Preschool must-haves no one tells you about

The baby books won’t tell you this, but if you have a child starting preschool this Fall, here are 4 things you need to be prepared for.

1. Know what your favorite color is.
   
   Your child is going to ask you what your favorite color is and you do not want to be the parent saying, “Oh, I don’t know, I like them all.” Pick one. At preschool, your child is going to use your favorite color to make you art and then give it to you at pick up and your heart is going to just melt. They’re going to tell their teachers and all their friends what your favorite color is. Favorite colors are the one of the biggest currencies for toddlers.

2. Start working on your penmanship again.
   
   It’s time for lunchbox notes! You cannot text your child a message to their yogurt container. This one is an analog activity. Your child will cherish your notes like a sailor receiving a telegram from their loved ones after years at sea. That’s how long it will feel for them since they saw you at drop-off. Write legibly (so the teacher can read it to them). I’ll give you a cheat sheet:

3. Upgrade your dress-up clothes bin.
   
   Preschool has many “Crazy Hair” days and “Silly Hat” days and “Favorite Superhero” days. You don’t want to scramble last minute. If you have a random pair of neon green socks that your child got for free from a bouncy house birthday party, keep them. One day you’ll get a note home from preschool about how tomorrow is “Crazy sock day” and you’ll be glad you saved them.

4. Save your toilet paper rolls.
   
   Your child’s teacher will definitely send a note home one random Friday and ask everyone to bring in toilet paper rolls for an art project. Be the hero-parent who shows up with a bag of them.

   I hope this helps you feel more secure about starting the school year. Every parent feels overwhelmed at first. It may be hard at the beginning, but once you get the hang of everything, it will be time for them to graduate.