As the preschool year starts we teachers spend a great deal of time thinking about our young students, letting parents know how their child’s day went, and generally letting parents know that their young children are doing well. Today’s blog is a shout out to the parents.
If you are sending your first child off to preschool, or a child you fear will have separation anxiety, it can be a tough time for you! Often starting school is harder on the parent than it is on the child. I always think about parental stress at this time of year, but I was reminded the other day when discussing how well a child’s first day went with the father who dropped him off and trusted me to care for him. The father said, in a joking manner, “You didn’t say you were proud of me for leaving.”
Of course I was and I know it wasn't easy! We often look back on these early parenting days and feel like it was not a big deal, but it is rough when you are going through it, often with very little sleep. You see you young child who depends on you for everything in tears and your lower brain kicks in and says, “Pick him up and take him home.” Meanwhile your frontal lobe says, “You knew this was coming, he is in good hands, you have to go now because you told him you would.”
Five minutes later your child is having fun with friends and you are still feeling anxious about their day and remembering how your child looked at you as you left. It does get easier and usually quite quickly as your child enjoys playing with friends at preschool, but knowing that doesn’t help you on those first few days, does it?
What does help? Knowing you have selected a preschool with staff that are well trained, friendly, and caring. Knowing you have placed you child in a safe situation (I recommend a licensed preschool, no system is perfect but I have personally seen situations where wonderful people start a little preschool and a child has a serious injury, because there are so many considerations when dealing with a group of children.)
If you are a follower of my blog you have read this last tip before, but make sure you have something planned to occupy your mind and keep you busy as your child starts school. It may be work, it may be a run, or it may be coffee with a friend. Do not allow yourself to sit and worry. Here's to a great start for a new school year!