What’s the difference between toddlers aged 1 to 3; preschoolers aged 4 to 6; and school age kids aged 6 to 11? When it comes to the environment that they are exposed to, toddlers are limited to their homes and playground. Preschoolers will slowly be exposed to interacting with other kids in an informal classroom or day care setup while school age kids have the potential to develop their social skills fully as they interact with children of the same age in a formal classroom environment.
Items to Buy Your Preschool Kid
Let’s say that you have a daughter who is about to attend preschool. You need to make sure that she can handle the transition from being home-bound into interacting with other kids in an informal classroom environment.
Aside from making sure that your child is emotionally ready for preschool, you also have to prepare a few items which will be used for preschool classroom sessions. This includes:
Backpack
How old is your child who is going to preschool? If your son is only four years old, you need to buy a backpack which should not be too large or too heavy for his size. There are companies which specialize in manufacturing backpacks for toddlers and preschoolers so check on the items that they are selling. Some even have a guide when it comes to the ideal size and weight of the backpack that your child can carry based on the age.
School Supplies
Naturally, you also need to buy the items which your kid needs to place inside the school backpack. Some of the must-haves include a covered sip cup, a small hand towel which can be used to wipe spills with, an extra foldable bag for wet or dirty clothes, and school-related items like notebooks, pens, papers, crayons, etc.
Lunch Box
Most preschools teach young children to care for the environment. Instead of having your child carry paper lunch bags, plastic bags or Styrofoam containers, use reusable plastic lunch boxes. Bento boxes or backpacks with matching lunch sacks are also great, eco-friendly alternatives.
Nap Mat
Preschool kids would not be doing academic-related activities all day long. Ask the teacher if nap time will be reserved, in which case you can buy a personal nap mat for your kid to use.
Clothes for Playing
You should also include play clothes when preparing the school backpack of your kid who is about to go to preschool. Make sure that they are cool and comfortable.
Other Ways to Prepare Your Child for Preschool
Aside from the aforementioned items, you should also make sure that all the school items of your child have labels or name tags. Put a discretely placed tag on the backpack, lunch box, nap mats, blankets or even the school supplies like books and pens.
If you are sending a younger-aged kid to preschool and he or she is still using diapers, ask the teacher about the number of diapers that you need to supply the school with for your child’s use. If you think that your son or daughter would have separation anxiety or fear of being left alone at school without you by their side, put a security item like a well-loved toy or a small family photo inside the school backpack.
To make the transition easier for your child, get him or her to prepare all these preschool items with you. Not only will your child get excited for the first day of preschool, but it will also teach him or her the responsibilities associated with going to school at such a young age.