The Preschool Tips

You wouldn’t move to a new neighborhood without checking it out first. You wouldn’t start a new job without going to orientation. You wouldn’t buy a new car without test driving it. Any monumental occasion in our lives usually has some sort of preparation period preceding it. It’s the same with your child and preschool. The first step on your child’s educational journey, preschool is the beginning of an amazing adventure of learning and discovery. To help make the transition as easy as possible, take some steps ahead of time to prepare your child.

Help Your Child Do His Research

Many children experience anxiety about starting preschool and it’s mainly because they aren’t quite sure what it is. Talk about what she’ll be learning at school, why it’s important and how much fun she’s going to have. Talk about how she’ll be playing games, making crafts, singing songs and meeting lots of new friends. Be sure to tell her that you will be there (or name the person who will be) to pick her up as soon as school is over.

Playing “school” is a great way to help your child understand how preschool works and what will go on while he is there. Try to cover every little thing — even stuff like hanging up her coat and backpack. You can even review basic “academics” — colors, shapes, the alphabet, and numbers 1 to 10. Make sure she knows his first and last name. If she bristles at all — stop. These things aren’t important yet and you don’t want to add any extra apprehension.

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If your child will be riding the bus to preschool, find out if the school will arrange for a test run. If not, be sure to point buses out whenever you see them. It’s not the same, but if you can, try taking your child a public bus ride just so they get the idea. When school starts, make a point of introducing your child to the bus driver, making sure your child knows the driver’s name and bus number.

Check Out the Library

The library or your local bookstore offers a wealth of knowledge. Books are a great way to teach your child about what will be awaiting her. There are plenty of great books designed to help your preschooler get ready for the first day. Ask your local librarian or your child’s preschool teacher to recommend some titles. Good starts include My First Day at Nursery School (Bloomsbury) by Becky Edwards, illustrated by Anthony Flintoft, and What to Expect at Preschool (HarperFestival) by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff, illustrated by Laura Rader.

Choose titles that are about preschool but also touch on separation. Talk about the characters and how they must be feeling and what your child would do if he was in their place. If your child wants to keep rereading the same book, indulge him. This is how youngsters tend to work through anxiety.

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Your local library may also host special programs designed to get your child ready. Ask at the children’s desk for more information.

Be Proactive

How comfortable do you feel walking into a room of strangers? Probably not at all. This is how your child feels. But with a little mom or dad networking, you may be able to help them to seek out a friendly face by finding out who will be in your child’s class. Make a couple of phone calls to parents you know and find out if they or anyone else they know will have children at your child’s preschool. Once you have some names, see if you can arrange for a playdate. This way, he won’t feel so alone when he walks into that great big classroom on the first day.

If you aren’t able to find any children that will be in your child’s class, don’t worry. Talk to your child and relay stories of your own youth and how you made friends when you went to school. Explain how that’s one of the best parts of going to school. Hearing a parent share an experience often helps children get over their fear if they realize that you once felt just like they did.

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Do a Site Visit

Bring your child to the preschool that he’ll be attending. The teachers will welcome the opportunity to meet your child and show him around. This will give your child a better idea of what preschool is and where he’ll be going. If you can, take a camera with you and take some photos. This will help your child remember what he saw, and he’ll be able to show off his new school to friends and relatives.

Make sure you hit the playground and the bathroom while you are there so she knows where these very important places are. Let her test them both out. If your child wears pants with buttons, make sure she knows how to undo them so she doesn’t get stressed when she has to go to the bathroom. Find out from the teachers if they have a schedule in place. Will the children take naps? You may want to have your child lie down at the same time. What types of snack do they serve? Pick up the same stuff at the grocery store. When you get home, talk about what you saw. Encourage your child to share his thoughts with you, either by talking or even by drawing a picture.

If you can visit the school more than once, do it. And be sure to smile whenever you are there. If your child sees that you are happy, they are likely to follow your example and smile too.

Some schools even arrange for a home visit by the preschool teacher. This may be something you’d like to take advantage of. Having the teacher come to your child’s home turf may make your little one feel more at ease.

Retail Therapy

Hit the back-to-school sales. Letting your child pick out her own backpack and school supplies like crayons and safety scissors (even if they aren’t needed at school) will make her feel like a big kid. Let her choose an outfit or two, picking something special to wear on the first day.

If she wants to use her new swag right away go ahead and let her. The more comfortable she feels, the better. In fact, it’s a good idea to have her practice zipping and unzipping her backpack and lunchbox until she gets the hang of it. Have her practice with her coat as well.

