How to prepare for Pre-K?

Question

My little son is turning 4 this month, and is enrolled for the Pre-K program this fall, that is offered through our public school system. All of his friends are going.
He is my first child, and will always be my baby. I am a stay at home mom, so I've never put my kids in Daycare. So this is very new to me What is the best way to prepare him, and prepare ME, to let him go to school?
I swear I'm going to cry all day after I drop him off for the first time.

Answer 1

Read him stories about pre school, like Barney Goes to Preschool, etc. Take him to the school to visit; they should have an open house or orientation. It will probably be a rougher day for you than for him, but you'll be OK, and then you'll be so glad you did this. Pre K will help him learn to socialize with others, improve his play skills and social interactions, help him to function in a large group (class), and learn some independent functioning skills that will be helpful for Kindergarten. In addition, he will have exposure to pre academic skills that will impact his academic growth in Kindergarten. To prepare yourself, visit the school, meet the teacher, go to the orientation so you feel more comfortable. When school starts, don't drag out the goodbyes; that is stressful to your child. Of course you will have already spoken to your child about how you'll be back after school is over to pick him up so he'll be reassured. I teach Pre k in a public school. The first day of school, I have a "Boo Hoo Breakfast", where the parents can come and stay the first half hour for breakfast with the children. Then they can say goodbye and go have their boo hoo. By the way, if your child does cry when you leave, it will end quicker by you not dragging out the goodbye process. Many children also start crying again when the parent comes to pick them up at the end of the day, so parents think theyve been crying all day long. What I do to alleviate the parents fears (If time allows) is to take pictures of the child as he is playing and having fun throughout the day. I send those pictures home so the parent can see he didn't cry all day and he was having fun. Plus they get to keep those pictures as a keepsake for their baby book. Good luck, Mommy, you're doing good thing for your baby.

Answer 2

Realize that you are doing a great service putting your son in school. Children who go to preschool do much better in kindergarten than children who have not gone. It has nothing to do with what they learn academically, but it is great for their social and emotional development.

Take him by the school several times before he starts. Let him play on the yard and look in the classroom. Tell him "You are so lucky! You get to go to this school!" Make sure he know he will have some friends there and he will make new friends.

You said you're going to cry "all day." Is he going to be in the program all day? It seems like a long day for a child. See if you have the option of sending him part time, no more than 3 hours a day. It would be easier on you both.

I know it's hard to let go! He will be fine! Know that you are doing what is best for him and you are taking a step to prepare him for the bigger things in life. You may even see if you can be a parent helper from time to time in his classroom. You will feel much better once you get to know his teachers.

When he is in school, take a little time to yourself and enjoy it! Take a bath, get your nails done, go shopping, get some things done around the house, read, relax! Give him a big hug and kiss when he comes home! Good luck!

Answer 3

Just try an dencourage him that he will be ok and that Pre-K is fun. Work with him on colors, numbers, shapes....etc. When you drop him off just make sure he understands that you will come and get him after school and you'll take him for icecream or something he likes if he can be brave. And for yourself just relax, things will be fine. Once you get through the first couple days it'll get alot easier. My first daughter went to Pre-K last year and my youngest will be going this year. I'm looking forward to a couple hours of quiet! Good luck

Answer 4

I was the same way last year. I just told my little boy how much fun he was gonna have and what to expect. He was fine, of course i wasn't, it made it worse because i was pregnant. You just have to be positive with it or he will be scared and not want to go. Be strong. If he cries reassure him and do not let him see you cry. Wait till he is gone. it is very hard and you will get use to it after a couple of weeks. Just think of all the time you will have to do whatever and how good it will be for him. My son loved it and he was a very clingy child for the longest time. Good luck. They can not stay babies forever even if we want them to be.

Answer 5

Take him (and yourself) for visits - get comfortable with the teacher.

Many Pre-K's allow a parent to stay for breakfast - do it if it offered.

Remember - you can always go in and see your child whenever you want too.

On an educational note: My son is about to enter PreK. We have been working on it too. I feel your anxiety. He and I work on learning the letters of his name - he can identify his name and make a few of the letters - first name only - and we made up a song about his home phone number. I don't know those two things were important to me, but it helped.

Answer 6

You're not going to the be the only one crying all day after you drop him off. He is going to too, and it's hard for a lot of kids to let go of parents at Pre-K.

Answer 7

pre-k is nothing more then day care itself. all the children do is basically play, sleep, eat, an perhaps learn a few very basic things that they probably already know. I never went to pre-k and now currently a college student going to japan to study abroad. Just be sure to talk to your child alot, encourage him to ask questions all the time and be sure to answer as many as you can. It will be ok, you can't baby your kid forever.....(although my parents seem to think you can ;)

Answer 8

try making plans to do something relaxing that day. Splurge and get a massage, make lunch plans with a long lost friend, get a manicure, or something of the sort! If he's nervous about going, buy him a new stuffed animal and tell him that you sent the animal to watch over him. In his backpack, leave a little love note with reassurance for him and have his teacher read it to him.

Good luck!!!

Answer 9

Good Luck on the first day, well week of school.
To be honest many kids, unless they have delays, don't need any prep for pre-K. Go to the library or bookstore. They have tons of books on growing up including the first day(s) of school. Read to him. Read read read.

don't let him see that you are anxious about it though. He will begin to feel it too. That will make it worse for both of you. Only one of you needs to be a nervous wreck.

Answer 10

i cried like a baby the first time my son went to pre school but it is realy good for them to be around kids thier own age. they learn how to be thier own person when they are with other people, you should teach him the abc's and to count to ten, teach to right hes name using the dots and songs.. my son jacob threw a fit the first couple of weeks but he got used to going and know he is redy for school to start again...