Preschool Must Haves For 3-Year-Olds

Since my daughter has been in preschool going on 2 months now, I feel like it is time to share our preschool must-haves for 3-year-olds.

I know some of you are probably thinking but isn’t your daughter 4 now?

Yes, she is.

But if you have been keeping up with me on here, then you would know that she started preschool when she was still 3.

My daughter has a birthday that is considered late for most school districts.

So even though she is 4, she is currently enrolled in a preschool class for 3-year-olds based on her birthday.

Our preschool must-haves that I will be sharing will be mostly for 3-year-olds since that is our reality at the moment.

I know when I was preparing my daughter for preschool, I took it upon myself to look up some essentials that other parents use when they send their children to preschool.

And I was recently asked about my daughter’s essentials now that she is in preschool so here we are.

Here I will be sharing my daughter’s preschool must-haves that are great for 3-year-olds.

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What Are Some Things That Your Child Shouldn’t Bring To Preschool?

Before I get into my preschool must-haves, let’s talk about what they shouldn’t bring to school.

What are some things that your child shouldn’t bring to school?

So many blogs focus on what you should pack for your preschool, but not too many focus too much on what you shouldn’t bring.

Just from our experience with my daughter’s school, there are a few things that they would prefer children not bring to school.

Some of those things are:

• Smaller toys and objects that can be easily swallowed
• Foods that contain nuts or other allergens
• Crocs and open-toed shoes
• Animals

Some of these items may seem like a given such as animals but you would be surprised what little kids will try to bring to school.

Especially if your child owns a pet hamster or lizard that can easily fit into a backpack.

I know my daughter will try to put a lot of things into her backpack to show her friends at school because she thinks they are really cool.

But the problem with that is that she can’t bring certain things.

We don’t own any pets or anything like that, so we don’t have to worry about that.

But she does have several small figurines from her dollhouse and other smaller toys that if they were to get into the wrong child’s hands, can become a choking hazard.

This same way of thinking is also why our preschool doesn’t want children bringing snacks to school with nuts and other allergens.

We know how serious food allergies can be, but children do not.

They may think they are just sharing their food with a friend but in reality, they are putting their friend in danger with the food they are sharing.

Sometimes, a child doesn’t even have to consume the food to have a reaction.

Just being in close proximity can trigger a reaction which is even more of a reason to not bring foods that are can contain allergens.

In the case of Crocs and open-toed shoes, this is also a given.

I know how easy it is for kids to slip on their Crocs without the help of an adult but they really are not suitable for play and other outdoor activities.

They are also a tripping hazard.

And we don’t want anything to get in the way of children playing and learning.

Now that we have an idea of what our children shouldn’t be bringing to preschool, let’s get into the must-haves that my daughter uses when she goes to preschool.

Preschool Must-Haves For 3-Year-Olds

Backpack

The very first preschool essential for 3-year-olds that I’m going to mention is a backpack.

If your child is anything like mine, then a backpack is a must for preschool.

A lot of the shows that my older daughter loves feature kids in schools and nearly all of them carry a backpack.

So of course, she wants to be like the kids she sees on TV.

Even though my daughter loves carrying her backpack, I also consider it a must-have because it also provides her room to carry her other essentials.

The backpack that my daughter currently has is this Unicorn Toddler Backpack by Skip Hop.

Water Bottle

Moving into what my daughter keeps in her backpack, a water bottle is also a must.

Most preschools allow children to bring a water bottle and a snack every day.

But when it comes to water bottles, not all are created equal.

You need a water bottle that doesn’t leak and one that your child can easily handle.

After trying a few, the ones that I really like for my daughter are these Kids’ Water Bottles by Ello.

The bottle is covered in a silicone sleeve that is easy for smaller hands to hold and has a way to lock the top so it doesn’t leak.

I will link this water bottle below.

Snack

As I mentioned above, my daughter’s preschool allows the kids to bring a water bottle and a snack to school every day.

Her school does provide a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack to the kids throughout the day so I don’t have to worry about packing a lunch just yet.

They do prefer the parents to stick to just one snack because they want to encourage good eating habits by giving them the opportunity to try the food present.

If you all caught my post on how to choose a preschool, then you know that one of the things that I look for in a preschool is what kind of food they serve the kids.

• Read More: What To Look For When Choosing A Preschool For A 3-Year-Old

My daughter’s school serves pretty healthy food for the most part with lots of fruits, vegetables, and proteins so I’m not too worried about her eating a lot of junk.

But like most 4-year-olds, she can be picky and not want to eat the food that they may be serving that day for whatever reason.

So by packing a snack, she has another option in case she really doesn’t want to eat what they have and will not be hungry.

Change Of Clothes/Underwear

The next thing your child will need for preschool is a change of clothes and underwear.

Kids get dirty.

We know that.

So if they get really dirty or have an accident, they may need something to change into so they are sitting in their dirty clothes all day.

Especially if your little one is not potty trained fully.

Usually, the 3rd year is when kids really get the hang of potty training so your little one may be in the same boat as many parents find themselves in who are trying to get their kiddos potty trained.

If you are interested in some potty training tips for girls, be sure to check out the post below.

• Helpful Potty Training Tips For Girls

Closed-Toe Shoes

Since there is a really good chance that your child will likely be outside playing at some point during the day so then they will need shoes that they can play in.

As a parent, I just made sure to get some good tennis shoes that my daughter could play in while she is at school all day.

I typically just go to either Walmart or Target and grab her a couple of shoes that she can use when she goes to school daily.

I don’t have to worry about her hurting her feet or toes and she can play her little heart out.

Jacket

Along with closed-toe shoes, another apparel piece that your child will need is a jacket.

Especially during the cooler months.

Right now we are experiencing fall weather here in Texas.

It is cool in the mornings, hot during the day, and back cool at night.

So in the mornings, my daughter is typically wearing a jacket to school and when I pick her up in the afternoon, she is no longer wearing it.

I would much rather she has it in case she gets cold than not have it at all.

Nap Mat

Next up is a must-have that I didn’t realize we needed until we had it and that is a nap mat.

Most 3-year-olds still take a nap so most preschools that see 3-year-olds will have a dedicated nap time for them.

For naps, you can usually bring a blanket and a pillow but what I would highly recommend getting is a nap mat for your kiddo.

It’s like a sleeping bag with a pillow and blanket all in one.

The pillow comes attached and the blanket can be wrapped over your little one while they are napping.

My daughter absolutely loves sleeping on her nap mat and I love that it minimizes what we are having to bring to school.

She has this Organic Nap Mat from Lovevery.

It’s really soft and can be easily rolled up when not in use.

Comfort Item

And the last preschool must-have that I’m going to mention is one that will be determined by the school itself and that is a comfort item.

One of the things that I love about my daughter’s school is that they allow the kids to bring one comfort item.

For some kids, this is a stuffed animal.

For others, it may be a small blanket.

They understand that being in a different environment (especially early on) can be tough for younger children.

So they allow each child to bring something that they can sleep with during nap time that brings them comfort.

My daughter used to bring her favorite blanket which is a small Minnie Mouse blanket.

But lately, she has been saying that she doesn’t need it at all school anymore so that lets me know that she has gotten comfortable there.

If your child’s preschool has that option, then consider packing a comfort item for your child to embrace while they are at school.

Your Turn

Well, those are our preschool must-haves for 3-year-olds that my daughter utilizes while in preschool. I want to hear from you all now. What are some of the preschool essentials that your preschoolers are using? Let me know in the comments and while you are still here, check out my previous post below. Until next time!

• Read More: Moving Tips With A Family Of 4

Love,

Just Jass