Preschool Transition Readiness - Preparing Your Child to Enter Preschool

Tips for Entering Preschool - Preparation and Participation Make Preschool Transition Manageable

When Your child enters preschool, it is an exciting time that can also be stressful. Learn what you can expect as your child moves into preschool and what you can do to make the preschool transition go more smoothly for both of you. Transition is especially important for your child if she has developmental delays. Preparation can help ensure your child gets the services she needs to support her educational development.

Be Aware of Feelings When Entering Preschool – Changes Bring Mixed Feelings for Both of You

During preschool transition, parents and children can experience a range of emotions. It is a time of significant change for everyone in the household that can cause family members to feel:

• Stress and uncertainty about the future and fearful of change;
• Excited and hopeful about new learning experiences and meeting new friends;
• Concerned about your child’s readiness;
• Anxious about the new adults and children in your child’s life; and
• Optimistic about future learning.

These feelings are normal and to be expected.

Dealing with Feelings, Stress, and Behaviors in Preschool Transition

Not all parents and children feel stress and anxiety with preschool transition. In most cases, however, it is normal and to be expected. You can take steps to address anxiety when it occurs:

• List of items that concern you, and develop questions to ask your preschool provider.
• Discuss your questions and concerns with your child's teacher. If you are not comfortable with the school's rules, routines, or staff, consider the need to choose a different program.
• Check if there are complaints or kudos about the programs you are considering. Your state's department of education will have information on public preschool programs and can direct you to the agency overseeing private programs.
• If you or your child feel stressed about transition, consider creating your own stress management plan.
• Any separation anxiety your child feels can worsen if he senses you are also anxious. Researching your preschool program can help both of your feel better about the transition into preschool.
• Some children may experience regression as part of separation anxiety. This is usually temporary and will go away as your child adjusts to his new routines. Having consistent rules and routines at home and preschool can help your child adjust.
• If your child experiences serious adjustment problems talk with her pediatrician her preschool teacher. Together, you can develop strategies that are right for your child to help the problem.

Learn About Preschool Programs - Know What to Expect in the Preschool or Early Childhood Program

Whether your child is moving from home, private childcare, or daycare setting into preschool, there will be some changes. Understanding those differences will help you prepare for a more successful transition.

• Research your preschool options before you need them.
• Be able to explain your child's abilities and needs to his new teacher.
• Most school districts provide free preschool screenings using tests such as the Battelle Developmental Inventory, the Learning Accomplishment Profile - Diagnostic, and adaptive behavior scales to assess children's developmental abilities and to determine if Developmental Delays are a concern.
• Developmental delays or not, screening results can provide important information to identify your child's developmental needs.
• Ask about parent involvement opportunities at the preschool. Can you assist in your child's class? Are there parent events where you can come to the preschool and get to know other parents?
• Regardless of your background, teachers can usually find tasks for you during volunteer time. Chaperoning field trips, preparing posters, handouts, and newsletters, assisting with repair and maintenance, reading to children or presenting to them about your work or a hobby, assisting as a classroom aide, managing fund raisers, are just a few of the activities that may be available for volunteers.
• Preschool is your first opportunity to establish your involvement in your child's education. Children with involved parents consistently fare better throughout their school years than those whose parents are not involved. Your involvement is perhaps the most important strategy in managing a successful preschool transition and the starting point for future educational success throughout the many changes to come.

Starting Preschool with Developmental Delays

If your child has been diagnosed with a developmental delays or other disability, he may already have a formalized service plan through early intervention programs. If so, your early intervention agency should schedule a transition meeting within a year of your child's transition to preschool. If not, ask them to do so. At this meeting, a representative from the local public preschool program should be invited. The district representative can share information with you concerning the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - Part B, which sets requirements to services for children ages 3-21. The meeting can address:

• Your child's current services and her developmental levels;
• A additional assessments that may be needed before your child transitions into a public preschool program;
• How an Individualized Education Program will be developed; and
• What placement options are available and what the least restrictive environments may be for your child.

The transition meeting to discuss the change from early childhood programs to preschool is a very important and addresses a lot of information, sometimes an overwhelming amount of information. Beginning the transition process early, as much as a year in advance, can be tremendously helpful and will give you:

• Adequate time to address all of your concerns;
• To research areas where you have questions;
• To allow time to properly assess your child;
• To develop an appropriate individual education program;
• To address your personal issues with transition; and
• To address your child's emotional and educational needs during the transition process.