Pack the backpack with some small comfort items — a beloved stuffed animal or a favorite family photo. If your child is staying for lunch, be sure to pack an easy-to-decipher note (draw a picture of a heart or a smiley face) and put lots of stickers on it.

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Make Your Home School-Ready

About a week before the big day, start putting your child to bed at her regular, school bedtime. And wake her up at the time you would when she goes to school. Go through the whole routine from bed making to teeth brushing to breakfast. Anything that you want done before you leave. This will help your child’s internal clock set and get on a school schedule.

Find out from the teachers at your site visit — is there a particular song they sing at cleanup time? Is there a hand washing routine before snack or lunch? Incorporate all of these schedule nuances into your own day. It will make the transition much easier for your preschooler.

Pre-pack your child's backpack and pick out the first day of school outfit. If she’ll be bringing lunch and/or snack, now is a good time to figure out what will go in the lunchbox either the day before or that morning.

Preschool (or prekindergarten) is a broad term used to describe curriculum-based early childhood education. Research shows that quality preschool education produces gains in a child’s learning and development, particularly for economically disadvantaged children. But in the U.S., the amount and type of preschool children attend varies widely — some kids attend one year of partial-day preschool before entering kindergarten; others are in full-day, school-like settings beginning at age 2; some children don’t attend preschool at all.

On top of the choice of whether or not to attend preschool, at what age and for how long, parents also have different educational philosophies to consider — like Montessori, play-based programs, and Waldorf. For parents, the process of determining what is best for your toddler when it comes to early childhood education can be daunting. To get you started, Laura Gradman, a licensed professional counselor, education consultant, and owner of the Chicago Preschool Pro, has provided tips to help you navigate these choices.

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Family Considerations

While all parents want the best for their little ones, it’s OK to make a choice about preschool based on the needs of the entire family, not just the child’s.

According to Gradman, who helps families through the complicated process of preschool admissions in Chicago, “People ask me all the time, ‘What’s the best age to start preschool?’ Honestly, my response is, ‘It depends on what works for your family.’”

That can mean if you’re getting ready to welcome a new baby into the family, a toddler who has stayed home with mom or dad full time might benefit from a partial-day preschool program. Or, a child who has been in a home-based daycare center may be ready for a more curriculum-based program. Often, preschool options can easily be eliminated based on how long a center is open and able to provide childcare, particularly if your family has two working parents.

Preschool Readiness

Young children entering preschool programs are often at very different stages of development, which can make your job as a parent attempting to determine your child’s preschool readiness difficult. But rest assured, most preschool programs expect children to display a range of developmentally appropriate behaviors and skills.

“You’re going to see a huge spectrum of behaviors in preschool, which makes sense because at age 3, you’re looking at a kid who was born in September and comparing them with a child who was born the following August,” said Gradman. “In three years, one of them has had 11 more months to learn how to do things. That’s OK. Most schools look at that as a diversity of experiences and a range as far as what the kids are capable of. Every kid brings something different to the table.”

Special or Different Needs

Not all preschools are created equal. While your child may be “ready” for preschool, he may not be a good fit for every early childhood education program out there. Some programs might be more nurturing for a child who is less verbal and more introverted; other programs may have more patience with a younger child who has not yet learned self-control with certain behaviors.

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Therapeutic preschools, which cater to families who need comprehensive services that support children with developmental challenges, are also available. It’s important to meet with teachers and administrators to talk about your concerns and determine if the preschool program is right for your child.

The Potty Training Factor

It can sometimes seem like being potty trained is the stick by which your child’s preschool readiness is measured. And while some schools mean business when it comes to only accepting children who can use the potty, others are less strict and some programs will even help you train.

“Some schools will say, ‘We’ll work with you and help your child change if she’s has an accident.’ But others won’t. That’s a question you should always ask when you go into a preschool,” said Gradman.

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It also depends on the age your child is entering preschool. According to Gradman, programs that start at 3 typically want your child to be potty trained, but if the program starts at 2, it’s not something the school will be looking for.

If your child is struggling with potty training, the best thing to do is ask the school.

“I would say, ‘We’re working really hard on it, but school is coming in a month. Is this hard and fast, needs to be potty trained, or are you willing to help my child change if he or she has an accident?’” said Gradman.

Educational Philosophies

As parents begin to look for preschools, they will likely encounter different educational philosophies — Montessori, Waldorf, academic, play-based and even a newer philosophy known as “unschooling,” are among the more popular choices.

