Many children will suffer extreme separation anxiety when they are put in a strange environment with strange people on their first day of class. Read here!
What can you as a parent do to make the first day of kindergarten a positive experience for your child? This article will provide you with some tips.
Consider Preschool
Consider enrolling your child in preschool if they have a few years before kindergarten. Children of toddler age tend to be more open to new experiences than older ones. Being separated from you for just a few hours each day will make the transition to kindergarten much easier for them. It will not only prepare them to be separated from you for a few hours a day, but it will also teach them other skills that will benefit them in their first year of school.
Enjoy Many Play Dates
If you are not able to enroll your child in a preschool or you do not want to, then you should make sure that your child spends lots of time with other kids their age away from home. Set up play dates with other parents in your area who have children the same age. You can then take turns in watching your children once they are familiar with each other. Your child will not only become accustomed to playing with other children, but also to being away.
Visit the School
Your child’s kindergarten will probably have a “back-to-school night” before school starts. You and your child can meet the new teacher and visit their classroom. Do not miss this chance! Your child should have the opportunity to get to know the teacher and the environment they will be entering. Your child can also meet other students in the class and possibly make some new friends. It will be easier to walk into a classroom full of familiar faces on the first day of school than a classroom full of strangers.
Exude Excitement
You are a big influence on your child’s emotional state. Your child will also become anxious or upset if you are anxious about the first day of kindergarten. Do everything you can, even if you’re experiencing some separation anxiety yourself, to make your child excited about their first day of school.
It is important to do this in advance as well as the day of. Talk about the excitement your child will feel when they pick out their school supplies and what they can expect on their first day. You should only show your excitement and happiness when you drop off your child. After the doors have closed behind your child, you can still have an emotional moment.
It can be an exciting experience for both of you to prepare your child for Anaheim kindergarten. Take the steps above to ensure that your child’s first day at school is a pleasant experience.