Before you make any plans to register your child at a preschool, talk to
your toddler about the idea of preschool and pay attention to his reaction. If
he panics at the thought of you not being around, you may want to take a little
more preparation time getting him used to the idea of not being at home all
day. Or, your toddler may embrace the idea of preschool. She may be excited
about going to school, and will want to know about meeting new friends and
having a teacher. Your child’s personality is a good indication of how he or
she will behave in preschool, so if you know that you eventually want to enroll
your toddler in a preschool program, observe them early to find out which
classes and day care centers would be best for them.
It may also be a good idea for you to set up a mock preschool in the home,
so that your toddler can get used to the idea of playing with friends, problem
solving, and various forms of instruction. Invite friends from the neighborhood
and/or family members of the same age over to play during the day. And, set
aside times for snacks and a nap, in order to put your toddler on a schedule.
Let the toddlers play independently as much as possible, and step out of the
room every once in a while, so that your toddler will get used to being without
you for long periods in the day. Setting up a preschool in your home may help
your child cope with the idea of preschool a little better, especially if he or
she is afraid. Explain to your child that the activities you do at home will be
similar to what goes on in preschool; this will help to ease some of the
anxiety your child may have about starting preschool. Remember, this may take
some time, so get your toddler prepared for preschool as early as you can.