“For a child as young as 3, it’s difficult to know what might work for them. Typically, I advise parents to choose what resonates with them,” said Gradman.

The most common preschool philosophy is play-based, which is an umbrella term for a progressive philosophy of education that research shows are the most effective versus a traditional or academic curriculum. In a play-based preschool program, the classroom includes toys and areas that encourage children to use their imaginations and engage in various activities. While it may seem like they are "just playing," kids are actually gaining problem-solving, early math and literacy, and social skills.

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But how do you know what resonates with you?

Preschool.  It’s one of our very favorite ages here at The Inspired Treehouse!  Kids at this age are active, imaginative, and ready to play and learn!  And, when provided with some fun toys and props, preschoolers can create all kinds of fun play experiences!  Here are some of our favorite development-boosting preschool toys.

1 || Yo Baby Kick Flipper  – Like a skateboard without wheels, Kick Flipper is an excellent way to learn the balance, footwork, and coordination basics that are essential for skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.  Kids can give it a try on carpet, grass, or sand.

2 || Skuut Bike  – Kids kick off the ground as if running, pushing or scooting themselves and the bike forward.  Perfect for learning balance, steering, coordination and independence to progress toward a 2 wheel pedal bike.

3 || Scooter  – If you’re on the market for a well-made, durable, and versatile toy for kids, look no further than this little square scooter.  Nothing can get a kid more excited about therapy than whizzing down the hallway on one of these babies!  Try one of these awesome scooter activities and keep them busy for hours!

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4 || Stepping Stones  – This simple toy is perfect for tackling all kinds of developmental skills – teaching balance and coordination while providing sensory feedback in the form of proprioceptive stimulation.  Give a child and watch their imagination run wild as they play!

5 || Teeter Bridge  – Encourage some amazing balance with this rocker board that would make the perfect bridge in the middle of an obstacle course or a great place to stand at a countertop to color while getting the wiggles out!

The Best Fine Motor Preschool Toys

1 || Magna Tiles  – A great toy for fine motor manipulation, these 3D magnetic building tiles that are designed for open ended play and to captive the minds and creativity of young children.

2 || Velcro Cutting Food  – Beautifully painted and incredibly real, this food is held together with velcro making it easy to “cut” through and serve.  Kids love the pretend play this set inspires and we, as therapists, love the bilateral coordination and grip practice they get!

3 || Penguin Popper  – These poppers are crazy fun!  And, surprisingly, they are fabulous for core strengthening, hand strength and more!  Your child will giggle out loud each time he squeezes the penguin’s belly to send the ball flying across the room.

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4 || Bee Hive Tweezer Game  – I don’t think I have ever seen such a cute toy!  This one helps your child develop fine motor skills and learn to use her super fingers by matching a bee to hive by using a set of tweezers.

5 || Take It Easel  – With a whiteboard on one side and a blackboard on the other, your child will get to choose his surface for writing on a whim!  Bonus:  vertical surfaces are a great way to work on a whole host of developmental skills!

The Best Sensory Preschool Toys

1 || Boomwhackers  – If you’ve never played with Boomwhackers before, trust us…you don’t want to miss out on one of our favorite toys for targeting all kinds of developmental skills…all while making music!  Check out 10 ways to play with Boomwhackers here!

2 || Body Sox  – This sack-shaped costume made from Lycra Spandex with a hook-and-loop closure assists in developing spatial awareness through balance and resistance and encourages creative movement for children 3 to 5 years old.

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3 || Crash pad  – Perfect for jumping and crashing (great proprioceptive and vestibular input) or just sitting and relaxing, a crash pad is an awesome prop for sensory play!

4 || Spooner board  – This awesome toy is like a snowboard…without the snow!  Kids can spin, twist, slide, wobble and more!  All awesome input for the vestibular system.

When choosing the best toys for your classroom or for your child at home, remember that simple is best. Children will learn better in an environment that is not cluttered with toys, but instead in a space that is clean, simple, and with room for their imaginations. Here are our top 25 picks for educational toys for preschoolers. When creating this list we focused on every area of learning and the best toys for every preschool classroom, daycare or homeschool!

1. Wooden Blocks

Wooden blocks are wonderful for preschool building centers. This is the ultimate for open-ended play. Children are free to use their imaginations and creativity. Wooden blocks can also be used in a number of ways to practice shapes, colors, counting and more.

2. LEGO or DUPLO blocks

For preschoolers, DUPLO are the perfect size. LEGO are wonderful as a math tool to learn about shapes, patterns, counting, and measurement.

