The First Day of Kindergarten: How to Ease Separation Fear

Combine this experience with being placed in a new place, surrounded only by unfamiliar people, and you may find that many children suffer from separation anxiety during the first day of school.

What can you do, as a mother or father, to ease your child’s transition to kindergarten and make their first day an enjoyable experience? This article offers some useful tips.

Consider Preschool

Consider enrolling your toddler in preschool. The toddler age group is more receptive to learning new things than older children. So being away from you for several hours per day, at this young age, will be less stressful for them and prepare them for kindergarten. In addition to preparing them for being away from their parents during the school day, they will also gain valuable skills that can help them succeed in their first few years of education.

You Can Have Many Playdates

If your child is not in school or you cannot enroll them, ensure they have plenty of playtime with children their own age. This should be done away from the home. You can arrange regular playdates with parents who have kids of the same ages in your neighbourhood. You can start taking turns to watch your children as soon as they feel comfortable. In addition to allowing your child to get used to being apart from you, they’ll also learn how to play and socialize with their peers.

Visit the School

The kindergarten class of your child will most likely host a back to school evening before the school year begins. This is a great opportunity for you and your kid to visit the classroom, meet their new teacher, and get accustomed with each other. Do not miss out on the opportunity to meet your child’s new teacher. It’s important that your child has the opportunity to become familiar with their new environment and get to know their teacher. The other students of the class will also be present so your child can meet them and make new friends even before school begins. A room filled with familiar faces makes it easier for your child to make friends on their first day.

Exude Excitement

You set a good example for your child. If you’re anxious or upset over your child’s first day of school then they will be as well. You can still be excited for the first day even if your separation anxiety is a bit high.

This is something that should be done both in advance as it is on the actual day. Talk to your child about how excited they should be to pick out new school supplies. Also, talk to them about what to expect on the first day of class. Do not let them know that you are excited for your child to make this important step. You can always get emotional after the doors shut behind them.

You and your child can have a lot of fun preparing for Anaheim Kindergarten. By following the steps listed above, you can ensure that your child will have a positive first day.