TAKING CARE OF THE BASICS
• Young children thrive on consistency , routine , and predictability .
• According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , 3 – 5-year-old children should get 10-13 hours of sleep per day . This is a perfect place to start establishing routines ! Below are some tips :
EVERYDAY THINGS TO BUILD IN :
• Take care of you first ! This allows you to be the best version of yourself !
• Make sure your child has an active day ! ( Fresh air and exercise DURING the day )
• Teach self-regulation skills : practice self-soothing , identification of feelings , how to calm down , cooperation , etc .
• Use feelings words .
• Make bedtime predictable and consistent .
DO ’ S FOR SETTING A BEDTIME ROUTINE :
• Be consistent every single day !
• Short and sweet 30 minutes
• Adapt to your child ’ s needs
• Good sleep hygiene : dark , cool , quiet ( in room and out )
DON ’ T WHEN SETTING A BEDTIME ROUTINE
• Start too late when your child is already overly sleepy
• Use screens
• Run around / get excited right before bed
• Feed sugar / caffeine
• Read scary stories
• Abandon routines on weekends
WHAT TO WEAR TO SCHOOL ?
• Comfortable clothing free of complicated fastenings
• Appropriate shoes for outdoor play
• Outdoor clothing that your child can put on and take off independently
• Hats , jackets , gloves , boots , etc . ( weather dependent ) o PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS AS IT IS REALLY EASY FOR ITEMS TO GET MIXED
UP IN PK !
WHAT DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BRING TO SCHOOL ?
• A sturdy backpack
• Change of clothes to be switched out seasonally ( this is not just for accidents , sometimes the playground is damp and clothing gets wet !)
• A picture of your family to be displayed in the classroom
Birthday Policy :
• For those who celebrate , we recognize individual birthdays in the classroom by reading a favorite story , dancing to a favorite song , or offering a preferred activity .
• Birthday food cannot be brought into the school . o Feel free to send in a favorite book from home , schedule a time with your child ’ s teacher to come in or TEAMS in to share the story about the day your child was born , share the meaning of your child ’ s name with the class , and / or send in non-food items such as stickers , pencils , etc .
12 Family Handbook