Tips for A Positive Drop Off with Your Preschooler!

Drop off is such a key point in the day for each of our little potatoes because it can set the tone for the rest of their day! As Bright Beginnings has been established for over 30 years, we are very well versed in handling drop offs and helping to make them as easy and smooth as possible for the whole family! When drop offs become difficult, it is hard and stressful on us all. We all have been there and all as parents and teachers have felt the stings of guilt and even anxiety as our little birdies have their moments. Our own little birdie is here to offer great tips and tricks towards a most successful drop off!

We will start with the most difficult tip–Do Not Linger. It is so hard for us as parents to leave our little one as they are having a difficult transition from your arms to the classroom and all we want to do is “stay to make it better” or “stay until they calm down.” Here at Bright Beginnings we have learned that the longer you stay, the harder it will be for you to go. The key is having trust in your school’s staff to ease the situation for you. Once you leave, our teachers work together to ease your child into the day by: warm and welcoming greetings, using distracting (and inviting) activities, encouraging your child’s friends to invite him or her into their play, a small snack, a trip outside or around the school, the list goes on! The amazing thing about our school is the usage of Tadpoles – once settled, we will snap and send a picture of your potato to put you at ease as well! Also we will call to let you know as soon as they are settled in case you cannot get to your email throughout the day! Open communication is huge between our schools and your families!

Now to the simpler steps towards a positive drop off:

Try to meet the teacher before start – this builds a great level of trust between teacher and child. This will be great for first official drop off as there is already a budding relationship of trust and stability for your little one to rely on.

Try to make sure you fit in breakfast at home – this ensures that your little birdie will be all ready to go once they enter the room. Rather than sitting at the breakfast table away from the larger group, he or she will be energized and ready to go straight to the larger group which provides a larger distraction to ease out of the room.

Set up a good bye ritual – this helps in a number of ways – you are setting up a stable and reliable routine that makes you going out that door much easier for both you and your child. We have seen many variations from a special handshake to a choreographed show of affection (ex – a smooch on each cheek and a hug, or an eskimo kiss followed by one on each cheek). This makes drop off interactive and fun for your older ones and again creates that stable element that younger ones can rely on!

Bring something familiar – this ensures that your little potato has something to cling on that is not you! A lovie, tiny blankie, even little trinkets that may be miniscule to us (like a pink paper clip) but means the world to your little one are more than welcome to ease the day! As your birdie settles, their teacher will safely tuck it away, out of sight and reach, in their cubbies until the end of each day.

Use the Drive to School to Pep them up!– The mundane morning drive to school can be livenedup by getting your potato(es) excited for their day at school! Talk about all the fun they will have learning with their teachers and friends, ask them questions to engage them and get them prepared for what’s to come!

Be Consistent – as much as possible, from wake up times to departure from home try to make the morning as consistent as possible. Each step from wake up to drop off should prepare and alert your child towards the final step, SCHOOL!

Hopefully these few tips will help in many ways towards a great, positive drop off! Always ask your teachers and directors for what they feel works best as well, we are all one big family and we are always here for you!