For the most part, you may have had more of a transition to cope with than your new student! However, it is important to remember that this really is a major step for your child and certain reactions are to be expected.

First, there is anxiety about separating from all that is familiar every day. This applies equally to children who have been in pre-school and to those not yet introduced to any regular program or day care.

Then there are new places, new faces and new rules to deal with.

On top of all those changes, comes the need to sit still, pay attention and learn!

No wonder there are tears when left at the school house door!

Here are some ideas on how to make this adjustment more easily done. Even though school has begun, even a weekend at home may create a reluctance to face Monday morning! And, after any holiday, return to school is also a major challenge.

• Talk to your child ahead of time about what is going to happen when school begins.
• Take a tour of the school and the route to and from school
• Make a clock or use one with large hands to show your child exactly what time school is over for the day and who will either pick them up or what bus they will ride home.
• If you, the parent are picking your child up, practice where and at what time; always plan to be there on time!
• Draw pictures of the school with your child’s classroom clearly marked or make a cardboard or building block model and let your child show you where she will be.
• Use crayons and paper a lot – this gives your child a way of expressing what is happening when all these changes are not easy to verbalize.
• If separation is hard, sometimes sitting in back of the room for a few minutes until your child has adjusted will be acceptable – as long as the teacher agrees!

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