A Guide for Your Child’s First Day(s) at Mud Pies Preschool

Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. As you get ready to drop your kiddo off at Mud Pies Preschool (or even if you are a seasoned preschool veteran!), here are some tips and tricks.

PART 1: THE TOP TEN BASICS

Meet our model child, “Muddie Pierre” and see the 6 ways they are ready for a fun day at school. A good sharpie is your friend: it’s not your child who needs to recognize their clothes and water bottle, it’s *us* that really appreciates a little direction when picking up socks and other clothing items off of the porch (and can throw them in your child’s cubby instead of the sock bucket) or taking your child’s water bottle out of the dishwasher (along with 15 other water bottles!).

Also, please note the knob! Here’s the trick at the gate: pull the knob up.

A few more things:

1. DOWNLOAD THE PROCARE APP! Be sure it is installed on your phone. It is how you log your child in and out each day. It is also how the quickest way to communicate as it sends a notification to all of the staff.
2. WASH HANDS/USE SANITIZER. Upon your arrival at school every day, please remember to have your child wash their hands or help them use sanitizer. We wash our hands a LOT here at preschool – before meals, after meals, after potty activities, after wiping noses – to minimize the transfer of germs.
3. ARRIVE BEFORE 8:45AM; BREAKFAST IS SERVED AT 8:45am. If your child arrives after 9am, we cannot guarantee your child will be served breakfast. If you plan to arrive after 9am, please make sure your child has something to eat before they arrive, as the next available meal will not be until 11:30am. (And please send us a note on your expected arrival time if it will be after breakfast so we know if/when to expect you.)
4. NOTE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER BRINGING:
   • Extra clothes and accessories. We recommend two shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants (if they are in underpants), and a sweatshirt/jacket. Again, grab that sharpie.
   • Play shoes. Close-toed, easy to put on and take off. Ideally, we prefer shoes that the children can put on/take off themselves. Our goal is to teach self-help skills/fine motor skills and not to do things for children they are capable of doing themselves, including putting on and taking off their shoes. Optional: an extra set of shoes to keep in your child’s cubby; water shoes are a great option in the summer for all of our sprinkler play!
   • Diaper rash cream, if needed. Labeled! Diaper cream is considered a medication so we’ll also need a medication permission slip on file; we will then store the cream in our locked medical box above the changing table and use it as needed.
   • A dishwasher-safe water bottle, labeled. We wash these regularly.
   • Doctor’s note (if needed). If your child will NOT be consuming cow’s milk, please bring a doctor’s note stating so.
   • A family photo for our photo wall. We have a little metal tree photo holder with clips where we put photos of kiddos and their loved ones. When they are feeling sad or homesick, we can pull down their photo for them and cuddle with them on the couch, or talk with them about the loved ones they are missing, or write them a note. It really helps those sad moments.
   • A comfort item (e.g. a small stuffed animal or blanket) for rest/nap time. NOTE: We ask that all toys be kept at home.
5. REVIEW OUR TUITION POLICY. While the bubble machine fuels our spirit, we rely on your dollars to pay our staff, fill your children’s bellies, and maintain an awesome space. In short, you can expect invoices on the 15th, and we will expect payments by the 20th for care the following month. Here are more details on tuition and fees. And because childcare is such a large percentage of many household budgets, we took the time to explain how we run our preschool business.
6. WONDERING IF YOU SHOULD START POTTY TRAINING YOUR CHILD? In short, don’t (don’t wonder, don’t worry, and don’t start until your child is ready). We follow Janet Lansbury’s words of advice around potty training which is basically to let the child lead. We also supply diapers and wipes. So wherever your child is at on the potty training (also known as toilet-learning) journey, don’t stress; we are there to support them every step of the way, however long it takes.
7. DURING DROP OFF, GIVE YOUR CHILD SOMETHING FIRM AND CONSISTENT TO PUSH AGAINST. Drop offs can be so tough. For everyone. The first day, the child can be in a whirlwind and not realize what’s happening until the parent/guardian is totally gone. The second and third days (and perhaps the 100th and 131st days — it really depends on what is going on in lives!), the child might get really upset. We get it — it’s sad to leave someone you love.
   
   <<Author of this blog post putting on my parent hat.>>
   
   When my child started preschool they were 2.5 years old. The first day: easy peasy. My child was a bit shell-shocked and delighted to have a seemingly endless supply of magnatiles in front of them. The second day was completely different: they were a wreck, crying, clinging, and yelling, “Mommy don’t leave me!” because they knew that I would soon be gone.
   
