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FAMILY ROUTINE
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9 tips for a perfect 1st day of preschool
Take time to sort through your feelings.
Visit the school together.
Pack a piece of home.
Create a morning routine.
Don't talk about it too far in advance.
Give them some control.
Mimic preschool rules and routines.
Walk them through their day — and add in something fun.
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Children develop best in an environment of order and consistency. They are happier when they know what to expect. To a young child, a predictable world is a safe world. By setting up regular, reliable times and procedures for daily events, parents and teachers provide a dependable environment. Routines also help avoid the power struggles that so often occur between adults and children. You’ll find life with your child goes more smoothly if you setup and consistently carry out regular routines such as bedtime, wake-up time, mealtimes, chore times, playtimes, and homework time. It might help to have a list of the sequence of daily events, posted where your child can refer to it as necessary (for example, Bedtime-put on pajamas, brush teeth, read story). Use simple drawings or photos on the schedule to facilitate young children’s understanding (children love to help with such drawings). Of course, some changes in schedules and routines are unavoidable. And while children prefer routine, they are resilient enough when a familiar routine has to be disturbed. There are two basic points to remember: 1. BE CONSISTENT Children are the most content when the same thing happens at pretty much the same time every day: and 2. EXPLAIN DEVIATIONS FROM THE ROUTINE If you have to change your plans, let your child know ahead of time, if possible, and explain the situation and the change you are making.