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MommyAtty
member
Preschool questions-lots and lots of 'em-update down below
MommyAtty
member
I officially registered DD for preschool today. (Dealing with terrible feelings of sadness that time is going so quickly and some ridiculous anxiety over whether her spunky, flamboyant 2 yo self will have friends, be left out, etc, when this kid owns every room she's ever entered. Ok, deep breath taken and getting to the point.). So does anyone have any recommendations for me? A good backpack for a 2 year old? (Is Pottery Barn worth it?). A good websites for toddler lunch and snack? Good lunch bag? How to prepare her for starting? Sigh. I'm a bigger mess than when she was a newborn. Btw, she's going 3 days a week from 9-2:30, with nap from 12:20 after lunch until they wake up, which for her will prob be about 2:00.
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Re: Preschool questions-lots and lots of 'em-update down below
We have to send snack and lunch, so I'm assuming she needs some sort of bag. And we can send a comfort item to sleep with. I think we have to send diapers and changes of clothes too. The folder thing is a good consideration! The 2nd smallest PB bag says it holds a folder.
DS is in "Jr. Preschool" which is really just daycare, but we don't send a backpack. However, they provide food so I could see where you would need something. You might want to simplify and just do like a lunchbag/box type deal if you can get away with it. I imagine the blanket will stay there so I don't know that you need to consider that. Our DC sends them home once a week to wash but I just throw it in DD"s bottle bag or over my shoulder or something. They did provide a little backpack type deal for each kid but we rarely use it because we don't really send anything. I imagine if we had to send food I would send a lunchbag rather than an entire backpack, but that's just me.
If you go onto pinterest and type in toddler lunches, you will get a TON of stuff. Of course most of it is like supermom type lunches where I'm thinking, "Ain't nobody got time for that," but if you do, more power to you of course!
Don't worry, the adjustment will be harder for you. DS had a nanny until February and when he started DC, he was the odd man out. But within 3-4 weeks his teacher told me he had a couple of friends that he usually played with and now he is like one of the most popular kids there. I see other parents saying hi and bye to him on their way in and out and I'm like, How do you know my kid?? You are just here for a minute at drop off and pick up, right? Trust me when I tell you that this will be 100 times harder on you.
BFP #1 6/28/11 ~ EDD 3/7/12 ~ m/c 7/15/11 at 6w2d
BFP #2 8/29/11 ~ EDD 5/12/12. 4/25/12: Our take home baby is here!
BFP #3 8/27/13 ~ EDD 5/11/14. 4/27/14: Our second take home baby is here!
It's funny. The prep school where we plan to send our kids starts at 3 with preschool, 4 with pre-k, and 5 for kindergarten. So DH and I are referring to this as "wee school." We are doing it for socialization, not for learning so much. And to get DD used to rules since my mother-in-law isn't great with setting boundaries. Not surprisingly, DD actually likes rules and routines. MIL can't grasp that for the life of her.
Preschool here is from ages 2-4.
We used a Lands End backpack with a lunchbox that clipped onto the backpack so you could just carry the 1 bag. I believe they quit making the style we have 1-2 years ago.
When she turned 3, I let her pick out a backpack from the Disney Store. While it is still in excellent condition, she got a Frozen backpack for this upcoming year.
Do you need to include cold packs for lunches or do you have fridge access? Will they heat things up?
We just carry in packs of diapers as needed and keep extra clothes and bedding in her cubby, refreshing weekly. No bag needed.
I wouldn't get a backpack since you probably won't need it every day. We sent a change of clothes in a gallon ziplock with her name on it. It stays in her cubby until she needs it. The dirty clothes are a great reminder to send more clothes.
We got a book called "t'was the night before preschool" and read it a few days before starting. We also talked about being a big kid and going to school. There's even a Daniel Tiger episode about how "grown ups come back". You probably don't need to do all of those things but I was nervous too.
Good luck! You will both do just fine.
LL Bean has great backpacks and lunchboxes. I would suggest getting a slightly bigger backpack that way you can carry it and it can be used for the next several years. I am a teacher, and have some ides - make sure you label everything! Clothing, stuffed animals, food containers, sunscreen, etc. LO will most likely have a bin there where you can leave changes of clothes, at least two, but three changes is ideal.
Don't send your LO to DC in anything you don't want ruined. Places will use washable products; however, sometimes washable sometimes leaves a slight stain, especially if not washed right away.
As far as meals go, often time teachers don't have time to heat up all the lunches for all the children, and quite frankly I'm sure you can understand. So, if something needs to be warm, put it in a thermos. At a program I worked at, we put all lunch boxes in the fridge each morning and took out the thermos. Also, check in with DC provider often about the meals. See if your LO is trying to get the other children's meals, if so, try packing some of those same foods. And since everyone will have different lunches, pack a large variety with smaller quantities, allowing your child to have a variety.
If your LO has a "lovie" either make sure you have two, and can leave one at DC and one at home. You wouldn't want to forget it at DC one evening, at least I wouldn't. Check to see if they will be sending home the blanket at the end of each week to be washed or if they will be doing that for you.
Also, don't be afraid to call during the day to check in on how LO is doing. They may not be able to chat for long, depending on the part of day and things that could be going on, but it will help ease your mind.
As sad as LO may be at morning drop off, the quicker the separation the easier it will be in the long run. Stay to a routine each morning - time of day, individual dropping off, hanging up bag, coat, etc, maybe staying for a book, puzzle, or some playing, then leave. If LO is clinging to you, try to comfort, but reassure that you will be back. It is okay to leave LO crying, they will be okay, as long as the DC provider is in tune to your child's needs.
You could also make a small photoalbum for you LO to have at DC. I did one for my LO, and he had it in his crib at naptime.
Ours posts a supply list on their website at the beginning of August as to what each child needs to bring (backpack is on there). There is no supply fee where we go; each parent is responsible for purchasing the needed list of supplies and bringing it to meet the teacher.
In Texas, a daycare/preschool is supposed to have a food handlers permit if they are going to prepare food (that includes warming up). Mine doesn't stay for lunch bunch anymore but we had to use ice packs for cold and thermos for hot as well.
wow! i am shocked about that one! what is their reasoning behind this? i am feeling sorry for you right now, you have so much to remember to bring everyday! if you happen to forget a napmat one day, do they have plans to support children? at least pbkids has some cute personalized ones, that can be a mat and a blanket with small pillow. maybe you could find something that the napmat also clips on? i am thinking something more like a camping backpack, because at this point, it seems like that's what you'll need