How to Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Nursery can help children to develop independence, amongst various other skills, socialise with others their age and grow their confidence. It also gives you a much-needed break and the opportunity to get back to work. It is a big step, however, especially if your child’s not been away from you before, so you will need to prepare them for the transition. Here are some top tips that we’ve put together to help you.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Potty Training
Before the move it’s a good idea to gear your child up to using a toilet independently so they can do so all by themselves at nursery. Their teachers will not be able to help them so they will need to be potty trained so that they are able to recognise when they need to use the toilet and clean up after themselves.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Practise Saying Goodbye
The hardest part will be saying goodbye when you drop them off at the start of the day. In preparation, practise saying goodbye so that they aren’t confused and overwhelmed when they see you leave on their first day. Perhaps leave them with a grandparent or babysitter a few times so that they become familiar with spending time away from you and learn that you will always come back for them.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Role Play
There are many other parts of the day which you can role play to help your child get accustomed to school life, like getting themselves dressed in the morning, collecting their belongings at the end of the day, following instructions and so on. They will already have an idea of what to expect and it will help make for a smoother transition. The idea is to help them become more autonomous.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Get Them Excited About the Transition
It’s normal for a child to have nerves. To set them up for their first day at nursery and help eliminate their anxiety, focus on how exciting the move will be. They will have the opportunity to meet other children and make friends, have a lovely teacher to support them and dozens of toys to play with.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Lucky Charm
If your child has something which they’re attached to like a stuffed toy, see if they are able to take it into school with them. It can help to reduce their anxiety and give them a sense of comfort once you have left. You can call it their lucky charm.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Story Books
There are all sorts of story books to help children going through various stages of life, such as their transition to nursery. They can offer insight into what nursery will be like which can give them a sense of reassurance.
Prepare Your Child for Nursery – Non-Verbal Communication
Children can struggle to find the words to explain how they feel, so it is important to also keep a close eye on the kind of behaviour they exhibit – like wetting the bed if they’ve not done so in a while. It may be a sign that they are stressed, in which case you should talk to your child to see what’s bothering them.
These are just a few tips to get you started, but don’t be afraid to speak to the staff at your child’s nursery for more advice.
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.