Preparing Your Child for Preschool

Start with the routine

A few weeks before the first day, gently shift wake-up, meal and rest times closer to the preschool rhythm. Predictability does more for a child's confidence than any amount of preparation talk.

Practise the small skills

Opening a lunch container, pulling on a coat, washing hands, using the washroom independently — each of these makes the day feel manageable.

Talk about it honestly

Describe what will happen in simple, concrete terms: who will take them, what they will do, and when you will return. Avoid over-promising that every moment will be fun.

Expect a settling period

Some children step in on day one; many take several weeks. Both are normal. A short, warm and confident goodbye helps far more than a long one.

Keep talking to your educators

Tell us what settles your child, what worries them and what you are noticing at home. The best transitions happen when home and centre work together.