It's that time again. Back to school time.  For some parents, it may be preschool time -- a potentially difficult and emotional experience for both parent and child. Preschool is a child's first step on their academic journey and a parent's first step towards letting go.  In preparation for this big day, here are four great resources on how to prepare yourself and your toddler for preschool:

1. Preschool Prep: How to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool by Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families 

According to Zero to Three,  you should keep your getting ready efforts "low key." They suggest keeping the experience fun and educational by using "pretend play to explore the idea of preschool," reading books about preschool, making a game out of practicing self-help skills, and taking your child for a visit at their new preschool so you can play together and tour the school before they start. 

In addition to "Fun Ways to Get Ready for Preschool," the Zero to Three article covers "Responding to your Child's Worries," "The Preschool Countdown: What to do and When," and "Saying a Good Good-Bye." 

2. Preparing for Preschool by Parents.com 

In Parents.com's Preparing for Preschool, parents are given helpful hints and ideas on "how to prepare your toddler for his time away and how to ease the adjustment." There are five informational articles: 

• What Your Kid Will Learn in Preschool 
• How to Deal with Talkative Kids 
• 4 Little Lessons Kids Need Before Starting School 
• 5 Awesome Reasons to Love Preschoolers
• How Much Does My Kid Need to Eat?

3. How to Prepare Your Child for Preschool by BabyCenter.com

BabyCenter's Preschool section is another excellent place to start learning how to prepare your child for preschool. This section includes: "Finding a Great Preschool," "Preschool Readiness," and "Working with Preschool Teachers." After you read through the site, you can also reach out and talk to other moms sending their children to school on their community forum.

4. Preparing for Preschool by Scholastic.com  
Scholastic.com  has an extensive Preschool page filled with articles that help parents make their child's transition easy. The Preschool page includes: "Preparing for Preschool," "Getting Involved," "What to Expect," and "Books and Reading." 

We hope these resources are helpful as you prepare for your child's first day of school! If you have any ideas, suggestions, or experiences that you would like to share, please email us at [email protected].  

P.S. Reading with your child is a great way to prepare your child for preschool! We have a great selection of books for your future (or current) preschooler! Take our BookFinder quiz to find out which books are good for you and your child!