7 Tips for Morning Preschool Drop-off

Written by Lior Zaltzman

The first days of preschool are an exciting and very emotional time — both for you and your little one. But as the adjustment period ends, you may find that your kid is still having a tough time saying goodbye — clinging to you at drop-off, and crying for you not to leave.

Don’t worry: while it may be (understandably!) upsetting for you as a parent, it’s entirely reasonable for your child to still get tearful at drop-off — even if they are having a truly great time at preschool. Transitions are particularly hard for preschool-aged kids, and if your little one spends most of their time with you, it makes sense that they’re struggling to say goodbye.

That doesn’t mean that mornings have to be fraught. Here are a few tips that will help make drop-off a more peaceful time:

Get your kid excited about their day at school 

Ask your child and their teacher about their favorite things, activities, or kids with whom they like to play. Learn the names of your kid’s classmates and ask your child about them.

Spend time discussing all the enjoyable activities they have to look forward to — from singing their favorite songs at circle time to playing with toys that they love, or spending time playing with their friends. Talk to your kids about any upcoming special activities. 

Get them excited about their day at school by walking them through it the previous night and before drop-off. Enthusiastically describing all the fun they will have. 

Talk with your kid’s preschool teacher

While you always know your child best, their teacher may have noticed things about their life at preschool that you can’t know, or that your child can’t yet express to you.

Your child’s teacher also has a lot of experience with tearful drop-offs. They may have good advice for what you could do to help with the morning drop-off — and may even have ideas about how you can help your child’s mornings at school be happier affairs.  

Prepare the night before

It’s always a good idea to have your child’s snack prepared and school items packed and labeled the night before. It means that you can spend the morning without the stress of these chores and be more present with them. 

You can even put out an outfit for the next day. In fact, have your child help you with choosing their outfit. It’s a great way to get them excited about the next day!

Start your morning early

We know that getting up even earlier in the morning may not be the most attractive idea — after all, as parents, every minute of sleep is precious! But a leisurely and calm morning routine could help make drop-off easier. You can start the morning by talking about what to expect in your morning routine. You can have breakfast together, and even read a book and cuddle a bit before preschool drop-off. 

Getting to preschool a few minutes early also allows you to help your child settle in without having to rush out the door, making the experience more peaceful for everyone.

Bring a comfort item

Does your child have a blanket or doll that they’re particularly attached to? That’s great news! Taking that object with them to school may help soothe their separation anxiety and make the morning transitions a lot easier — the familiar object will remind your child of the comfort of their own home.  

Make sure to label your child’s comfort object, so it doesn’t get lost or misplaced. If it’s a specific doll or blanket, you may want to get an identical extra or two, to allow for washing and to prevent some serious drama if it gets lost! 

Always say goodbye

You may be tempted to run out the door the moment your child’s attention turns away from you. It’s completely understandable — we know you have places to go and a busy day ahead! But doing that could startle your child, and make them even more upset in future drop-offs. 

Always say goodbye to your kid before you leave. Remind them that you will be back for them and that they will have a great time with their teachers and friends. 

Don’t dawdle

Once you say goodbye, follow through. We know it’s hard to leave a crying child behind, but trust that your kid’s teachers are pros and will help comfort them. 

You got this!