If you are preparing to send your child to pre-school and feel a bit anxious, your feelings are normal. Most parents feel a bit anxious when it is their first time sending their child to school. If this sounds familiar, there are several steps you can take that can ease the process on yourself and your child as well.
As a parent, you need to know that choosing a school for your child is not like buying a cameron cookware stainless steel stovetop smoker. When you feel that you have placed your child in a safe environment you can feel better leaving them there. Check out the school before you sign up. Talk to the teachers and learn about the curriculum.
Over a healthy breakfast (which is a must that is part of your weight loss plans) that will give him/her the energy they need to get through the day, make sure to praise him/her. Let them know they are a big boy/girl. You are proud of them for going to school and learning new things.
Let your child know what you will be doing while they are away. This will reassure them that you are not sending them away because you love them any less. Also talk in detail about the things they will be doing in pre-school. This will give them something to look forward too.
Let your child know when they will see you next. If you are picking them up from school or they are getting dropped off, let them know what will happen. Make sure you are honest because in order to decrease separation anxiety you have to build trust with your child. When they know what to expect, it will help lessen the anxiety.
As the parent, remember to choose a pre-school you trust. This will help lessen the separation anxiety on your end. When you know you are leaving your child in a safe environment you can deal with pre-school much better than if you are having doubts about the facility and the teachers.
Firmly say good bye to your child. Do not hang around or baby the child. This will only give mixed signals. Are you staying or are you going? You have to make this clear to the child, who is anxious enough and will clearly feel your anxiety as well.
Just like diets that work, sending your child off to pre-school is a state of mind. You have to prepare yourself first and then take action. Be firm and let your child know you will be waiting for him/her when they get home.
Tags: school, separation anxiety