Blog Layout

Preparing your child for their first day of preschool

April 20, 2022

How can I prepare my child for drop off?

Dropping your child off and saying goodbye can be emotional for both you and your child. Although most children adjust quickly to a new setting, some can have a hard time saying goodbye to their parents or caregivers.  Your encouragement and reassurance can help your child learn that they will be okay in their new preschool. Below are a few strategies to help you and your child with drop off.


Prepare your child prior to their first day of preschool.

By preparing your child for “what’s to come” you can reduce some of their anxiety. Be excited and positive when you talk about preschool. Talk with your child about how much fun they’re going to have, what things they can expect to happen throughout the day, as well as reassuring them that you will be back to get them. Let your child know that you are leaving and you will be back. You might say to your child I’m going to leave in five minutes to go to work, but I'll come back to pick you up after lunch.


Resist the urge to linger.

Another way to help your child is by "dropping them off and going”. This can be hard because your child might be crying or clinging to you but the longer you stay the harder it becomes for you and your child. Remember, it is okay for a child to cry, and typically most children become actively engaged with play, a meal, or peers 10-15 minutes after a parent leaves. Surprisingly, many parents find the crying child they left that morning is now happily engaged in play and will sometimes now cry because they don’t want to leave!


Create a goodbye routine.

You can give your child a kiss to “hold” in their hand while you’re away. (“The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn is a sweet book where a mother raccoon reassures her child raccoon by kissing his paw) Some other ideas are to sing a special song together, give your child a small item from home to keep with them, or give them an extra big bear hug.


Hang in there, be patient, and positive while everyone adjusts! 

Hang in there! New experiences and transitions may be difficult, but remember that it will get better with time! Make sure you prepare your child beforehand and reassure them that you will return to pick them up. This is a huge comfort for kids.


Thank you to Ms. Katrina, PMC's KidMotion College Instructor, for sharing her knowledge and experience in the contribution of the information in this blog.


November 18, 2024
Learn about a local family's journey through the fostering experience and with the adoption process in Maryland!
November 13, 2024
Fun Thanksgiving Food Crafts Looking for some fun and easy Thanksgiving-themed food crafts this year? These simple crafts are easy to set up and sure to add some joy to your family's celebration! Whether it's arranging the morning waffles to resemble a cute turkey or tucking some fresh veggies into a crescent roll for a festive cornucopia, these fun Thanksgiving crafts are sure to bring some smiles this holiday season. 
November 6, 2024
Thanksgiving Guide for Picky Eaters Feeling a bit tense about how your picky eater is going to feel this Thanksgiving? Have no fear - our dietitian, Emily, has some excellent advice on how navigate the holidays with a picky eater. 
October 28, 2024
Halloween Themed Food & Snacks Halloween brings out the kid in all of us! While dressing up your child or adding decorations to your house, don’t forget to have fun with food too. Here is a list of super cute ways (and easy!) ways to bring the spooky holiday to your plate! 
October 21, 2024
Everyone has moments when they do not speak smoothly. It is developmentally normal for children to experience disfluency, or difficulty speaking, during the first few years of speech and language development. Stuttering, on the other hand, is a speech disorder that is characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech that are often accompanied by behaviors or frustration, or negative associations with speaking or embarrassment. People who stutter may experience repetitions (repeat parts of a word), prolongations (stretch a sound out for a long time), or blocks (struggle to get a word out). These are known as disfluencies . But, stuttering is more than disfluency. Stuttering may also include tension, anxiety or negative feelings about talking. While there is no "cure" for stuttering, there are plenty of treatment options available to help individuals who stutter. A speech language pathologist can utilize several strategies to help reduce the frequency and to cope with stuttering. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), stuttering usually begins in early childhood, with onset typically beginning between the ages of 2 and 5. However, data shows that up to 80% of children who stutter will not stutter in adulthood. Because stuttering is often a more complex issue than disfluency, it is vital to seek evaluation from an experienced SLP. Research demonstrates that early intervention programs can make a huge difference in whether stuttering carries over into adulthood. When performing an evaluation for stuttering, the SLP will look at: Types of disfluencies The number of disfluencies How your child reacts when they stutter (do they get upset) Does your child try to “fix” their speech (do they start a sentence of or stop talking) An important difference between stuttering and disfluency is that stuttering is often accompanied by negative emotions around speaking and communication. An SLP will look for signs of discomfort or tension when your child is speaking. They will also take into consideration your child’s age and how stuttering affects their daily life. Especially with young children, it is critical to evaluate the differences between stuttering and developmental disfluencies. In preschool-age children, for example, stuttering is often accompanied by various behaviors , including facial tension, eye blinking, frustration or reduced verbal output. If your child struggles with stuttering and you are unsure whether you should seek treatment, here are some guidelines for when to reach out to a speech/language therapist: The stuttering persists longer than six months and occurs frequently during the day The child shows tension, a facial grimace, or struggle behavior during speech The child avoids talking situations or expresses concerns about speech The child avoids saying certain words or sounds The family has a concern about their child’s speech The child has shown signs of frustration or embarrassment during or after a stutter event Treatment methods for stuttering can include promoting confident communication, practicing mindfulness, modifying speech and facilitating desensitization for stuttering. An important part of treatment may also include self-advocacy, and promoting acceptance of stuttering so that children can reduce the negative feelings that accompany instances of stuttering. Examples of treatment techniques include: Breathing exercises Stretching exercises Fluency-shaping techniques Slow speech production Overall, disfluency should be considered normal as everyone does it occasionally. Oftentimes, it is simply a part of development for children. Working with an SLP can help with both disfluency and stuttering, however, they cannot “cure” stuttering, but rather assist a child with strategies for reduction and acceptance of it. If you are looking for treatment for stuttering, please reach out to our office today to learn more about how PMC’s speech therapists can help you.
October 9, 2024
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Show More
Share by: