by T3iffany

Created on: August 25, 2009   Last Updated: August 26, 2009

How to deal with preschool separation anxiety. The first day of school is hard on both the parents and the child. For a parent it can be hard to leave your child for the first time. It is a big step for the preschooler and parents see this as one of the first biggest steps of their little baby growing up. The parents can have just as much or even more seperation anxiety as the child.

Children normally have a hard time when their mom or dad drops them off for the first day. Children may cry, kick, scream and do all kinds of things because going to school and being left alone can become very scary for a child who is use to staying home with a parent or other babysitters.

To help deal with this anxiety explain and talk with the child for days before school starts to prepare them for what is going to happen. Explain to them that you will drop them off at school with the teachers and the other students and leave but that you will be back later to get them after school is over. Often times young children do not realize you will be back they think that you are leaving forever. You could also try taking them to the school before the actual first day. Show them the outside of the school including the play area. It may even be a good idea to get out and walk your child around part of the outside of the school.

To help show a child that you will for sure be back to get them once school gets out you could try giving the child something of your own to hold on to. This could be a watch or a purse or a braclet. Just something small that the child would know you would want and guarentees them you will return.

For the first day teachers usually do not mind if you stay with the child. This way the child can get use to the new surroundings but still have you there with them. Also try sitting in a chair in the back of the room where if the child gets scared all they have to do is look back and see you sitting there. Or try standing outside a window. And after a day or two they will stop looking to the window to see if u are there.

If anything you could try after other attempts to drop your child off and leave. Once you are gone the child may stop crying and start to play with the other kids. This can help them realize that school is a fun place. The teacher could always call you if the child is having to much of a difficult time with dealing with being left alone.

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