   I didn’t know what to do. I knew I shouldn’t linger too long and drag it out. But I didn’t know how or when to leave. So I turned to the teacher and asked, “What can I do to support my child and you?”
   They replied, “Give them something firm to push against. Your child will feel safer when they feel the boundary.”
   
   And so I sat on the little bench with my child in my lap and I said tenderly and firmly, “My Love, First, I know it is safe here, and that you will be loved and supported in this space. Second, I’m going to give you a hug and a kiss, and then I’m going to leave. And I know you might not like it, but that is what I’m going to do.”
   
   And then I gave them a hug and a kiss, peeled myself out of their wailing howls and grasping hands, pried them into the loving arms of a teacher, and walked away. Oh boy, that was hard.
   
   Five minutes later, I received a text from the school with a photo of my child happily playing. And when my child felt sad later that day, the teacher helped them write a note explaining their feelings. Ever since that day a “hug and a kiss” has become our household’s cue for goodbyes or transitions with our child. And they verbally dictate notes when needing to process emotions.
   
   <<Author of this blog post putting back on my administrative hat.>>
   
   So do what works for you and your child. I’ve seen high fives. I’ve seen fist-bumps. I’ve seen the child get to pick how many hugs before the goodbye (and then the parent creatively counting if it’s a high number). Whatever you do, try to be consistent. And try to honor your word: that when you are going, you go. Help your child feel safe by setting that boundary, so they can push against it and trust it.
8. ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY! Here are a few ways:
   • Follow us on Facebook (We have a secret page and will invite you).
   • Participate in our Potluck events — we aim to hold them a couple times per year and will let you know the upcoming date a few weeks in advance.
   • Here are seven other ideas for how to engage/support the Mud Pies Preschool community.
9. GIVE SPACE TO THE GARBAGE & RECYCLING CANS ON TUESDAY MORNINGS. Our collection day is Tuesday so they are often at the curb that day. Thanks for giving them plenty of room so that the sanitation workers do not have to worry about hitting your vehicle!
10. STAY HOME WHEN SICK. We have guidelines (see Managing Sickness).

PART 2: FINDING STRENGTH IN RHYTHM

Transitions can feel tricky. Children love rhythms. In the spirit of these two backdrops we’ve mapped out our regular rhythm with “teacher cues” in case you want to echo our rhythm and verbal cues at your home.

TRANSITION TO BREAKFAST

• 8:30 — “Okay everyone, in about five minutes it’s time to clean up.”
• 8:35 — “It’s time to clean up. Then we’ll have breakfast.”
• 8:45 — “It’s time to eat breakfast. Please go wash your hands.”

BREAKFAST SERVED

• <> “If you are done, please clear your plate and wash your hands.”
  • Note: The children are completely capable of clearing their plates, utensils, and cups. They even scrape their plates into a low bin lined with newspaper. You can have them do this at home, too.
  • Note: We wash hands before and after meals.

CIRCLE TIME/TRANSITION TO FREE PLAY

• Circle Time is when we’ll either lead a song, or read a book, or talk about something new.
• <<free play>>

TRANSITION TO LUNCH

• 11:15 — “Okay, in about five minutes it’s time to clean up.”
• 11:20 — “It’s time to clean up. Then we’ll have lunch.”
• 11:30 — “It’s time to eat lunch. Please go wash your hands.”

LUNCH SERVED

• “If you want another serving of _____, you need to finish another item on your plate.”
• “No potty talk at the table. Instead, let’s talk about _______.”
• “‘May I please have _____,’ is a nice way to ask for more of something.”
• <<after lunch>> “When you are done, please clear your plate and wash your hands.”

FREE PLAY / TRANSITION TO REST/NAP

• 12:45 — “Okay, in about five minutes it’s time to clean up.”
• 12:50 — “It’s time to clean up. Then we’ll have some quiet time.
• <<rest time or quiet activity, such as looking at books, or doing a gentle activity>>

TRANSITION TO SNACK

• 2:30pm — (If still awake)”You may have a quiet activity on your cot. Then at 3 we’ll have snack.”
• 3pm — “Okay, it’s time for snack. Please wash your hands.”
• <<snack served>> “When you are done, please clear your plate and wash your hands.”

PLAY
END OF DAY

PART 3: MISC

ONE FINAL NOTE: THERE ARE TWO ANIMAL ONSITE. One of our many license requirements includes letting parents/guardians know about any animals on the property. Therefore you should know that two cats lives upstairs in the apartment. They have all their shots and do not come in contact with the children.

Well that’s probably enough for now. Need more info? Send us a note. Again, we’re so glad you’re here. Time to play!