My name is Makenna and I am the Family Support Specialist at Risen Savior Early Childhood Center (ECC). My goal is not only to support students, but also the amazing families who care for them every day.

Throughout the year, I'll be sharing practical tips, child development insights, fun activities you can try at home, highlights from Risen Savior, and resources to help your family thrive.

Whether you're a current family or just beginning your preschool search, we're so glad you're here!

To start off our blog, today I'll be sharing some tips on how to have a great preschool morning!

First Day Drop-off:
The first day can be tough for both students and parents, especially if a student is not used to going places without you by their side. It is our goal to ensure that your student feels welcome and safe within our walls, and that you feel confident leaving your baby in our hands. Here are some ways to help the first day drop-off go as smoothly as possible:

• Talk positively about school before the first day
• Practice independence at home such as:
  • Picking out their outfit for the day
  • Picking out their own breakfast
  • Allow them to put toothpaste on their toothbrush, wash their hands, and brush their hair in front of a mirror
  • Give them safe tasks like tearing lettuce, washing fruits, or carrying their own unbreakable plates to the table
• Label their belongings
• Talk about what to expect at drop-off
• Help them feel confident 
  • Read school themed books
  • Provide them with a comfort item
  • Create a goodbye ritual
  • Visit their classroom and teacher ahead of time

Here are some books to read to your child before starting school for the first time:

Now after the first day stress is over, it's time to repeat this drop-off process each day throughout the school year. There will be good days, and bad days. There will be days where you get a quick "Bye!" as they run to their best friend in the classroom; then there will be other days with tears, hugs that don't let go, and it can feel very heavy in your heart to have to leave them. This is all normal! Just like adults, children experience highs and lows, it is our job to help them work through those hard times and cherish the happy times.

Here are some pointers on how to help you and your student have a great preschool drop-off every day:

• Keep your routines short and positive
  • Long, drawn out routines will make it harder and harder to drop off because they get used to spending extra time with you, and slowly that time will increase as the days go by.
  • Stick with a simple hug, high five, "I love you," "I'll see you again soon," "Have a great day at school."
• Let your child do one thing independently (carry their backpack, choose their shoes, put in their pin number in the lobby, etc.)
• Talk about something they are excited to do at school today on the ride there

Lastly, don't stop reading about school after the first day! When children read things that are relevant to their lives, they are much more focused and engaged. Just like we want to read our children books about our own cultures and other cultures; we want to have them read about familiar school experiences and new ones. We want to meet them where they're at and broaden their horizons too. Here are some stories to continue reading about school at home:

In conclusion, school drop-off doesn't have to be a source of stress between you and your student. Taking proactive steps at home to prepare for drop-off will help immensely, but when it's a tough morning, our teachers are well trained at handling any tears or upset and can assist you anytime you need.

Thank you so much for reading through our very first blog post! We hope to talk about many helpful topics throughout the year through this format, and hope you will come back frequently for these kinds of resources! Also, if there is ever a topic you'd like to suggest to us, feel free to do so! We love input!

From all of us here at Risen Savior ECC, welcome!