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Separation Anxiety and Preschool – Easing the Transition
The first few weeks of preschool often bring mixed emotions for children and parents. Whilst your child is about to embark on an exciting new stage of life, they may experience some mild anxiety as they come to terms with their new environment and the fact you won’t be around during the day. It is important to remember that separation anxiety is natural, and at Valley Heights Preschool our educators do everything we can to help ease the transition and make your child as comfortable as possible. In time, your child will overcome their anxiety and view preschool as an enjoyable and safe place to play, learn and grow.
In this blog post, we’ll share some helpful tips for parents that will ease the transition process.
Develop a Routine
During the drive to preschool, you might like to talk about the exciting activities on offer and reinforce the fact that preschool is just like a home away from home. When you arrive, you can walk your child to the gate or the bag room, wish them a good day and kiss them goodbye. It is best not to linger too long, as this can increase anxiety within children.
Your child will soon grow used to the routine you establish together. Before you know it, they’ll be looking forward to each day of preschool as an opportunity to connect with their peers, have fun and learn exciting new things.
Bring a Comforting Object
Being away from home for the first time is naturally a daunting experience for children, but bringing a special object can help to make children more comfortable. Teddy bears are always popular, but you could also pack your child’s favourite blanket, book or perhaps a family photo. Being able to hold onto/see this object will remind them of home.
Schedule a Tour
One of the best ways to make your child feel more comfortable about starting preschool is to attend open days and scheduled tours. This is the perfect opportunity to walk the grounds, see what daily life looks like and meet the educators. Valley Heights Preschool always has a happy and uplifting vibe, and both you and your child will experience this during your visit. During a short tour of our facilities; key areas such as bag rooms, classrooms, play zones and more will be pointed out. Because your child is already familiar with the environment, their first day at preschool will be much more relaxed.
Pick Up Time
During the first few weeks of preschool, you should try to arrive on time. Arriving late may cause further stress and anxiety for your child. During the drive home, ask them about their day. You could ask about the activities they did, friends they talked to and whether there is anything worrying them. Checking in with your child and taking an active interest in their day-to-day experience will help to strengthen your bond and make the preschool experience even more rewarding.
Speak with Educators
We aim to nurture every child’s educational and emotional needs, and we’re more than happy to do whatever we can to make your child’s journey with us a positive one. Please don’t hesitate to speak with a member of staff if there is anything concerning you, or if any major events have occurred within the family. Establishing a strong relationship between parent, child and educators is beneficial for all.
Valley Heights Preschool – Enrolling Now
Separation anxiety is perfectly normal, and it is something that all children go through when transitioning from home to preschool. From experience, we can say that children soon find their place within our friendly learning community. We hope you found the above tips helpful, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family to our preschool soon.
To schedule a tour or register your interest for a place at Valley Heights Preschool Long Day Care Centre, please call +61 2 9826 0266 today, or visit the enrolment page on our website.