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Preschoolers are starting to develop friendships, play imaginatively, and have conversations. At this stage, they may still experience some separation anxiety, but they’re also more likely to get excited about spending time with other children and participating in activities.

Build Anticipation

Start talking to your child about the Early Learning Center a few days before they start. Talk about the fun activities they’ll do, the friends they’ll make, and the toys they’ll play with. Building positive anticipation helps them look forward to going.

Role Play

Kids at this age love imaginative play, and you can use this to your advantage. Set up a little “pretend nursery” at home, where you play the teacher, and they play the student. This can familiarize them with the idea of an Early Learning Center and make the real experience feel less daunting.

Visit Together First

If possible, arrange a visit to the Early Learning Center with your child before their first day. Let them explore the space with you there, so they can start to feel comfortable with the environment. Meeting their teachers and seeing where they’ll be spending their time can help ease any anxieties.

Encourage Socialization

Preschoolers are developing social skills and may be excited to make new friends. Talk to them about the other children they’ll meet and encourage them to play with their peers. Social connections can help ease the transition, as they begin to associate the Early Learning Center with friends and fun.

Praise Their Independence

At this age, children are starting to take pride in their accomplishments. Praise them for being brave when they go to the Early Learning Center, for playing nicely with others, or for trying a new activity. Positive reinforcement builds their confidence and helps them feel good about going to the Early Learning Center.Explore our Teddy 2 learning environments