Getting Ready for Preschool: Building the Skills for a Smooth Start

With August around the corner, many VKT families are gearing up for a big milestone: preschool! Whether your little one is heading into their very first classroom or moving up to a new room, the transition can bring up big feelings for kids and parents alike. The good news? As pediatric therapists, we see every single day that a few targeted skills can make that first drop-off (and the weeks that follow) so much smoother.

Why Preschool Readiness Is More Than ABCs

When we talk about “preschool readiness” at VKT, we’re not talking about letters and numbers. We’re talking about the foundational motor, sensory, and communication skills that let a child sit in circle time, follow a two-step direction, zip up a backpack, or tell a teacher they need help. Building these skills now sets your child up to feel confident and capable in their new environment, rather than overwhelmed by it.

Skills to Practice at Home

Self-regulation and transitions: Preschool days are full of transitions — circle time to snack, snack to playground, playground back to circle time. Practice at home with a visual schedule or a simple “first/then” chart, and give a 5-minute warning before switching activities.

Fine motor independence: Can your child manage a zipper, snap, or lunchbox lid? Practicing these small self-care tasks builds the hand strength and coordination they’ll need for cutting, drawing, and eventually writing.

Following directions: Classrooms move fast! Practice one- and two-step directions during play (“put the block in the box, then close it”) to build the listening and sequencing skills teachers rely on.

Separation practice: If separation anxiety is a worry, start with short, low-stakes practice runs — a quick trip to a trusted family member’s house or a drop-off playdate — and always follow through on your goodbye promise (a quick, confident goodbye beats a long, drawn-out one).

Core strength and seated posture: Sitting upright on a carpet square for circle time takes more core strength than it looks like! Activities like animal walks, obstacle courses, and floor play all build the trunk strength that supports good seated attention.

A Note for Parents

It’s completely normal for kids (and parents!) to have a bumpy first few weeks. Regression in sleep, appetite, or behavior is common as children adjust, and it usually settles within a few weeks as new routines become familiar. Try to stay consistent, keep bedtime and morning routines predictable, and celebrate the small wins — a happy wave goodbye is a big deal!

When to Reach Out

If your child is significantly behind peers in following directions, communicating needs, managing transitions, or with fine and gross motor tasks, it may be worth a closer look. Early support can make the preschool transition — and everything after it — that much easier.

At Vida Kids Therapy, our pediatric PT, OT, and speech therapists in Brentwood and Westchester (Los Angeles) love helping families prepare for exactly this kind of transition. If you have questions about your child’s readiness for preschool, we’d love to help. Book a free screening or consultation with our team, or give us a call at (424) 724-0944. We can’t wait to help your family start this new chapter with confidence!