Thanks to KinderCare for sponsoring this conversation. All opinions are 100% mine alone.
Have you thought about sending your toddler to preschool? This is one of those things that many parents consider. And yes, I’m one of those parents. But where do you start? How do you know that you’re making the right decision? Let’s talk about that!
As parents, we may often wonder if we’re doing the right thing or making the right decision. I know that I question myself daily. And even when I feel completely confident about something, sometimes I still may have doubts.
One of those things?
Finding the right preschool for my daughter.
Though I wouldn’t exactly call her a toddler now, it’s still something that we were considering and wanting to prepare her for.
For us, that meant talking to her about preschool and what would happen.
She needed to understand that she was attending preschool and that she would have a teacher. While she seemed to be mostly okay with having a teacher, it was going to a preschool classroom that was making her a little nervous. But, one way to help with that? Scheduling classroom visits before she officially starts. Another way to help is by speaking with the teacher about potential transition problems. In fact, this is something that KinderCare offers before you enroll.
And, in spite of what we may think about sneaking away after dropping off? That’s actually something you may want to avoid. Sure, it might mean prolonging drop off just a bit but it will be worth it for your child’s peace of mind.
Our children, as we know, are sponges and they reflect a lot of how we react and feel. So if we’re feeling nervous about a situation, it would make sense that our children are also feeling that way. Instead of being nervous, be excited. Anticipate the change with happiness and smiles instead of fear and tears.
Now that you have some of those nerves calmed, here are some more things to consider.
Think about the skills that your child needs to learn before attending school. Beyond just the alphabet and numbers though. What about social skills and empathy? KinderCare incorporates that into their curriculum along with stressing executive functioning.
For us, this was huge!
Sure, I can help her out as best I can at home with the basics but there are other things that I would feel more comfortable leaving to someone else.
Knowing that KinderCare has a well rounded curriculum and plenty of opportunities for play also helped.
Sending your toddler off to preschool is not a decision to make lightly. And as parents, it’s not a decision that we want to make too quickly.
Do your research and ask questions.
And after all is said and done, absolutely trust your instincts.
If you can see that your child is blossoming just by a few visits and interactions with the teacher? You can rest assured that you’re making the right decision and that you’ve found the right place.
Kori
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