This week was a big week for us! L, my 19-month old daughter, started SCHOOL! (Wait, really? Wasn’t she just born like... last week?! Everyone always says it, but until you live it, it’s hard to comprehend. Time FLIES! This week reminded me that our little learners are only little for so long.
L was SO excited to start school. We did a few things to help prepare her for the transition and I’m here today to share some ideas.
1. Talk it up! Visit if you can. Constantly reassure. This is a BIG event. Treat it that way! Talk about how exciting school is going to be - specifically discuss some activities they will participate in (art, music, reading, playtime, etc.). Explain the new routine, over and over again.
If you can visit the school ahead of time so the environment is familiar to your little one. Show them the fun parts - like the playground, for example. When we visited L’s school, she wanted to run away from me to join in on the fun. Sometimes seeing is believing, and L was able to get a great glimpse into what was to come.
During this preparation time, constantly reassure your little learners. We would tell L, “You are safe. You are loved. Mama or Dada will always be back to pick you up.” It’s kind of become our little mantra. Using this phrase or something similar allows us to be direct and to the point, so when the time comes to walk away, you won’t linger. If you linger and start to show worry, your little one will pick up on that and panic or become nervous and flustered. This can make the transition more difficult than necessary. (I know this from my experiences of teaching VPK.)
2. Read books about school. This goes a little bit along with “Talk it up!” One way we were able to get L excited for school was by reading different books about school. Some of our favorites included Time for School, Little Blue Truck, Spot Loves School, Time for School, Mouse!, The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School and School (found at the Dollar Tree). I also visited our library and checked out some nonfiction books about school. The more you positively talk about something, the more comfortable a little learner feels.
3. Send comfort items. Hopefully, your toddler’s school will support this. Our school asked us to send a comfort item to help ease the transition, especially during naptime. We sent L’s baby doll and stuffed sloth. She chose to snuggle with both (AND also, her backpack). Whatever works! :-)
4. Show the teachers some love. I put together this “Back to School Survival Kit” basket for L’s teachers. We gave it to them at the school’s Meet-the-Teacher event (the night before school started). I included items like hand soap, tissues, disinfecting wipes, Ziploc baggies, bandaids, stickers, Flair pens, markers, chocolates, pretzels, and Starbucks gift cards. I also wrote each teacher a little note, thanking them for all that they do. I’ve been in their shoes. Teachers are superheroes.
I also created this form for L’s teachers to fill out. Since the amount of time we’re allowed in the classroom right now is pretty limited (due to Covid restrictions), I wanted to do what I could to get to know who she’s spending so much time with! I asked them to share some of their favorites, so I can occasionally spoil them and continue to make them feel appreciated. We’re a team together on this journey, and I just wanted to reassure them of that! I want them to know that I’m here to support them as they support my baby.
5. Help your toddler make friends. I made these notes to send home with L’s classmates. I stapled them to a sheet of stickers and asked her teachers to distribute them, which they graciously did. Obviously, every school’s policy is different regarding the distribution of items like this, but it’s worth looking into! I figure offering L some additional playtime with her classmates outside of school will help her feel even more comfortable in her new environment. (I realize L needs to learn how to make friends independently, and that's part of why we are sending her to school. But since she's so young, and this is her very first experience, I figured helping her get started wouldn't hurt!)
If your little learner is starting school soon, I’m sending you my love. It’s a transition for everyone, but it’s such an exciting milestone. Rest assured that you’ve done your research and your little one is in good hands. They are learning new things every day (things that we can’t necessarily teach them at home - like how to socialize with peers and be independent). Their body and brains are constantly growing. This week reminded me that “it won’t be like this for long” … so enjoy every second. (Cue Darius Rucker.)
Thanks for reading! I hope you continue to follow along to find (and share!) inspiration, information, and innovation! :-) Have a great weekend everyone!