Advice on starting preschool?

Re: Advice on starting preschool?

• MrsJOSEnADRI

  June 2010

  I've worked with pre-K and Kinder students, but not as young as 2 so IDK if this advice will apply.  I find that the best thing to do is just not make a big fuss about it during the drop-off time.  It's best to drop them off and go, even if they're still crying.  They usually stop crying right away.  In my experience, the ones that cried the most and had a more difficult time adjusting were the ones whose parents kept lingering, i.e. coming in and out of the classroom with different treats, looking through the window, coming in early to pick them up, etc. 

  Is there someone else in the class that he's befriended or that he knows that he can sit next to during drop off?  Is there an activity that you can get him started with, like putting away his things, coloring, playing, etc., and while he's distracted you can leave?  The most difficult part will be that it's only 2 days a week b/c it will break up the morning routine.  I had kids that cried the first few Mondays, but during the week they were better b/c they were used to the routine.  Then, the weekend would come and they would need to readjust all over again. 

  A few other things to consider... how is the class size/ratio?  Is there a teacher or TA that can kind of take over and entertain him when you come in with him so that his morning transition is easier?  Are there a lot of students or other physical things in the class/school that may be overwhelming for him?

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• MrsJOSEnADRI

  June 2010

  One more thing, don't make any promises about coming in to have lunch with them or to pick them up early, etc.  They will ask all day about it and they will be waiting for that.  Even when you think they are having the time of their life with the other kids, they won't forget what mommy promised!  It also won't help them set the routine that they have to stay there until a particular time. 

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• MelanieJH1016

  June 2010

  Keep the drop off time very quick. A kiss and a hug, I love you, and leave. You'd be surprised how quickly they actually calm down once you leave the room. Zoe was really good with it in the beginning, but once in a while she gets upset and doesn't want me to leave, but if I keep it quick, I can peek in the window and see that she's really fine in about 10 seconds, as soon as she's distracted with a toy or a hug from a friend :-)

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• rach312

  June 2010

  We still have mornings that don't go well and she's been there all year.  She calms down quickly after I leave.  Try and come up with a routine goodbye so he knows what to expect - but as pps said - keep it short.  The longer you take to say goodbye the harder it is.  It will get easier.  It hurts a lot less now knowing how much fun she's having.  Most days she is running around having a great time when I pick her up. 
  

  

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• melly&jimmy

  June 2010

  Yeah..keep the drop off short, sweet, and consistent.   For instance, with Chelsea, we drop off blanket and clothes in her cubby then we wash hands, then hugs and kisses, I sign the log and I'm out the door.  I've seen new kids cry in hysterics the first couple of days but they get over it by the end of the week.  I know it's heartbreaking to hear your LO cry but the teachers go through this all of the time -- let them do their thing.Other than that, don't make a big deal about it.  Don't linger b/c it will only make it worse.

  

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• Snshine

  June 2010

  It can (and usually does) take two weeks for them to get the hang of the routine.  I've always been told that only one parent should drop off at a time, that saying bye to both can be confusing and traumatic.  Keep it short.  Tell them it's ok to be sad and you will miss him too but you will see him later and you love him.  That's what Noah's preschool told us to do.  Some days are harder than others.  He will love it, he just needs to get acclimated.

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• KT&BG

  June 2010

  Thanks everyone!

  He says that he enjoyed it, so I'm hoping that he'll adjust pretty quickly.  He's usually a very resilient little soul, which I think is part of why I was so surprised when he freaked out as soon as we entered the classroom before he even knew that we were leaving.  I tried to leave as quickly as possible, and now that I know where his stuff goes and what the sign-in process is I'm sure that I can be even quicker next time.  The teacher is also great - she took him and was trying to distract him with toys as we were leaving.

  Thanks for the ideas for a goodbye routine - routines are always best for everything

  I also hadn't even thought about having only one of us drop him off this morning!  DH said that he would come too so we could both meet the teacher and learn where his class was, etc but it's a very good point.
  

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• princess370

  June 2010

  FYI:

  Something I did to ease the transistion and the teacher commented that it helped. I gave my son a small key chain photo we had of me and my dh (i.e. from a restaurant) and attached it to his belt loop and told him if he was scared or missed mommy he cold look at it during the day and I would be there with him. It was our little special photo. He loved it and she said during the day he would look at it and kiss it. I stopped putting it on his pants after about 4 visits...i thinked it worked!!! HTH

  Nicole MOM 2 MARIO & NICOLAS

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