Starting Preschool: A First-Week Drop-Off Plan for Families

Top 6 Tips for Preschool Drop-Off

School drop-offs can be incredibly difficult, especially in preschool when your little one is just starting to spend time away from you for the first time. While giving them a big hug can help alleviate some of their worries, there are more effective ways to make drop-offs easier on everyone.

Here are 6 tips for making preschool drop-offs run smoothly:

1. Establish a Routine

Having a goodbye ritual can help normalize the idea of time apart for your child. This only works if you make dropping them off at preschool a part of their daily routine. You can add fun or playful rituals in the mix, like sharing inside jokes and comforting words right before you leave them at the school.

2. Validate Feelings

Sometimes your child’s big reactions to being dropped off at preschool can be stressful. You might feel tempted to brush off their emotions, however, this will only further their anxiety. Instead, let them know that their feelings are normal and you understand why they are scared.

Validating your child’s emotions can make a big difference in their willingness to be left at school. Once they know you understand their concerns and you believe everything will be okay, they might feel more comfortable with spending some time apart.

3. Bring a Comfort Item

Does your child have a favorite stuffed animal that they can’t sleep without? Maybe they have a blanket that they have been lugging around since they were a newborn. If so, bringing that item with them to preschool might make them feel more comfortable with your absence.

Comfort items can help your child feel like you are still there with them even when you aren’t. You can make it a big deal by letting them bring the item and telling them that it has magic powers that will help them feel brave during their time in preschool.

4. Model Positive Emotions

Dropping your kiddo off at preschool for the first time can cause you to experience a range of emotions as well. You might feel stressed, worried, or even sad that you won’t be able to spend the whole day with them. While it is okay to feel these emotions, it is best to remain positive in front of your child.

Modeling positive feelings about preschool can motivate your child to think the same way. When they see that mom and dad are excited about school, they might share that sentiment.

5. Ask Teachers for Help

Preschool teachers are familiar with all of the big feelings their students feel when they first start the program. Most kids have the same experience each year, which makes them experts in helping their students feel better.

If your child is having a hard time with drop-off, you should ask one of the teachers for help. They can pay extra attention to your child to make sure they are feeling comforted and ready for the day.

6. Arrive Early

Arriving a little early can help your child get their bearings before the day begins. If your schedule allows, give yourself a few unhurried minutes at drop-off to settle your child into a familiar activity. Ask the teacher what arrival time works best for your child’s room.

Doing this will help your child learn to regulate their emotions and ensure that they are ready or prepared for the day before it begins. Instead of spending time calming down during preschool hours, they will have worked through their emotions before class begins.

A first-week drop-off plan

1. Before day one: talk about school in a positive way, and visit together if you can.
2. Day one: arrive unhurried, help your child find a first activity, then say a short goodbye.
3. Days two to five: keep the same goodbye ritual. Tell your child when you’ll be back, such as “after rest time”.
4. Each afternoon: ask the teacher how the day went, and share anything that helps at home.

Every child is different. If drop-offs are still hard after a few weeks, ask the teacher to plan the next steps with you.

Starting preschool at Little Sunshine

Read about our preschool program and the answers on our Parent Questions page, or schedule a tour to see the room and meet the teachers.

Reviewed and updated October 28, 2026. Information about state programs can change; check the linked official sources for the latest details.