Help, please, from parents with kids in school

[zsazsa101]

B just had a long crying fit because she doesn't want to leave her pre-kindergarten teacher Miss Ellen. She loves Miss Ellen. Adores her. And the idea of getting a new teacher for kindergarten is making her inconsolable. I'm totally out of my element here. When I was little, I remember being bereft at the end of every school year because I didn't

Comments

[aome]

Around here, kids about to enter kindergarten get an orientation, where they get to visit the school, meet the teachers, etc, before school starts. Do they do that for you? And even if they do, could you perhaps arrange for an individual visit now, so you can demystify the whole thing, show her around, let her see the cool new classrooms and playground equipment, and make it something to look forward to?

[zsazsa101]

They are having an orientation, but it won't be until August. I'm hesitant on bringing her to meet the teacher because we will very likely be moving before the school term starts, so I don't want her to meet a teacher and then say, "Whoopsie ... remember that teacher you liked? Well, she's not going to be your teacher now." This whole thing is very frustrating, but I think when we do settle, going to the school will be one of the very first excursions we go on :)

[avidbeader]

Yeah, kind of what aome said. We went through this somewhat with Little Bead when he changed rooms at his daycare. We went through a lot of angst until he got to know his new teachers and room and realized that he could go say hello to his old teachers when arriving or leaving. In your case, is it likely or possible that you all will run into Miss Ellen outside of the school? Shopping or at church or the like? That way B could visit a little with her.

Beyond that, explaining that school means almost always having a new teacher each year, with new things to teach her and new books to read and new ways of having fun. And hopefully the orientation process will get her excited.

[zsazsa101]

Unfortunately, we won't be running into Miss Ellen anywhere unless it's by chance because of where we each live. I did ask Miss Ellen today if she knew of any articles or books she could give me to help with the transition. And I'll try explaining to her again all the things you mentioned at a time when she isn't screaming and crying and in the pits of despair. This thing kind of crept up on me and now I'm trying to play catch up in terms of preparing her for it.

Thanks!

[heart_of_wine]

I wish I had some good advice, but I'm in the same boat. Emma hasn't yet started getting upset about leaving her pre-school, and maybe she won't, but I'm bracing myself for the crying that might come at her graduation ceremony. She's already said that she's going to miss her friends, but I've tried to reassure her that there will be play groups, birthday parties, etc.

I think part of it is from the big deal of moving to Kindergarten. There are so many unknowns. We've been focusing on how many more things she'll be allowed to do when she gets to Kindergarten (like earn an allowance for doing chores, for example), and that seems to have distracted her from being dramatic (she has a flair for the drama, which is both a blessing and a curse).

Hugs,
Elia

[zsazsa101]

We've been focusing on how many more things she'll be allowed to do when she gets to Kindergarten

I hadn't thought of things like that. That's something more tangible than just "new friends" and "learning new things." I'll try and think os something tangible like that. That's excellent advice, Elia, thank you :)

BTW, like the new name and the cool icon that accompanies it :) I may need a glass or two of that after B's first day of kindergarten. I can't believe her academic career will be starting in a few months! Good luck with Emma. With our girls' flair for drama, we should enroll them in a theatre club.