My 4 year old is due to start Kindy this year. She went to day care for a couple weeks last year and I pulled her out as she would start crying the night before saying she didn't want to go and she was being picked on. I now have anxiety about her starting but know she needs to in preparation for school next year. I have tried telling myself everything I would tell a parent (I am a qualified childcare worker) in the same situation but just can't get past it. I also have another child which I wish to start but only one day a week. How do I get over MY separation issues and anxiety about my daughter starting kindy and make this as easy as possible for her?
2 Replies
Start to get her really excited about kindy. Arts and crafts, friends, teachers the more excited she will be the more confident she will be. In kindy you always get the days they dont want to go but be strong and make them go. You can cry your eyes out on the way home aslong as shes at kindy. Once she starts to make friends it gets alot better because theu want to go to see their friends. Try and go to see her class on the day thr class lists are put out show her kindy class to her. Also be honest with the teachers they will know how to support you and your child through this transition. Lastly your not alone last yr when my second started kindy i sobbed all the way home.
Talk about the fun stuff! How exciting it will be etc. Make sure you don't let them see that you are nervous and anxious. Those feelings should be kept away from the children. It's ok to be nervous but the more you focus on those feelings the worse you will feel. Also focus on the exciting things you can do with the new changes. So when you start to feel the nerves rising go through the good stuff list in your mind.