Starting School for the First Time: A Transition Guide for Toddlers & Kids

Entering preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten can be a difficult transition not only for the child but for the whole family, as well. It can be an emotional week adjusting to everyone’s new normal, but luckily, there are several things you can do to make it a little bit easier. Ready to start school strong? Keep reading for our best tips for starting school for the first time, including some great essentials that will make it easy and exciting for your kids.

How to Prepare Your Kids for School

As the saying goes, the best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. This extends to so many things, even your kids starting school. Preparing as much as possible will make it go so much smoother for both you and your child. Things like establishing routines, practicing with their school supplies, and becoming as familiar as possible with their new school are all great ways to prepare.

Establish Routines

Establish a school day routine now, so that your child isn’t too groggy, cranky, or thrown off on the first few days of school. This includes:

• Waking up early when they would normally need to wake up for school
• Going to bed early for a good night’s rest
• Begin to eat breakfast, pack their backpack, and put on school clothes first thing in the morning
• Eating lunch within the amount of time their school allows
• Talk about a goodbye ritual that would be special, such as a special new handshake, silly hug, or fun saying

Practice with their School Supplies

When your kiddo starts school, they will be handed a ton of new supplies that they may not know how to use yet. Here are some tips for getting familiar with their school supplies:

• Practice opening and closing their lunchbox
• Zipping and unzipping their backpack
• Practicing with scissors, glue, crayons, or markers
• Recite the alphabet and numbers frequently as a refresher

Become as Familiar as Possible

The scariest part of starting school, for many children, is the unknown. Becoming as familiar as possible with their new school, classroom, and teacher will help make them feel more comfortable on their first day, and so will you!

• Visit the school whenever possible for orientations, tours, teacher meetings, or other events
• Drive by the school whenever possible with your child, point it out, and get them excited
• Read books about preschool or kindergarten, talk about school often, and even role-play as teacher and student
• Instill confidence in your child with their ability to make friends, understand directions, and willingness to learn

Transitioning Essentials for First-Time Schoolers

One of the best ways to get your child excited about school is to get new school supplies that they actually love. Some of our favorites are our toddler-sized backpack, a versatile leak-proof lunchbox, sensory fidget toys, and calm-down kits.

A just-right-size backpack they can carry themselves

If your child is starting preschool or kindergarten, regular school backpacks tend to be too large for them to manage and carry. Luckily, our Kinderspel Insulated Backpack / Lunchbag is sized just right for preschoolers and kindergarteners!

This backpack is insulated and water-resistant, which means not only will their food and drinks stay just the right temperature, but it is also super easy to wipe clean when needed.

In addition to the main compartment, there are two additional side pockets and a separate zippered pouch on the front. And don’t worry—we created this entire backpack with little ones in mind, even their hands. It is all super easy for toddlers to open and close with ease, all by themselves. Remember—practicing using their backpack in the days leading up to school is a great way to get them excited!

Leak-proof lunchbox they can open without help

Need a worry-free lunchbox that is leakproof, your kid can open easily, and holds lots of food? Say hello to our FLEX&LOCK KIDS FlexBox Set!

Leakproof without a rubber seal, this lunchbox is completely non-toxic, and the inner tray is made of platinum silicone, the best possible material for handling food. This material does not require plasticizers for its pliability. It's pure and heat resistant, so you can stop worrying about chemicals leaching into food when warming food.

Freezer-safe, oven-safe, and microwave-safe, you can prep, eat, and store their meal all on one tray!

Plus, the outside cover allows for fun customization with FlexCharmz! FlexCharm comes in a variety of shapes & colors, allowing kids to explore and reward healthy mealtime in a fun way. Made with flexible & durable silicone, the charms are easy to wash & dry for your child's next interactive playtime.

Comfort fidget or plush for emotional support

If your school allows, pack a comfort fidget in their backpack to help them remain calm when they are feeling overstimulated, anxious, or need to focus. Sensory fidget toys are clinically proven to reduce stress in children, help them focus, retain information, and pay attention better.

We have an entire line of silicone sensory fidget toys called Spike Toys. Whether you love to squish, squeeze, peel, balance, or toss, there is a Spike toy for everybody! Made of 100% silicone, they are easy to toss into the dishwasher with the day’s load after a day of sensory play.

Calm-down kit or sensory item for after-school decompression

When the school year begins, it can take a while to adjust. Your kids may come home overtired, overstimulated, or full of energy and ready for more. Either way, it is great to have a Spike Toys calm-down kit ready for them at home to transition out of school mode.

For more great parenting tips and family products, visit us at Innobaby.com!