TRANSITION TO PRESCHOOL

We understand that there will be some transition for your child when they enter preschool, whether it be from home, an in-home daycare, or an infant-toddler center. At Our Savior Lutheran Preschool, we want to make this transition successful for you and your child.

After you have completed enrollment and been accepted, you will receive an informational packet during the summer. In the packet will be a letter
from your child’s teachers with their picture and a date for a “Home Visit”. During your home visit, your teachers will come to your home for a special
one-on-one visit with you and your child. This is a wonderful time to begin building relationships before school starts.

Before school begins in the fall we will have a Welcome Party and each family will have the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom, find their cubby and meet new classmates.
Below are some additional tips to help both you and your child make a smooth transition.

• If your child has never been cared for by someone else, start to leave them for short periods of time with friends or relatives. Reinforce the fact that you will return and that they are safe with others.
• Establish a routine of "early to bed" and “school wake-up time” several weeks before school begins so your child has time to adjust
  to the new schedule.
• Find out about the toileting procedures at the new school or center so you can review the situation with your child and make sure they are comfortable. At Our Savior Lutheran Preschool children in the three and four-year-old programs are expected to wipe themselves and pull their pants up and down. The children are reminded several times a day in our three-year-old programs to use the restroom.
• Assure your child that they can take any transitional object he wishes. Having a special blanket or toy will give your child an extra sense of security.
• After our Welcome Party, arrange play dates with children who will be in your child’s class.
• Make a book at home about the new preschool experience your child is about to begin. Perhaps take photos of the school or of your child in front of the school and add text like: “This is Sammy at school. This is her favorite t-shirt. This is Mommy picking up Sammy when school is over.”
• Let your child pick out a new backpack and snack box.
• Tell stories about when you went to school and share how you felt. Find childhood pictures of yourself and other adults in your child’s life and talk about the photos.
• If your child tends to cry at your departure, never leave without saying goodbye, no matter how tempting it may be to slip out unnoticed. If you do, you could violate your child’s trust, and you will also confuse them as to your whereabouts. Be sure to tell your child when you will be back, and stick to that schedule.

Remember that separation is a process. Expect that your child (or yourself) will need time to feel comfortable with the new situation. Our loving and dedicated staff is here to help you make this transition as easy as possible.