Starting preschool or transitioning to a new environment is exciting but often brings anxiety. Many parents worry about how their child will handle this significant change, asking questions like, “Will he cry when I drop him off?” “Will he be okay when I leave him?” “Will he be so upset that he disrupts class?” “Will someone comfort him?” “Will he make friends?“ These are natural concerns. Every year, we welcome many new children to our programs; here are three key lessons we’ve learned about easing transitions:

Separation anxiety is NORMAL.

We expect children to be upset and are prepared for different reactions.

Easing separation anxiety happens both inside and outside the preschool classroom.

Our teachers proactively help children adjust by connecting them to their new environment and caregivers.

You can make a big difference.

There are many ways to help prepare your child and yourself for this transition.

Here are a few strategies that can help:

Prepare by reading together.

Read books on transitions and separation anxiety. My child loved “Llama Llama Misses Mama,“ which we read repeatedly. This story helped her understand it’s okay to be sad and that preschool can be fun.

Develop a fun, short goodbye routine.

Let your child “push you out of the door,“ giving them control over the separation. You can also create a series of fun rhymes like “bye-bye butterfly“ and “see you soon, raccoon.“ Practice this routine before the first day of school to make it familiar.

Build a community.

Set up playdates right away or host casual get-togethers at the park. These efforts smoothe the transition and help to make friends quickly. This can make a huge difference!

We hope these tips help your family manage the transition to preschool, We look forward to welcoming your child to Montessori Academy Idaho and helping your child have a great start with us.