Expectations In Preschool

At our preschool, we believe that children are most successful when home and school work together as a team. Your child's learning and growth are supported not only in the classroom but also through the guidance and routines you provide at home.

By sharing consistent expecations, celebrating progress, and encouraging positive behaviors, we can bridge the gap between school and home. Together, we can help your child feel safe, confident, and ready to learn each day.

Thank you for partnering with us to help your children be successful in school and at home.

At our preschool, we help students learn important social skills. Here are some expectations:we would like our families to go over at home.

1. Keeping hands to self- using gentle hands with friends and materials

2. Following directions-listening and responding to adults' instructions

3. Staying with the group-not running away or leaving the learning area

4. Respecting property-taking care of classroom materials and school property

5. Using manners- saying please and thank you, being respectful to others, modeling school appropriate language

6. Taking turns- waiting my turn, setting a timer to share a toy

7. Waiting- using strategies to wait in line, wait my turn

1. Keeping Hands to Self

-Practice gentle hands with stuffed animals or dolls

-Give praise when your child uses safe hands

-Say what to do to teach the expectation: (instead of saying no hitting, say "hands are for helping" and "walking feet", "quiet voices")

2. Following Directions

-Give short, clear expectations (1-2 steps)

-Ask your child to repeat directions back to you

-Look at visuals (review, eyes watching, ears listening, voice quiet, body calm)

3. Staying With The Group

-Play red light, green light or follow the leader to practice stopping and staying close

-Use phrases like "walking feet" and "stay with your grown-up"

4. Respecting Property

-Model how to take care of toys and books

-Give your child a small chore (like setting the table) practice responsibility

5. Using Manners

-Before giving something to your child have them practice saying please and thank you

6. Taking Turns

-Practice playing with your child and taking turns

-Use words like "can I have a turn please," "how can we solve this?"

-Set a timer to take turns

7. Waiting

-Practice strategies while waiting

-Singing a song, counting, finger taps, I spy

-Consistent (same rules everytime, follow a schedule, kids thrive on routines)

-Give Choices (do you want to walk or skip to brush your teeth? red cup or blue cup?)

-Say what to do-"Hands are for helping" (Is that a green choice or a red choice?)

-Model calm behavior

-Positive reinforcement (I love how you ___)

-Show visuals at home

-1st/Then

-We learn from mistakes (let children learn self help skills and gain independence)

Ex: water spilled- what can you do to fix it?

Ex: Putting on shoes (you try first, you can do it)

-Model when I am angry I can---take a deep breath and count to 4 (Daniel Tiger)

-Create a calm down corner in your house (fidgets, sensory items, visual provided below)

To help your child be ready for learning each day, we encourage families to support these routines at home:

1. 8-10 hours of sleep each night so children are well-rested and able to focus

2. Nutritious meals and snacks to give their bodies and brains the energy they need

3. Limited screen time so children have mroe opportunities for play, movement, and family interaction

4. Good hygiene habits such as daily bathing, brushing teeth, and washing hands to stay healthy

Working together on these healthy habits helps your child feel their best each day!