3. Dress-Up

Dress-up items do not have to be fancy. Make it as simple as costume jewelry, hats, bandanas, scarves, gloves, and masks and capes. We love finding dress up items on Etsy! Some of our favorite shops for dress-up items include Hunting Faeries, Philly Pop Designs, and A Joyful Bow

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4. Puzzles

Our favorite puzzles are from Mudpuppy and Melissa and Doug. Melissa and Doug make the best chunky wooden block puzzles that are great for little hands. The pieces make for fun figurines as well for imaginary play as well. Mudpuppy has the most beautiful puzzles! Our favorites include the Search and Find Puzzles, My Very Long Puzzles, and Geography Puzzles.

5. Cooperative Board Games

This company is our absolute favorite for preschool board games. Cooperative games teach team play and there are no winners or losers, the group wins or loses as a whole instead of individually. This idea is wonderful for preschoolers who are still learning important skills like teamwork, sharing and cooperating. Our favorites from Peaceable Kingdom for the preschool age group include Stack Up!, Dinosaur Escape, Count Your Chickens and Feed the Woozle. Feed the Woozle acts as a movement game as well and is perfect for busy little bodies. We love Stack Up! as it gets children working together to complete a common task while using fine motor skills.

6. Lacing Cards

Fine motor skills like lacing are perfect for little hands and pre-writing skills. We love these lacing cards by Melissa and Doug because they are sturdy and the perfect size for preschool hands.

7. Wooden Pattern Blocks

Wooden pattern blocks are another excellent math tool. We love that this specific set is made of wood as they will last longer. Students can use their imaginations to make their own designs or can copy pattern cards to create shapes and pictures. Some other fun uses for these blocks would be to practice color sorting, shape sorting, stacking, counting or simple color and shape patterns.

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8. Trace-n-Erase Chalkboards

This is our newest preschool obsession. Chalkfull of Design offers handmade chalkboards with pre-printed alphabet, numbers, shapes and now clocks for children to trace with chalk or chalk markers. This toy can be used over and over again by students and would make a beautiful addition to any classroom! The boards are now offered in steps 1, 2 or 3 so you can choose the correct level for the child’s ability.

9. Fine Motor Tool Set

This tool set would be perfect for play in a sensory bin or at a water table. These fine motor tools help to strengthen little hands to prepare children for writing.

10. Pretend Play Printables

We love this set because it is customizable and reproducible! Print these out and put them on a little clipboard and children will enjoy feeling like they are really working as a doctor or vet! This makes for a super simple dramatic play center and will make for hours of learning and fun. We found this set on Etsy from Long Creations17.

11. Pretend Kitchen & Play Food

Children love to play make believe and playing in the kitchen always seems to be a favorite. We love the play kitchen and food from Ikea. The kitchen from Ikea is affordable, durable and the perfect size for a preschool classroom. We love their fabric play food too! We also found some adorable pretend printable food from Miss Printables on Etsy!

12. Puppets

Puppets can be used by children in the classroom for pretend play, or also used by teachers as an addition to teaching. Using puppets to talk to children adds an element of fun to teaching important lessons. Melissa and Doug sell a variety of hand puppets that are high quality and themed perfectly for preschoolers.

13. Magna-Tiles

These are the ultimate in STEM learning. They are a bit of an investment, but will bring your students hours and hours of learning and creative fun! Children can build anything from roads to castles with Magna-Tiles which makes for a wonderful open ended toy!

14. Wood Tracing Boards

It was hard to choose just one favorite learning toy from this shop because we would have every single one in our classroom if possible! Jennifer makes the most beautiful educational toys that are made with such quality and durability. Every toy in her shop has a purpose, is clear, simple and takes learning to the basics which is crucial for preschoolers. If we had to choose just one toy from her shop, we would choose the Printed Alphabet Wood Tracing Board as it makes for an excellent fine motor skills and pre-writing skills toy!

15. Play Dough

This play dough is handmade and safe for children. We love that it is non-toxic and that the scents add a natural element of sensory for little ones. The scents she has available are perfect to add to certain themes and seasons!

Best preschool toys

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16. Water Beads

Water Beads are our favorite for sensory play! It is incredible to watch them grow and they are even more fun to play with. For added fun, we like to freeze them, add them to shaving cream, or hide letters or objects inside a plastic tub filled with them!

17. Easel

We love this easel for its simplicity. With a blackboard, whiteboard, tray and beam for a roll of white paper, this is the best and makes a beautiful addition to a preschool learning space. The price is right and it is the perfect height and size for toddlers through early elementary age children.

18. Magnetic Letters