| /div> | | | | gradually build this up to an hour and then several |
| A child's first day at preschool marks a milestone in the | | | | hours. During this time the trusted friend can also help |
| child's life and can be a very worrying time parents. | | | | considerably by not simply acting as a babysitter, but |
| However, with a little bit of forethought and some | | | | by gradually introducing some structured learning |
| careful preparation this big day will go off just fine. | | | | activity into the time spent with the child. |
| That first preschool day marks a milestone in your | | | | Once the child is happy being away from you for |
| child's life but for most parents it is a very worrying | | | | extended periods the next step is to move onto |
| time as concern mounts over just how well the child | | | | getting the child used to being in a strange environment. |
| will cope. With a little bit of thought and forward | | | | Start by moving the child's new learning activity into a |
| planning though you can do a great deal to ease your | | | | neighbor's house or somewhere unfamiliar and again |
| child (and yourself) through this big day. | | | | build the child up slowly and gradually. Begin by caring |
| The first thing you need to do is your homework. All | | | | for the child yourself, then together with a trusted |
| preschools are not the same and not only are some | | | | friend and finally with the trusted friend alone, once |
| better than others, but some will suit your child better | | | | more gradually increasing the time spent in this new |
| than others. Take your time to draw up a shortlist of | | | | environment. |
| suitable preschools and then find out as much as you | | | | One important element throughout this process is that |
| can about them. | | | | the child should also spend an increasing amount of |
| Talk to friends and co-workers and see what they | | | | time in structured activity rather than simply in play. This |
| recommend. A recommendation from somebody you | | | | structured activity should of course be fun and you'll |
| know and trust is an excellent starting point. But don't | | | | find it particularly helpful if you take your lead to some |
| stop there. Once you've narrowed your list down visit | | | | extent from the child and structure activities around |
| each of the preschools under consideration and talk to | | | | things that the child enjoys doing. The object here is |
| the teachers. Use this opportunity to ask probing | | | | simply to introduce the child to the idea of |
| questions and to really get a feel for the school. | | | | concentrating his or her attention on a variety of |
| Having decided on a suitable preschool the next task is | | | | different activities for a reasonable period of time and |
| to prepare your child for the big day. | | | | of completing one task before moving on to the next |
| For most children the problem with starting preschool | | | | or being allowed a break to play or to have a drink or |
| lies simply in the fact that this is the first time that they | | | | eat. |
| have been away from you and from home. The best | | | | If circumstances allow, the ideal way to accomplish this |
| way to overcome this problem is to introduce your | | | | preschool training is through a small group of parents in |
| child slowly and gradually to being away from you and | | | | a similar situation which will not only allow your child to |
| to being away from you in a strange environment. This | | | | get used to being away from you but will also get him |
| is not as hard as it seems and can usually be | | | | or her or used being with other adults, in a variety of |
| accomplished quite easily with the help of other | | | | different environments and also with other children. |
| parents. | | | | Building your child up gradually over several weeks or |
| Start by spending time away from your child by | | | | months before preschool will mean that their big day is |
| arranging for a trusted friend to keep an eye on the | | | | not quite so daunting. Of course, it will also go a long |
| child in your own home. Begin by leaving the child alone | | | | way towards helping you to overcome your own |
| with the friend for just a few minutes and then | | | | anxiety about the day too. |