Oct 7, 2011 | By Melissa Lewis
Overview
A toddler starting school is exposed to a new world of structure, and the best way to help him adjust is to practice before you drop him off for his first day. Out-of-sync sleep habits and an unfamiliar pace might lead to morning meltdowns that slow you down. If you create a routine, your child will transition more smoothly, and you’ll keep your schedule — and sanity — intact.
Step 1
Set the alarm clock. If your toddler is accustomed to a relaxed morning schedule, ease him into waking at a set time. You might buy an alarm clock made just for little kids so he can learn to wake himself up. Start setting the alarm together every night a few weeks before school starts, if possible. Observe how he manages his new routine and adjust his waking time to suit his pace so mornings aren’t harried once school starts. Get your child accustomed to scheduled nap times if it will be part of his school-day routine.
Step 2
Schedule your toddler’s days to give him a preview of preschool. What to Expect, a spin-off website that complements Heidi Murkoff’s pregnancy and child development books, recommends preparing for preschool by “playing school.” Mimic the flow of a day at school: get ready in the morning, sit at the table with paper and crayons, have a snack and read aloud to your toddler. Explain that his experience at school will include similar activities and how they’ll occur in a particular order.
Step 3
Take the backpack and lunchbox your child will use for school to the park for a picnic. The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families suggests gearing up for the start of preschool with fun activities that help your child learn basic preschool skills. Let him practice packing and unpacking his things so he feels comfortable with the drawstrings, snaps and zippers he’ll be dealing with every day.
Step 4
Prepare for mornings the night before. The best way to streamline your toddler’s routine in the morning is to start getting ready before bedtime. Designate a spot for shoes, jackets, and backpacks near the door and make your child responsible for putting his school things in place at night. Have him help you pack his lunch; he’ll feel more involved and doing it the night before saves time in the morning. Choose his outfit together and lay it out before you tuck him into bed. When you’re saying “goodnight,” ask him what he’d like for breakfast in the morning to eliminate indecisiveness when you’re in a rush to get out the door.
A Few Tips
• Make a favorite CD your toddler’s morning soundtrack. Synchronizing the same songs with the same tasks each morning creates a fun schedule for toddlers that’s easy to follow.
• Create a chart for tasks your child needs to complete to get ready for school and hang it in a convenient spot. Help him check items off the list each morning and offer small rewards for staying on task for a whole week. An incentive — a DVD rental or trip to the park — might keep him more interested in his new routine.
• Don’t waste time rushing back home if you’re already on your way to school. Keep a few essentials in the car in case you forget something and replenish them periodically. Packaged snacks and items for show-and-tell are simple last-minute lifesavers, while a clean shirt or pair of pants could help you get to school on time even if your child spills his juice in the backseat.
This article originally appeared at http://www.livestrong.com
ambassador nannies 