Back to PreSchool Questions Answered
School is just around the corner. Alot of children experience their very first days of school at a Mother's Day Out or Preschool program. Whether your child will be attending Mother's Day Out, Daycare or Preschool there are many important things you will need to know to ensure that your child is prepared for the first day of school. I have put together a list of frequently asked questions by parents that may help ensure a good start to the school year.
Will my child nap at school?
The answer to this question will depend on your specific program. Depending on how many hours your child attends school may determine if they will be napping. If your child will be eating lunch at school and they are in a Mother’s Day Out program then most likely he or she will go down for a nap or rest time after lunch. For all other programs usually the one, two and three year old children will nap everyday. However, it is important to check with your specific program as there are cases when Kindergartners still have a rest time. Usually your program will require that you provide a napmat and blanket for your child to rest on. There are a few different styles of napmats available on the market. The three most common are the all-in-one napmat, covers for Kindermats and the traditional sleeping bag. You may want to check with your individual program to determine if your school has a certain preference for the type of napmat you bring for your child. Most schools suggest introducing the napmat at home a few weeks before school starts. Also talk with them about how they will use the napmat at school for rest time. This will help your child adjust to napping at school. Also, a couple of weeks before school starts most programs suggest adjusting your child’s schedule to be similar to the school schedule. Most programs take a nap, after lunch, at about 12:30.
Does my child need a backpack?
Yes and make sure you provide a backpack that is big enough to easily hold a lunch kit, a folder, a jacket and a change of clothes. It is also important to make sure everything is labeled with your child's name.
What should they bring for lunch?
It is important to pack a nutritious lunch that your child can easily eat on their own. Be sure to include foods containing Vitamins A and C and try not to send soda or candy. Also keep in mind that most programs are unable to heat up lunch items. Children in preschool classes gain independence when they are able to open containers, unpack and pack up their lunch. These skills are taught and encouraged at lunchtime and you can help your child succeed by letting them do this at home. Mother’s Day out students are usually required to bring a sippy cup for lunch and one for snack. For the younger children a sippy cup is preferred over a juice box as they tend to have a difficult time opening them on their own and they can be more messy.
Does my preschool child need to be potty trained?
The answer to this question is most likely yes. This is another situation when we highly suggest checking with your program. Some programs have limited schedules, equipment, and activities that do not allow the teacher to change diapers or pull-ups. It is a general rule that in these programs your child should be potty trained if they are entering a 3 year old class. A child who is successfully potty trained wears underwear (not pull-ups), can communicate his needs to his teacher, and displays independence in the bathroom. You can help your child by dressing them in clothes that are easy for them to pull up and down. Also at home encourage independence with pottying and always make sure they are washing their hands. Boy’s restrooms usually have regular potties and urinals in them. Boys gain more independence when they are able to use a urinal. It is important to take time on meet the teacher night to show your child around and specifically point out bathrooms. This may help your child to feel more comfortable with that part of their routine at school. For the one and two year old classes you will probably need to provide diapers/pull-ups for your child. The teachers are always willing to work with you and your child as you begin the potty training process. Most children will learn faster by watching their peers who have successfully mastered pottying.
Will my child nap at school?
The answer to this question will depend on your specific program. Depending on how many hours your child attends school may determine if they will be napping. If your child will be eating lunch at school and they are in a Mother’s Day Out program then most likely he or she will go down for a nap or rest time after lunch. For all other programs usually the one, two and three year old children will nap everyday. However, it is important to check with your specific program as there are cases when Kindergartners still have a rest time. Usually your program will require that you provide a napmat and blanket for your child to rest on. There are a few different styles of napmats available on the market. The three most common are the all-in-one napmat, covers for Kindermats and the traditional sleeping bag. You may want to check with your individual program to determine if your school has a certain preference for the type of napmat you bring for your child. Most schools suggest introducing the napmat at home a few weeks before school starts. Also talk with them about how they will use the napmat at school for rest time. This will help your child adjust to napping at school. Also, a couple of weeks before school starts most programs suggest adjusting your child’s schedule to be similar to the school schedule. Most programs take a nap, after lunch, at about 12:30.
Does my child need a backpack?
Yes and make sure you provide a backpack that is big enough to easily hold a lunch kit, a folder, a jacket and a change of clothes. It is also important to make sure everything is labeled with your child's name.
What should they bring for lunch?
It is important to pack a nutritious lunch that your child can easily eat on their own. Be sure to include foods containing Vitamins A and C and try not to send soda or candy. Also keep in mind that most programs are unable to heat up lunch items. Children in preschool classes gain independence when they are able to open containers, unpack and pack up their lunch. These skills are taught and encouraged at lunchtime and you can help your child succeed by letting them do this at home. Mother’s Day out students are usually required to bring a sippy cup for lunch and one for snack. For the younger children a sippy cup is preferred over a juice box as they tend to have a difficult time opening them on their own and they can be more messy.
Does my preschool child need to be potty trained?
The answer to this question is most likely yes. This is another situation when we highly suggest checking with your program. Some programs have limited schedules, equipment, and activities that do not allow the teacher to change diapers or pull-ups. It is a general rule that in these programs your child should be potty trained if they are entering a 3 year old class. A child who is successfully potty trained wears underwear (not pull-ups), can communicate his needs to his teacher, and displays independence in the bathroom. You can help your child by dressing them in clothes that are easy for them to pull up and down. Also at home encourage independence with pottying and always make sure they are washing their hands. Boy’s restrooms usually have regular potties and urinals in them. Boys gain more independence when they are able to use a urinal. It is important to take time on meet the teacher night to show your child around and specifically point out bathrooms. This may help your child to feel more comfortable with that part of their routine at school. For the one and two year old classes you will probably need to provide diapers/pull-ups for your child. The teachers are always willing to work with you and your child as you begin the potty training process. Most children will learn faster by watching their peers who have successfully mastered pottying.
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