MANAGING THE TEARS

First, be prepared for some tears. A child screaming, holding onto mom for dear life, refusing to even look at the classroom. Relax it is normal. Children this age thrive on familiarity, so when they are placed into a new situation, it’s common if they panic a little bit.
For Pre-school teachers they have process in place to deal with this situation. Follow it… in most cases they will encourage you to leave. It will probably be the hardest thing you’ll have to do, but it does work. Nine out of ten times, the child stops crying within five minutes of the parent leaving.
You will return to the classroom a few hour later to find your child, happy and content with work that he can’t wait to show you. If the Pre-school cannot get your child to calm down, the Administration will get in touch with you.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Saying goodbye to Mum, particularly if it’s the first day of school can be difficult for many pre-school children. The key is to make sure you are ready for your child to go to Pre-school. If you have any doubt or concerns your child is going to pick up on it immediately.
So on the big day, a bright smile on your face and stay positive. This will set a great tone for your child and make them realize that going to pre-school is something they can and should look forward to.

LEAVING IS THE HARDEST PART

There are some definite no no’s when it comes to saying goodbye that could make separating more difficult. Rule number one? Do not remove your child from the classroom. It makes it that much harder to bring him back in. Your child’s teacher will likely be right by your side offering help and assistance.
It might be tempting if your child becomes distracted by another activity. Your child needs to learn that school is a place he/she goes to without Mom and saying goodbye is part of the process.

Be consistent

Many mums may see their child have a bad first reaction and this is a difficult period for many parents as they may consider pulling their child out of the classroom. But that is a bad idea. “It denies the child an opportunity to learn how to work through negative feelings and sets a precedent of not having to face problems. Simply going together on a regular basis will provide your little one with a strong sense of anticipation. Keep your goodbyes short and sweet so that your child knows what to expect but does not prolong your departure. When you pick him up at the end of day, reinforce the idea that you came back, just like you said you would. This way, each day’s drop off won’t feel like you’re both starting teary and upsetting goodbyes all over again.