Untitled

How to be a Perfect Preschool Parent!

Meg Stiefvater

Label everything - This one thing elevates you to the top of a teacher's list of things to do that make a difference in their day.

Pack and label easy to manage lunches. Make sure your child's lunch box is not only cute but practical. Your child should be able to open most items. Cut or peel fruit, heat food at home and put in a thermos, pack spoons or forks and a napkin.

Read - All the material in the newsletter, parent file or posted on bulletin boards.

Volunteer - All skills are needed. Plumbers, computer experts, artists, lawyers, doctors, anyone who can wield a hammer, bike fixers, shoppers, bakers, people who sew, face painters, party planners, fundraising helpers, a warm body with a smiling face willing to help…your child's school needs you.

Communicate almost everything. - When your child is in preschool, almost everything is important and affects your child's behavior. Let your child's teacher know if: dad's on a business trip, grandma is sick, the dog died, child had an asthma attack and is on steroids, had a party and got to bed really late, he's wearing underwear today, threw up, is constipated, sister is home sick today, mom's out of town, went from a crib to a bed…

Keep sick children home. - Perfection is close if you can do this one. Sick children make other children sick. Sick children make teachers sick. Sick children have really crummy days at school.

Understand the schools guidelines and rules. - Most schools have a handbook. Many of the guidelines listed are state licensing regulations and must be followed. Diapering, nap, food, illness, medications, teacher/student ratio's all may appear to be picky rules but are in place to keep your child safe and are state regulated. Schools get fined and written up for each infraction during inspections. Some schools pass the fines onto parents.

Pick your child up on time. - You have reached perfection in the eyes of a preschool staff if you do this. Picking your child up late from school means that a teacher may be late picking up their child, may miss an appointment, makes the day longer for your child and not only one teacher, but two, must stay and wait for you.

Pay on time. - Most schools operate on a very tight budget. Several late payments may mean the school can not meet their financial commitments. Talk to the director in person to work out a financial solution if the school's payment schedule is difficult for you.

Send your child in play clothes that can get dirty. - Good sturdy shoes with rubber soles and closed toes help children play and run and climb. Flip Flops, open toed shoes, cowboy boots are all so fun and fashionable, but make it very hard to play.

Smile and laugh. - Greet the staff each morning and say goodbye each afternoon.

Meg Stiefvater is a parent coach with over 25 years experience as a preschool teacher, director, consultant, public speaker and parent. (This article copied from MarinPreschoolDirectory.com )

Most parents know that being a perfect parent is impossible. It is lucky for parents that preschools hold perfection to a different standard. There are perfect tantrums, perfect messes, perfectly time age appropriate melt downs and hectic crazy days turned perfectly lovely because of a child’s joy or a parent’s heartfelt appreciation.

Parents have the power to make a teacher or director’s job easier and more enjoyable or more difficult and time consuming. It is in the parent’s best interest to do everything in their power to make their child’s teacher’s job easier and more enjoyable, freeing them up to spend more quality time with the children. Follow the tips below and you are on your way to being a perfect parent…at least in preschool.