Help with Kindergarten drop off

bundlesofjoy

Hi Ladies,  I have a 5 year old that is past the cut off so he is in prek this year.  He's been in care since he was 1 year old and we have battled with drop off since the beginning.  I've read the best thing to do is, go in put his stuff away, assure him you'll be back, and go as quickly as possible.  He cries and struggles for 1 minute, says goodbye at the window crying with the teacher and then he's off and playing.   We've been doing this for four years and it only gets better every once in a while.

 

We are registering for kindergarten and it dawned on me that there won't be a teacher that can "help" with transition since she'll have 20+ kids to deal with all at the same time.  How do schools deal with kids that struggle with drop off?  What can I be doing to help him prepare now so we don't have this problem?

 

We've tried rewards and sticker charts but in the moment of his anxiety, he just doesn't care about those things.  

 

HELP!

 

TIA

TheBub

I have no advice, but just wanted to say that this was me as a kid. Now looking back, I realize that I had a lot of anxiety as a kid. It has gotten much better as an adult.

BeachBum73

Maybe talk to the Principal/teacher (when you know who it is) and see what they can do.  I'm sure your son is not the first one to have problems with it. 

I used to cry at drop offs and one time held on to the car door.  My Mom had to pull me off and I was still upset when I got in the room. I had an awful teacher who didn't have a compassionate bone in her body.  It was hard and I still remember those bad memories to this day so I think talking to someone at the school might be best. 

Even though the teacher has all those kids to deal with, some kids are OK so she can take the time to reassure the ones who aren't.  Another idea - have a Kindergarten buddy?