?

Once, I had a kid in my class who did just this, he would talk out of line, he just blurted out what came to his mind, while the teacher was talking. One day he came to class with his head bowed down and his mom complained to me that her son did not want to come to class, owing to the boring class and that he is tired of learning basic alphabet.

Photo: Our students' role playing.

I listened to mom and wondered how best I can approach this kid and mom to not feel this way. I thought to myself, I can go the approach of lecturing him or dismissing his thoughts altogether and do my own thing. Then I thought, “oh he’s probably heard the “you should, you must, you need, you better etc.” I decided not to act but to listen and observe.

With those thoughts running through my head I stepped into a room with the boy and asked him how his morning was. The boy said that he was mad because he had to leave his Lego's at home. With great surprise in my voice, I looked at him and said, “You have Lego's?" and you know what he did? He raised his head and with great animation he told me about his Lego’s. I had struck a note! I didn’t have to confront him about his boredom, all of a sudden, I had touched a topic dear to this kid’s heart and then I suggested, "Well why don’t you bring your Lego's to class one day?"

And you know the response I got from him…was one of jubilation, he beamed with a smile and asked if he can bring his creations the following class I said why not?

The following week he brought his creation and he was so proud to be showing off his masterpiece and so engaged in our class.

With such a small gesture, his attitude had changed completely.

Photo: Оne of our student's Lego creation.

What do you think was the key?

I would say the key is: building a relationship, find out what interests the child, listen with real interest. With that information in mind, you can incorporate his/her expertise in a particular area in the classroom or at home and help him/her own his space and the way he interacts in that space.

What are your stories?

Cheers,

Gilda

Dear friends,

Our Parenting Place will have a table at the Mom's Club Preschool Fair on Saturday, January 7, 2012, come and learn about our programs.

For more information visit: www.pasadenapreschoolfair.com

To learn more about Our Parenting Place program, visit our website: http://www.ourparentingplace.com/