Now that Natalie is all settled in Kindergarten, it’s Delaney’s turn to head back to preschool on Thursday. We attend a parent co-op preschool, where the moms/dads/grandparents work in the classroom with the teacher on a rotating schedule. I absolutely love being so involved and getting to know all the kids and parents. I also serve on the board (President this year!), so I get to be involved in all the logistical details of the preschool as well. It’s a nurturing, hands-on, play-based preschool and we love it!
This will be Delaney’s third year at this preschool. We did a Mommy & Me toddler class there when she was two, and last year she went two days a week. I didn’t actually start leaving her until April, though. She just wasn’t ready, and maybe I wasn’t either! This year she is going 4 days a week, one of which I will be working in the class. We are starting this school year with a huge advantage – she knows the school, she knows the teacher, and she knows most of the kids in her class. Still, I have been doing a few extra things to help ease her into this transition once again.
- Playing school – Delaney loves to pretend, so this works for her. Sometimes I’m the teacher, sometimes she is. We do a mini school day, role-playing things like circle time, moving from station to station, going to the potty, asking for help, joining in with other friends, etc. Sometimes our dollhouse people or other characters go to school too.
- Making up stories – When we’re in the car or the bath or other mellow times, I tell stories that start, “Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Delaney. One day, she went to preschool…” Then I tell about her day, helping her visualize all the fun things she will do at preschool. She *loves* these stories, and Natalie wants kindergarten ones too.
- Drawing pictures – We have been drawing pictures of all the different things Delaney likes to do at preschool, such as swinging, eating lunch, painting at the easel, bringing Corduroy home, etc. We’re drawing them on small pieces of paper (4″ x 6″) so I can put them in a small, inexpensive photo album. We’ll add to this throughout the year with drawings, photos, and some dictations too.
- A bit of comfort – In my Kindergarten Transition tips, I shared our little photo cards that the girls hook to their backpacks. We’ll probably give Delaney’s a little update with a fresh photo or two. She loves this so much she sleeps with it sometimes!
Do you have a little one heading off to preschool? Do you do preschool at home with your child? I’d love to hear how you get your school year off to a great start!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your photo card idea! I have 2 in school (they are 7 and 9 yrs old) and 1 (3yr old) at home. We do preschool at home and she goes one day a week to a little class. Usually we do lots of painting, reading and little worksheets. She loves those because she feels like a big kid. Something we did when my older two first started school was to ‘fill’ something with hugs and kisses. I found some glass hearts in my craft stash. They are much like the little pebbles you put into a vase. Everyone in the family filled it with hugs and kisses. It is small enough that they could keep it in their pocket and hold onto any time during those first days when they were missing us. This worked so well and to this day they still keep them in their backpacks! I am new to your blog, but I really love your ideas. I look forward to more!-Erica
we do preschool at home, and since my son is just that kind of kid, he marks school by being able to bring his lunch. therefore, when i pack my hubby’s lunch, i HAVE to pack him one too, and we sit outside on the porch and eat from his lunch tin every day. that is how he knows he is going to school. (he has also asked if we can paint the minivan yellow like a schoolbus).
I love co-op preschools. My two older boys both went to a Montessori based co-op preschool and was awesome. I was never adventureous enough to be president though…It is so great to really be involved and get to know all the kids and parents so well.
Today was my daughter’s first day of preschool. We had a visit from the backpack fairy last night, who put some washable markers and a little book in her backpack while we slept. Unfortunately, she cried because she was sure that she was going to get her own unicorn. I am uncertain if it was supposed to be real or a toy…Loved your post as always!
Ah, we just started back to school today as well — PreK for my big guy. It is the same school he went to last year as well so it was a fairly easy transition dropping him off today (though I’m bummed we have no coop schools in our near our area…I checked!). To get him ready for the new year we have been talking about going to school every day for the past several weeks. We play school just about every day before rest time (which also gets my toddler excited about school). Earlier this afternoon we had a “back to school picnic” in our front yard before we left for school. And finally, something really special — I sewed him a small, stuffed heart with his initial on it, and put it in a hidden pocket of his backpack. I showed it to him before he left, and told him it was there if he needed a little piece of me while we were apart. The first thing he did when he got to his classroom was take the heart out and proudly show it to his teacher. THAT made my day. I can’t wait to pick him up in a couple of hours!! Love your blog!
What wonderful photos!! I think it is wonderful that you can be so involved in her preschool experience.
Love the photos!! It is just wonderful that you can take such a part in her preschool.
My son was ready to go. He always enjoyed going to Sunday School and his preschool is at the church. It’s also only 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. So, he’s just excited to go play with the other kids.
BTW, I got tagged to share six unspectacular quirks about myself and decided to tag you. I enjoy your blog. http://raisingexplorers.wildchildreserve.com/?p=345
I miss those days!!! I love your photos!!
Smiles – Stacey