The Preschool Blues

We are going on week three for Ethan's first foray into the world of preschool.  As a work from home mom, I expected a little separation anxiety but not the full-blown torment that he has experienced.  What do you do when your child just can't seem to adjust to

Perhaps the most powerful tool you can use is talking to your child about school.  Every day we talk about how fun school is going to be this week, how he will get to play with his new friends and how he will have opportunities to sing and dance with other children just his age.  Providing a positive spin on preschool is important and very effective.  I also went to school on his first day and took pictures of his two teachers.  I then got enlargements of the pictures and put the pictures on the refridgerator at Ethan's level so he can see his teachers every single day.  By talking to him about school and pointing out his teachers in the pictures, he has become familiar and comfortable with the idea of school.

I found that getting to school a little early and checking out all the things posted in the hallways has helped ease him into the idea of being left "alone" for a little while.  He has become familiar with his surroundings and now greets the school frog in the aquarium on his way to his classroom.  To say "hello" and "goodbye" to the frog seems to give him a sense of autonomy. 

Finally, Ethan and I have found that we do best with a "goodbye, I love you and I'll be back soon" at the door of his class.  I have told him my intentions and have not slipped away.  As a result, he does not spend the next few hours looking for me to return.  He knows that when the door is opened again at the end of the day, I will be there waiting for him. 

We are not quite there yet.  He still cries a little when I drop him off but he does better every time we go.  And the separation is helping give him the confidence to enjoy things that he just might miss out on if he's too afraid to let go of mom.