CNG Primary School CCN: #1 - AUGUST 13, 2023

The First Weeks of School 

By: Paula Pérez 

The first weeks of school can be challenging for everyone. Children have been  hearing about coming into the “big school” for quite some time. They have been  creating lots of expectations and imagining thousands of things in their little  heads. Parents are also anxious; they have also created many expectations and  imagined thousands of things in their big heads.  

But when the first day arrives… many of the things we have imagined and  expected are different. For many children and parents school looks great,  exciting and fun but for some, things are not quite as they imagined and it gets  kind of scary. Don’t worry if this is your case, I promise things will get better (for  you and your child).  

What to expect in the first weeks of school (remember every child is different and  we can expect a wide range of behaviors which are absolutely normal).  Sometimes children who had a great first week of school tend to have trouble  the second or third. This is also normal. Nevertheless, if you feel there is something  wrong with your child please don’t hesitate to contact me. Here are some typical  behaviors in children. 

• Children entering the classroom or leaving home in the bus without even  saying good-bye to mom and dad. 

• Children having a hard time with good-byes and not wanting to stay by  themselves. 

• Children having tantrums in the morning, before coming to school or as  soon as they arrive. 

• Children saying the night before they don’t want to come to school.

• Children saying on the weekend “I want to go to school today”.  

•  Some children arrive home feeling very excited; telling parents about their  new friends, the first words they learned in English, and all the wonderful  things that happen throughout the day.  

• Some children prefer to have their own private setting at school and not to  tell parents much about school. This is perfectly normal. It is important to  respect your child’s decision and not pressure him or her with questions.  

• Some children have nightmares. This is also typical of this age and we have  to give them some time.  

TIPS FOR A GREAT START

• Establish a routine. Make sure that your child goes to bed at the same  time every night to ensure at least 10 hours of sleep. Follow the same  routine every morning to help your child children gain confidence about their day.
• Leave plenty of extra time. Make sure your child has plenty of time to get  up, eat breakfast, and get to school. 
• Breakfast is the most important time of the day. Make sure you wake up  on time for a sit down breakfast. 
• The most common challenge for most kids is saying goodbye to their  parents, or trouble separating from Mom and Dad. Often the child reads  their parent’s anxiety. Make sure you are only speaking in positive  terms about “going to school” and that you aren’t showing any of your  own nerves. I suggest a cute technique found in the book The Kissing  Hand. Plant a kiss on your child’s palm and it comforts him/her to know a  part of his/her parent is with him/her during the day. If you show them  your happiness and laughter, they will show you theirs.  
• Make good-bye short and sweet. Give a hug and kiss good-bye, and then  leave without lingering. The more confident you are about leaving your  child on the first days, the more comfortable the child will be in the new  school environment. Be assured, tears will quickly pass. Almost always,  tears stop once parents leave. If the teacher needs you, or feels your child  needs you, he or she will call you. 
• At the end of the day expect your child to be tired and maybe even  grumpy. After a healthy snack and some rest, begin to ask your  child specific questions about their day. “Tell me about a new  friend” or “tell me about the book your teacher read you” will give you  more detail than the general “how was your day?” question.  
• Clear your own schedule. To the extent possible, postpone business trips,  volunteer meetings, and extra projects. You want to be free to help your  child acclimate to the school routine and overcome the confusion or  anxiety that many children experience at the start of a new school year. 
• Let your children know you care. If your child is anxious about school, send  personal notes in the lunch box or book bag. Reinforce the ability to cope.  Children absorb their parent’s anxiety, so model optimism and confidence  for your child. Let your child know that it is natural to be a little nervous  anytime you start something new but that your child will be just fine once  he or she becomes familiar with classmates, the teacher, and school  routine. 
• Do not overreact. If the first few days are a little rough, try not to overreact. Young children in particular may experience separation anxiety or  shyness initially but teachers are trained to help them adjust. If you drop them off, try not to linger. Reassure them that you love them, will think of  them during the day, and will be back. 
• Reinforce your child’s ability to cope. Give your child a few strategies to  manage a difficult situation on his or her own. But encourage your child to  tell you or the teacher if the problem persists. Maintain open lines of  communication with the school. 
• Arrange playdates. Try to arrange get-togethers with some of your child’s  classmates during the first weeks of school to help your child re-establish  positive social relationships with peers. 

INTERESTING BOOKS TO READ WITH YOUR CHILD

• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn  
• Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate 
• Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis  
• Franklin Goes to School by Paulette Bourgeois  
• The Berenstain Bears Go to School by Jan and Stan Berenstain