Preschool Readiness Quiz and Rationale (page 3)

Question 5:

Have you been counting down the days until school starts?

A month before the first day of school, post a large calendar, marking off each day of the week. This helps to establish a sense of time for the child and prepare them as the first day of school nears.

Question 6:

Have you gone school shopping with your child?

School shopping can be fun! Take a list of items to the store together and allow your child to pick out their lunch box, pillow or special blanket for nap or rest time.

Question 7:

Have you received information from your Preschool about rules regarding snacks, payment, discipline, change of clothes?

Make certain that you understand whether you are supposed to provide snacks on a daily basis, or whether the preschool will. If you are supposed to provide the snacks, are there rules about what kinds of snacks are appropriate? When is payment due? What form? What sort of discipline practices are used at the preschool? Are you comfortable with these practices? If not, talk with your child’s teacher and administration about what approach you advocate for your child. What about change of clothes? Should you always have several changes of clothes at the preschool? You don’t want any surprises that could disrupt your child first few weeks of school!

Question 8:

Is your child potty trained?

Many preschool require that your child be potty trained before beginning school. If your child is not potty trained, begin to research proven practices for effective potty training at least six months in advance of your child’s first day of school.

Question 9:

Are you prepared to handle the emotional reactions many preschool-aged children experience as they transition to preschool?

Many children regress in behavior and development: acting out, separation anxiety, bedwetting, temper tantrums. These actions indicate that your child needs to connect with you and feel your love and support. 

Refer to Hand and Hand Parenting, NYU, Nemours, etc.

Question 10:

Do you have friends and family who can support you as you struggle with the wide range of tough feelings that many parents experience when children leave for preschool?

Research shows that if you are supported as a parent, you will be able to do a better job supporting your child through the Preschool transition.  You might also consider taking some time off from work so that you can spend time at your child’s new preschool to ease their anxiety (and yours).