Why Getting Dropped Off to School Is Difficult for Children
While adults recognize the importance and concept of preschool, your little one might not understand what’s happening at first. Many children might not be open to being left at preschool without their parents and feel extreme separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is a common emotional response when children feel distressed when being left on their own without their primary caregivers. Preschool can trigger the fear of the unknown by introducing an unfamiliar environment with new faces, routines, and activities.
Children ready for preschool are still developing their emotional regulation skills, which makes it hard for them to cope with feelings of anxiety or sadness. This can manifest in refusal to attend, tantrums, and difficulty getting them to comply.
6 Tips to Make Preschool Drop-Off Easier
Preschool drop-offs can be a difficult experience for both parents and children to get used to. So, you can use some easy strategies so your child can positively associate with going to school and look forward to it. Here are some things you can do to make preschool drop-off easier.
Talk About It
Children struggle with preschool because they don’t know what to expect. Instead of letting them go uninformed, have an open and thorough conversation about what they can expect. Include where you will go, who will greet them, and what activities they might do.
Create a Positive Atmosphere
Spend some quality time together in the morning before heading to preschool. Start the day with a fulfilling breakfast together; a fun activity on the way, such as singing songs or playing car games, can help your child feel secure before facing the day ahead. Additionally, it might make them less resistant to going the following day.
Create a Goodbye Ritual
Developing a special goodbye routine can provide comfort and predictability. A unique handshake, a silly dance, or just a heartfelt hug can make your child feel more comfortable starting their school day when you leave.
Be Confident
Children can catch onto the feelings of their caregivers and may feel anxious if parents are stressed or unsure. A confident and positive attitude can help your child feel more brave and excited about their preschool day.
Make it Quick
The longer the parent lingers when the child is upset, the harder it is for the child to transition out of the upset. Here’s where your goodbye ritual can really come in handy—for both of you. You’ll have a pre-agreed outline of what to do, and your child will (ideally) understand when it’s over, it’s time for you to leave..
Practice Consistency
Staying consistent with your drop-off routine can help your children feel more secure. Try to stick to the same time and routine each day; this can provide predictability, help your child know what to expect, and gradually decrease anxiety.
Important Things to Remember
Show compassion for your children who fuss at drop-off — saying goodbye to their “home base” is painful for them. It’s a life skill they must learn, but acknowledge that it’s a hard one. Have no expectation that this should be easy for them or you. If it’s not, it’s not. It can be a great opportunity for you to teach them different ways to master this important skill. Put some time and effort into switching up the pattern and you could save yourself and your child a lot of drama and heartache in the long run.