sure a school staff member is ready
to help your child with the transfer
from your care to the classroom.
F
ind out how the school structures
its daily schedule. Many preschools
begin with a daily ritual, such as
“circle time” (when teachers and
children talk about what they did
the day before, and that day’s
activities), to ease the move from
home to school.
Tips for Tear-Free
Goodbyes
Saying goodbye on that first day can
be the hardest moment for parents
and children. Here are five tips on
how to ease the separation anxiety.
R
eintroduce the teacher to your
child. Allow them to form an initial
relationship. Make it clear that you
trust the teacher and are at ease
with her watching your child.
B
ring a friend from home. Ask
the teacher whether your child
can bring along a stuffed animal
to keep in her cubby in case she
needs comforting. It shouldn’t be
her favourite one, though, because
there’s no guarantee it will come
home in one piece. Other favourite
choices include a family picture, a
special doll, or a favourite blanket.
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W
hen it’s time to go, make sure to
say good-bye to your child. Never
sneak out. As tempting as it may
be, leaving without saying goodbye to your child risks her trust in
you.
O
nce you say good-bye, leave
promptly. A long farewell scene
might only serve to reinforce a
child’s sense that preschool is a bad
place.
E
xpress your ease with leaving.
Some parents wave from outside the
classroom window or make a funny
good-bye face.
D
on’t linger. The longer you stay,
the harder it is. Let your child know
that you’ll be there to pick her up,
and say “See you later!” once she’s
gotten involved in an activity.
C
reate your own ritual. One of the
moms in Louise Venter’s class, in
Cape Town, says goodbye to her
son the same way every day: She
kisses him on the lips and gives him
a butterfly kiss (her eyelashes on his
cheek), and then they rub noses and
hug. When the embrace is over,
he knows it’s time for her to go to
work.
L
earn the other kids’ names. When
you can call your child’s classmates
by name (“Look, Matthew, there is a
space at the train table with Eli and
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Reintroduce the teacher to your child and Allow them to form an initial relationship
Katie”), it makes school seem much
more familiar and safe.
Security Alert:
Bringing Comfort
Objects from Home
Being away from home for the first
time isn’t easy, so send your child off
with a discreet little memento to help
him handle it better.
L
eave the lovey at home: Get a
T-shirt made with a picture of her
Woof or Teddy
A
pic is worth a thousand words:
Tuck one away inside his cubby
or hang a photo key chain on his
backpack zipper.
L
unch-box love notes are a great
way to let your child know you’re
thinking of her while she’s at school.
L
ittle kid toys: He might not be
allowed to take his favourite car
into the classroom, but he can keep
it safely in his backpack.
B
lanket statement: Cut a tiny piece
off her blankie that she can keep
in her pocket and touch when she
needs a pick-me-up.
T
ime will tell: His own digital watch
will make him feel like a big boy,
and he can look at it every so often
to rem