Don’t worry about germs and always expect tears during drop off: Former preschool teacher reveals the five things EVERY parent should know before sending their kids to school

• Christina Montoya Fiedler, a former preschool teacher-turned-journalist from California, said there’s ‘so many things’ she learned from working with children
• Now, she has shared her expertise with the world through an essay for insider, in the hopes of making the transition easier for the preschoolers – and the parents
• According to the writer, adults shouldn’t be alarmed if their children start crying when they drop them off at school because the tears never last long
• She dished on why parents shouldn’t worry about kids getting exposed to germs, since there’s no avoiding them and they could strengthen the immune system
• Christina also spoke out about why parents may see home changes in their kids during preschool and why they shouldn’t stress about what they pack for lunch

A former preschool teacher has shared the five things that she wishes parents new before sending their kids to school for the first time – including advice on how to get through the tear-filled goodbyes when you drop them off and why you shouldn’t worry so much about them getting exposed to germs.

Christina Montoya Fiedler, a former preschool teacher-turned-journalist and mother-of-two from Los Angeles, California, said there’s ‘so many things’ she learned from working with young children; and now, she has shared her expertise with the world through an essay for Insider, in the hopes of making the transition easier for both the preschoolers – and the parents.

According to the writer, adults shouldn’t be alarmed if their kids start crying when they drop them off at school; she insisted that the tears never last long – thanks to their short attention spans and the mass amounts of distractions that are present in the classroom.

A former preschool teacher has shared the five things that she wishes parents knew before sending their kids to school for the first time. She is seen with her husband and kids

Christina Montoya Fiedler (seen with her kids), a preschool teacher-turned-journalist and mother-of-two from Los Angeles, California, shared her expertise through an essay for Insider

She also dished on why parents shouldn’t worry so much about what they pack their child for lunch, and revealed why they can expect some major changes in their kids after they start school.

Christina also opened up about why she believes a child’s preschool years are the best, and arguably most important, years of their lives, while reminding parents to not take them for granted.

Here are the five things Christina said all parents should know before sending their children to preschool. 

Tears during drop off are completely normal – but never last long

Christina (seen with her husband) explained that parents shouldn’t be alarmed by their children’s tears during drop-off because it’s completely normal – and never lasts long

It’s only normal that parents get worried when leaving their kids at preschool for the first time, especially if they cry when it comes time to say goodbye.

But Christina explained that parents shouldn’t be alarmed by their children’s tears during drop-off because it’s completely normal – and never lasts long.

‘But as soon as you leave their line of sight, I promise that they’re OK,’ she said. ‘There might be some sniffles, but if there’s one thing preschool teachers excel at, it’s the art of distraction’

‘There will inevitably be tears when you leave your child for the first time. This is normal,’ she wrote.

‘But as soon as you leave their line of sight, I promise that they’re OK. There might be some sniffles, but if there’s one thing preschool teachers excel at, it’s the art of distraction.’

The former teacher explained that the classrooms are filled with various toys and activities that help quickly take the kids’ minds off the fact that they’ve been separated from their parents, and ensured it ‘won’t take long for them to get sidetracked.’ 

She continued: ‘In a preschool setting, children can roam independently, and it’s always a joy to see what they are drawn to first. Maybe they’ll team up with a new friend and build with blocks. 

‘A gentle hand is all they need to get acclimated to their new setting. And as the days go by, drop-off will become easier – for both of you.’

Your child may undergo some serious changes as they try new things

Going to school for the first time is a big thing for a young child, and Christina pointed out that it will most likely fuel some major changes in their personality as they’re exposed to new things

Going to school for the first time is a big thing for a young child, and Christina pointed out that it will most likely fuel some major changes in their personality and interests as they’re exposed to new people and activities.

‘Think of preschoolers as a blank slate. For many, this is their first big experience away from home,’ she said. ‘They are brilliant, but most importantly, they are adaptable.

‘As they learn to navigate their new surroundings, they are soaking up everything and learning the basics of friendships, conflict resolution, cooperative play, and more.

The journalist called it an opportunity for them to ‘blossom’ and really figure out who they are.

‘This is a time for them to blossom. And they do,’ she added. ‘They come home talking about new things [with] proof of all the activities they participated in that day – glittery clothes, paint-stained hands, sticky faces, and palpable excitement.’

There’s no avoiding germs – but they’ll help build their immune systems

Germ exposure is a common fear among parents who are sending their kids to school for the first time, but Christina said it’s pretty much unavoidable, so it’s best to accept it

And while being exposed to all sorts of new germs can certainly be scary, she added that it will help strengthen their immune system – resulting in the kids becoming healthier in the long run

Germ exposure is a common fear among parents who are sending their kids to school for the first time, but Christina said it’s pretty much unavoidable, so it’s best to accept it.

‘Preschoolers love to use their hands. Unfortunately, those hands sometimes end up in their mouths,’ she pointed out.

‘But all the sanitizing and handwashing in the world won’t keep them from getting sick.

‘In fact, my kids were never as sick as when they first started preschool. This was their first time in a group environment, which means an added risk of being exposed to germs.’

And while being exposed to all sorts of new germs can certainly be scary, she added that it will help strengthen their immune system – resulting in the kids becoming healthier in the long run. 

‘Their little bodies are slowly building up immunity and, in time, they will be healthier than ever,’ she stated.

When it comes to packing lunch, you can never win

Christina explained that parents shouldn’t take it to heart when children don’t like what they pack for lunch – because kids always want what they see someone else eating

Christina knows first hand how frustrating it could be when you work hard to pack your child an elaborate and delicious lunch, and they hardly eat it or come home complaining that they want something else.

But she explained that parents shouldn’t take it to heart, because kids always want what they see someone else eating.

‘Parents have the best intentions when it comes to packing lunches for their preschoolers,’ she told Insider.

‘I’ve seen some pretty elaborate lunches – couscous and veggies, sliced deli meats and cheese on individual skewers, and tropical fruit salads.

‘It doesn’t matter what you pack, they will want something else. And that something is whatever the person next to them is having. Don’t take it personally.’

The former preschool teacher added the lunch can be a ‘difficult time’ for children because they’re ‘hungry, ready for a nap, but too amped up’ to sit still for long. 

‘They also can’t wait to get on the playground [for recess],’ she added. ‘But rest assured, we make sure their tummies are full, even if that means helping them take a few bites.’

Don’t take the preschool years for granted because you’ll miss them when they’re over

Christina’s last piece of advice for parents of preschool kids is to not take it for granted – because they’ll most likely miss the simplicity of preschool once their kids get older

‘Preschool is such a simple, happy time in a child’s life. There’s not a care in the world. No homework, no responsibilities, just the opportunity to learn through play,’ she explained

Christina’s last piece of advice for parents of preschool kids was to not take it for granted – because you’ll most likely miss the simplicity of preschool once your kids get older.

‘Preschool is such a simple, happy time in a child’s life. There’s not a care in the world. No homework, no responsibilities, just the opportunity to learn through play,’ she explained.

‘Once grade school starts, academics are pushed to the forefront. As a parent, you’ll be monitoring their progress and helping with homework, in addition to carting them to various extracurricular activities. 

‘It’s a dizzying mental load. Preschool might seem hectic, but trust me, you’ll miss it once it’s gone.’

The mother-of-two added that preschool is an opportunity for parents to ‘grow with their children,’ and is one of the ‘biggest stages of growth for both of you.’

‘Be as gentle with yourself as teachers are with your children. We promise that your kids are just fine,’ she concluded.

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