My LO is 4 and is going into her 2nd year of preschool in mid September, different school and new teachers. Every time we talk about it she is holding back tears saying she doesn't want to go. Last year she cried almost daily at drop off but was fine while she was there. Is there anything I can do to ease her anxiety? I don't want her to be so sad/upset about going to school.
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@Bao: We're kind of in the same place. Saying goodbye to "old" preschool and trying to get excited about a new one. LO is currently saying he is sad to be leaving, but seems moderately excited about his new one, but he's also clearly anxious about it--his behavior hasn't been quite the same, and he gets sad more easily.
The only thing I'm doing that I hope will get him excited is taking him out to find a new backpack, have a special lunch and a haircut, and get some "light up shoes" (he's been asking for them for months). I'm hoping if he gets there in an excited mood, that might carry him through.
I don't know. It's so tough.
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@Bao: she is probably old enough for some of those "grownups love you even when you are apart and they come back" things, like:
-there is a Daniel tiger episode about grown ups come back when he is worried about school
-the kissing hand book
-the invisible string bookThat would be good prep and then come up with a drop off routine that you can stick too. And rehearse! So, we do: drop off your lunch box, find your group, pick up hug, mama signs you in, faraway hug and kiss through the gate.
Maybe a little much but my 4.5 year old is going through a rough patch with separation. For there are things in the routine that you can borrow from old school that might help too. -
We are a year older, but I recently received really good advice from an occupational therapist. The recommendation was to not talk too much. Answer questions when asked, but don't try to prep the kid for everything. Generally kids love surprises so let them find them.
And the Kissing Hand has really resonated with her now. We kiss hands at drop off. She even kisses her little sister's hand too. It's sweet.
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Is there any opportunity to take DD in to visit the school, or get the class list early and arrange some playdates with other willing families?
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My son was this way too, I just let him get his emotions out about it. I tell him that I get nervous too sometimes, about going to new places and I think that helps normalize his feelings.
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@Jess1483: I like those ideas with the new sneakers and what not! Should be a good confidence boost. J has been going to the same preschool/daycare since she was 10m and she still often has issues at drop off (she did change rooms recently). Two things that I've found that help are a) giving her some kind of mission to accomplish when she arrives, such as giving her teacher a flower, or taking a stuffed animal to school and putting it in her cubbie, and b) sharing a secret word. We had a cheesy convo one day about how we loved each other more than anything, more than the word "love". We made up our own word to describe our feelings. She picked "pinkjet" - NO idea why... but anyway, when we hug goodbye, she whispers it and I whisper it back. She loves sharing that secret and it seems to help her with the drop off, for whatever reason.
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