Practice Independence
Give your child opportunities to practice everyday tasks.
Try encouraging your child to:
- Put on shoes
- Take off a coat
- Wash hands
- Use the bathroom
- Clean up toys
- Put belongings away
- Open containers
- Carry a backpack
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is confidence.
Practice Following Directions
Preschool classrooms involve many transitions.
Children may need to:
“Put your crayons away and come sit on the carpet.”
Practice simple one- and two-step directions at home.
Keep it playful and praise your child’s effort.
Teach Your Child to Ask for Help
One of the most valuable school-readiness skills is knowing how to communicate when help is needed.
Practice phrases such as:
“Can you help me?”
“I need to go potty.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Can I have a turn?”
Knowing how to ask for help can make a new classroom feel much less intimidating.
Talk About Feelings
Starting school can bring excitement, nervousness, sadness, or uncertainty.
Let your child know that all of these feelings are okay.
You might say:
“Sometimes new things feel exciting and a little scary at the same time.”
This helps children develop emotional vocabulary and learn that feelings are manageable.
Read Books About Starting School
Books can help children understand what school might be like.
Look for stories about:
- Starting preschool
- Making friends
- Meeting teachers
- Saying goodbye
- Trying new things
- Managing big feelings
After reading, ask questions such as:
“How do you think the character felt?”
Visit the School
If possible, visit the classroom before the school year begins.
Seeing the classroom, playground, bathroom, and teacher can make the first day feel more familiar.
Practice Separating
If your child is nervous about separation, practice short periods apart with a trusted adult.
Always tell your child when you’re leaving and follow through on your promise to return.
This teaches an important lesson:
My grown-up leaves, I am safe, and my grown-up comes back.
Prepare Together
Let your child participate in preparing for school.
They can help:
- Choose a backpack
- Select school clothes
- Pack their water bottle
- Organize their belongings
- Pick a special book for bedtime
Small choices can make a child feel excited and involved.
Preparing your preschooler for a new school year doesn’t mean your child needs to know how to read, write, or count to a certain number.
School readiness is much broader than academics.
A child who can communicate their needs, follow simple directions, separate from a parent, participate in a group, and try something new is developing important skills for a successful preschool experience.
Here are some simple ways parents can prepare at home.
Remember: Preschool Readiness Is About More Than Academics
If you’re looking for a music-rich preschool experience in Renton, WA, we’d love to meet your family.
At Do Re Mi Academy, we believe school readiness includes the whole child.
Our music immersion preschool in Renton supports language development, social-emotional growth, movement, creativity, early academics, and independence through engaging musical experiences.
Children learn while they sing, move, listen, create, explore, and build relationships.
Your Child … Developing Beautifully
