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Pre-kindergarten days are tough, especially for children on their first day, whether it be a daycare or preschool. More often than not, children would rather be with their family at home than be in a new environment with strangers. If they are of pre-k age, they are most likely to feel separation anxiety.
As loved ones, it’s challenging to figure out the right thing to do and say to a child. There is no easy fix. However, some ways are more helpful compared to others. Here are few things you can do to make it less stressful for your pre-k—and yourself!
Talk to Your Child Before It Occurs
Make a plan to talk to your child before separation anxiety happens. If the idea of going to school gives them anxiety, talk to them about it. Reassure them that you’ll pick them up when school wraps-up for the day. Have a countdown calendar to give them a sense as to the start and end of school. Speak to your child about the upcoming day. Go through a ritual with them of preparing their things, picking out an outfit, choosing their snacks—all ahead of time. The more they know about the process, the fewer surprises and the better their coping mechanism gets.
Introduce the Preschool Environment to Them Before They Go By Themselves
Show your child their pre-k learning center before they long before they start first day of school. If there’s a playground for recess, show it to them and play in the late afternoon or in the early evening. If there’s an open house, take the opportunity to go around the area so they feel comfortable and familiarize themselves with their new school. See if you can get a teacher to engage your child in some pre-k games or activities. Find out what the typical pre-K lesson plan looks.
Create and Establish a Goodbye Routine
The important thing to a goodbye routine is to stick to it. It could be a secret handshake or a peck on the cheek. Maybe you can give your child a tiny item that they can give back to you at the end of the day when you pick them up. This will give them the reassurance you’ll be back. But, no matter what the goodbye routine you decide on, the good thing to remember is that you have to leave once you’ve done the routine. Do not get pulled into staying much longer or giving a longer goodbye. Set expectations that goodbye is indeed goodbye, until school ends for the day.
Keep It Together
Show outwardly that you’re calm and collected, even if you feel like you’re dying inside. Keep in mind that your child going to school is a good thing. So put on a brave face and show that you have it all together. While keeping your emotions to yourself isn’t good practice in life, keep in mind that for this moment in particular, when your child is going through separation anxiety, you have to make them feel secure when they’re in unfamiliar surroundings and people.
Remember Not to Bribe or Threaten
Don’t calm your pre-k down with rewards or threats. Don’t tell them that you’ll buy them ice cream if they go in or that they won’t have any screen time if they don’t deal with it. Although this may seem reasonable right now, rewards and threats should never be options. Separation anxiety is an instinctual and natural response that children can overcome through support and assistance.
Offer Preschoolers Calming Words and Logic
Give children calming words and logic to make them go through the feelings on their own. Offer them the tools to deal with it, whether it’s taking deep breaths, looking through school and acknowledging there is nothing to be afraid of.
The Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Circa/FishHawk lets your children transition comfortably and seamlessly from your home to school. If you live around the area of Circa/FishHawk, FL, schedule an appointment or a school visit with your child and check some of their pre-k programs, and after school programs.