Clark Davidson

First Day Fears

         The first day of Preschool can be a scary time for children and parents. Starting school is something that children have probably been thinking about all summer. Now, they walk in to a new room with all these new friends, new grownups, and new “stuff”. Moms and dads may look a little teary-eyed because their “Baby” is growing up so fast. It’s not surprising that some children suddenly cling to their parents and cry.

Here are a few tips for getting through those first few days:

            Try and act confident yourself. If you seem anxious and unsure about leaving your child at school, your child will pick up on that and start to wonder if there is something to worry about.

            If possible, plan on staying 5 minutes the first day getting your child settled. A longer or shorter amount of time may make separation harder.

            When it is time for you to leave, make sure you say goodbye. Trying to “sneak out” when your child is busy and not looking, sometimes makes kids panic a few minutes later, and may make separation even more difficult.

            Separation problems sometimes show up on the second or third day, just when you think you’re getting off easy! It is also common for children to have problems when there are major changes in the home. Please let me know if there is anything happening at your house that you think is important I know.

            Adequate sleep can affect so many behaviors in young children. Please make sure your child gets at least 10 hours of sleep each night.

Discuss with your child what she/he will be learning in school. Answer your child’s questions about school. Reassure your child that school is fun.

If your child is having an especially hard time, please give me a call as soon as possible, 794-4260.

Sincerely,

Stephania Stanley