Into the big wide world - off to preschool

While there's no formal preparation required for preschool there's nothing wrong with a little head start. Get your child familiar with some of the fundamentals of preschool life beforehand. You can do this by:

Learning to co-operate

Your child will be expected to take turns and work or play with other kids at preschool, so whenever you get the chance, practise at home. Take turns playing with the same doll and putting pieces into a puzzle; or why not try working together when, for example, laying the table - you hold the plates and your toddler puts them on the table.

Learning names

Your child won't be expected to be able to read his or her name when he or she enters preschool, but knowing what the name looks like, and what letter it begins with can be of great help when so many things at preschool will be labelled with it. Write your toddler's name on art work, on the fridge in magnetic letters, with a stick in the sandpit, wherever it's possible to do so. Don't pressurise him or her to learn to recognise it at this stage however.

Filling a lunch box

If your child will be taking lunch to preschool, then choose a bright and colorful new lunch box together - maybe one with his or her favorite storybook or cartoon characters on it. A few days before the first day at preschool start packing his or her lunch into the box and encourage your toddler eat from it at the kitchen table. Encourage them to help with chores

If you haven't been teaching your child to assist you with simple chores, then now's the time to start. Begin with|Concentrate on} tasks that he or she might be expected to help with at preschool, such as clearing the table, or hanging up coats.

Giving directions

Make following directions into a game - try calling out several in a row, eg pick up that hairbrush, brush teddy's hair two times, give teddy a kiss and put him on the chair please. Again, don't worry if your child doesn't follow the directions consistently - he or she will probably take the staff at preschool much more seriously than Mom!

Offer different options

Children do have to make some decisions at preschool. Give them some practice by giving your toddler different options whenever possible. For example, "Do you want to play with your teddy or your building blocks?" "Do you want apple or banana?""Do you want cereal or toast for breakfast?"

Provide structure

If your days tend to be of the spontaneous, unstructured kind, then start to incorporate some routine into your child's day in the weeks before he or she starts preschool to get them used to the idea of a routine day.

Socialising

Arrange plenty of play dates in the weeks before preschool begins to increase your child's confidence with other children. But don't overdo it - your child may grow tired of socialising before school even begins!

Remember - beginning at preschool should be a positive experience. If your preschool runs an adjustment period in which parents and caregivers can take part, then by all means do so, it will help your child to settle into this strange new place. When it's time to leave, don't sneak off without saying good-bye, even if this means tears. Make sure to tell your child when you'll return - and keep that promise. Leave with a happy smile that tells your toddler you're confident that she or he is going to have a wonderful day!!

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Ellie Dixon lives in deepest rural Devon, England with her husband and two very large Newfoundland dogs. She is passionate about vintage illustrated children's books and loves to restore and edit them for today's kids to rediscover. Visit her website, Scruffy's Bookshop, to download some great books for pre-schoolers and older children, and while you're there sign up for her free monthly newsletter.

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