It is quite shattering for most parents to see their toddlers crying endlessly on the first day of preschool. Most parents find it difficult to detach themselves from their little ones as they desperately try to cling to their mother. The upsetting tears of toddlers make it difficult for the mothers’ to keep their emotions in check while their little ones strongly refuse to attend the first day of preschool. The circumstances are demoralizing for most parents. They realize that dealing with child’s separation anxiety is not easy.
At this moment, keeping patience and calmness would help parents to steer through the situation. Toddlers have to be handled with utmost love as they find the new environment scary. They would be crying, screaming and desperately trying to escape the school premises. All moms go through this heartbreaking time and they feel that this phase would last forever. But this is not true. You can help your child deal with awkwardness and apprehensions if you prepare your little one psychologically before joining preschool.
It is possible to make your child feel comfortable on the first day of preschool. All you need is to adopt some strategies to help your kid to cope with separation anxiety. Here are some tips:
1. Prepare your Child in Advance
Talk to your child daily about the new environment that he has to adjust. Try explaining to your toddler about the toys that he would get to play in the preschool, the new friends that he would make and some wonderful playful activities that your little one would get to play with the teachers.
2. Take your Child to the Preschool
Before your child joins preschool, take your child around the nursery for a visit. Show your kid the place and make your little one interact with the teachers. Explain your toddler the different fun activities that he would take part in. Make your child familiar with the new place and the surroundings so that it will be easier for your little one to cope with the new place.
3. Create a Habit
Preschoolers love regular schedules. Hug your child every time you drop him to school. You can kiss your little ones cheeks or kiss your toddlers palms, or caress your child’s hair. It would make your little one feel confident and happy about his preschool. A long farewell will only enhance insecurity in your child’s mind about the playschool. So leave the school as soon as you say goodbye to your little one.
4. Do not Show your Nervousness
Avoid showing your child your nervousness and uneasiness while dropping him to school. Your little one will probably sense that something is amiss and would probably start feeling uncomfortable while going to preschool and may begin crying. Try to smile and talk to your child about his new nursery and how enjoyable the new environment would be. Make your little one feel confident about his playschool. Reassure your child so that he doesn’t feel anxious before joining preschool.
5. Anxiety is Temporary
Even after a lot of preparation, your little one will be full of disquiet and fretfulness on the first day of preschool. You must remember that the separation anxiety is only temporary. Once your kid settles down in playschool all the painful sobbing and wailing would end. Preschool teachers are well trained to handle such situations. After a few days or weeks, you will find your little one happily playing with his friends and enjoying the new environment.
6. Late Pick-up Undesirable
You may be unaware of the time after you leave your ward to school. You might be preoccupied with some activities. Subsequently, you may not reach the school on time. Do not be late for picking up your little one from school. It can cause nervousness and angst in your child’s mind and you may find it tricky to drop your child to school the next time. Always be present in the school before time or on time.
7. Separation Anxiety Could Re-occur
Be careful when your little one misses the school either due to vacation or a sickness. The apprehension about going to preschool might happen again with your little one. The awkwardness is only temporary. All you have to do is to give ample confidence to your toddler. You can share wonderful memories of the school with your kid. Your little one will soon stop making all the fuss and happily join the preschool again.
8. Make Friends with Other Kids
After your child joins preschool, introduce him to other kids in the class. Encourage your child to make friends with them. You can call your kids classmates home or hang out to play in the garden for 15-20 minutes after school hours. This will help your little one to bond with other kids in the school. Your little one would be more than happy and relaxed when he goes to playschool as he would get to see all the known faces in his class.
9. Remembering Home
To initially comfort your child, try to draw a smiley face on his hand or a miniature painting of his favorite toy. Your little one would be more than happy and relaxed when he sees them as it would remind him of his home and the love of his mother. You can also give your little one his favorite toy like a small teddy bear so that the comforting toy can calm his nerves in an unknown environment.
10. Give Confidence
Address your child’s concerns. Speak to them for an hour after your child comes from school. Always assure your little one that you are there on time for pick-up so that your child doesn’t feel upset when you drop him to school the next day. Try to give ample confidence to your child.
11. Have Patience
Your child might take a few days or a few weeks to settle down. But do not panic. Your anxiety will only make your child more restless. Your little one has had till date learned the rules and routines of the family. So learning new rules and adapting to a new environment will take some time for the kid.
Remember that your toddler’s separation anxiety is only a passing phase. Sooner or later they will start enjoying the new playschool. Have complete faith in the teachers. Remain calm and soon you will find your little one loving his preschool. Your patience will help your toddler to overcome this natural awkward phase and before long your little one will start getting excited to go to preschool.
This phase when you child goes to the school for the first time is always a hard time for parents, especially mothers. Do let them know about the above mentioned tips so that they can benefit from this phase. If you have any other tips or tricks to ease your Child’s separation anxiety, then tell us in the comments below. We would love to know what you do to help your child come out of this phase in a positive way.
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