Parenting
First Day of Preschool: How to Prepare Your Child (and Yourself)
By the SchoolCove team · 5 min read · Updated November 2026
The first day of preschool is a big change in a small life. A little preparation in the fortnight before can turn a frightening unknown into something your child half-recognises.
Two weeks before
- Shift bedtime and wake-up time to the school schedule
- Visit the school together and show your child the classroom and play area
- Read picture books about starting school
- Practise short separations with a grandparent or friend
The week before
- Let your child choose a bag or water bottle
- Practise opening the lunch box and bottle
- Talk through the day: 'First we go in, then you play, then I come back'
- Label everything
On the day
- Leave enough time so nobody is rushed
- Keep the goodbye short, warm and confident
- Say exactly when you will return, in terms your child understands: 'after snack time'
- Do not sneak away: it makes the next day harder
If there are tears
Crying at drop-off is normal and often stops within minutes of you leaving. Ask the teacher to message you once your child has settled. Most children adjust within two to three weeks if the routine stays the same.
Look after yourself too
It is fine to feel wobbly. Plan something for yourself after drop-off on the first day, and avoid hovering at the gate.
In short
- Adjust sleep times two weeks ahead
- Visit the school before day one
- Keep goodbyes short and honest
- Expect two to three weeks of settling
School details mentioned here come from each school's own published information and can change. Please confirm with the school before you decide.