Fun Firsts: Starting Preschool Parents' Guide

The first day at preschool is a huge milestone for your family! Here's how to prepare your toddler (and yourself!) for such a special life moment...

That goodbye at the preschoolers' door is bittersweet! It might be the first time you've been apart from your little one, or simply the next step in their nursery journey. You might feel proud and excited, but worried and anxious, too. Will they be okay without me? Will they get on with the other children? Are they going to enjoy it?

Then, there’s the biggest question of all. How do I know if they’re ready for preschool? The truth is, every child blossoms at their own beautiful pace, so it’s different for everyone. Here are few signs your child might be ready for preschool:

• They can be separated from you without crying (for example, for an evening or a few hours here and there) 

• They are potty trained (or getting there!) 

• They can feed themselves 

• They can listen well or play together with other kids 

• They can focus on an activity or game by themselves 

• They can sit quietly

That said, this is just a guide! Those magical parenting instincts will tell you when they’re ready. When they are, you might find yourself wondering, how do I prepare my child for the first day of preschool? We’ve got some tips to help...

Nurture their social skills

It's common for toddlers to feel shy or nervous on their first day, but if they’ve had plenty of interactions with other kids or adults beforehand, they're likely to mingle faster and play better with others.

Part of preparing for preschool can include introducing your toddler to social play. Playing together with parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins or other children will help your little one feel more familiar with others, so they go into their first day of preschool with some good social skills under their belt. So, keep organizing those play dates, especially if you can organize them with other children who will be attending the same preschool!

Need some guidance on becoming a more playful parent? Re-discover the art of play to help give your toddler the best start!

Skill-building fun

Play really is a superpower, helping kids develop important skills and confidence. You can read our guide on why play is so important, here!

LEGO^® DUPLO^® sets have been specifically designed to help train cognitive, creative, physical, social and emotional skills. Just look for the colors on the box; our blue sets aid Logical Thinking (IQ) and Expressing Yourself (EQ). Our green sets, on the other hand, are all about learning Creative Solutions (IQ) and Learning Patience (EQ).

Incorporating educational toys, activities or books into playtime can give kids a good foundation for preschool.

Give each other space

Before starting preschool, you can start to gently practice separation with your toddler. Spending an afternoon with an aunty or uncle, staying overnight with grandparents or getting a babysitter for a few hours on occasion are all great examples of ways to do this. Ease your little one in gradually, so they can build up their comfort zone in the company of other, trusted adults.

Bite-sized adventures

Help your little one experiment with different flavors and textures, so they’re less likely to be phased by the new foods they might try at preschool. As parents will know, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your kids enjoy their food!

Top tip: ask the preschool what they encourage children to do for themselves at mealtimes, like drinking from an open cup, serving themselves or scraping their plate into the bin. Once you know, you can start practicing these things at home!

Pay a visit

Before deciding on a preschool, book a visit to get a feel for the place, meet the staff and see how they operate. If you can, take your little one along with you so they can get a feel for it, too. Some preschools offer settling in sessions, to ease your toddler into preschool life gradually.

If your child is already in a nursery-school setting and moving up to the preschool room, you can talk to the new staff to ensure a smooth, gentle transition.

Positive role play

Have fun role-playing what preschool will be like. Our LEGO^® DUPLO^® Life At The Day Nursery set is a great way to do this, giving kids an idea of what to expect in a playful, visual way! Preschool, here we come...

Want more advice on making ‘firsts’ more fun? Here’s our guide to your child’s first trip to the playground!