School time is just around the corner. We can already sense the excitement and the anxiety that our child feels as they would be in school again. But for most parents, the first day of school could be very stressful especially if their child is not accustomed to being away from them. Some children would even throw tantrums the moment they see their moms leaving or if they cannot find them anywhere in the room.
We understand such struggle among our children. On our child’s part, being away from their parents for a day is difficult, especially if they are very dependent on their mom and dad. In addition, seeing their parents could also make them feel safe and secured because they know someone in a strange place like the school. But at Montessori Children’s House, a trusted name in Early Childhood Education in Riverside, California, we want to promote independence among children at a young age. We encourage parents to train their kids to do things on their own and it starts at school.
Here are some tips on how you can help your child to cope with anxiety during the first day of school:
- Prepare everything the night before
The first day of school is stressful enough for our kids. The least we can do is to prepare all the things they need including the clothes they will wear, their books, and even their snacks. In this manner, if our children see us preparing these things for them, they get excited about school tomorrow. It adds up to the excitement replacing all scary thoughts they have in their mind.
Preparing everything ahead of time can also reduce our stress. We do not have to be frantic early morning the next day and we can still have time for our children and tend to their needs.
- Find some familiar faces
Perhaps during the vacation, you found out that your neighbor’s daughter is going to the school that your child does. Perhaps, your next door neighbor is your child’s favorite playmate and they are going to school together. If this is the case, then it can really ease the anxiety of your child a hundred times more.
Seeing someone familiar makes them feel at ease. They will not be afraid to go to school because they know someone. Moreover, having a friend is one way of teaching your child to socialize and be more comfortable hanging around with other people.
- Do not be too overprotective
One reason why kids have a hard time getting comfortable and being by themselves is that we shelter them too much. If we think that limiting their actions too much is unnecessary, we must just let it go. We must allow them to explore and enjoy any new learnings and experiences that they meet along the way.
At school, we do not have to stay too long after class starts. We keep our goodbyes sweet and short. If we tend to be too clingy, our child could feel it. They could interpret this that you are afraid or scared of something that might happen even if they are just perfectly fine.
As parents, it is important that we set boundaries for ourselves. If we want our child to grow as independent people, we must let them handle things on their own and act as a guide when we can sense that they might be doing something wrong.
The first day of school need not be a nightmare. As parents and as teachers, we can make such day into something memorable and fun for our child.
For queries about our programs and classes, you can check our Early Childhood Education in Riverside, California, the Montessori Children’s House. For details, you may call us at 951-359-5437.
