| Where did the summer go? I will bet all of you | | | | bars and a piece of fruit or a bowl of cereal in the |
| are wondering the same thing. It is time for back | | | | morning. |
| to school and daycare if your children have been | | | | 4. Help them to be a good friend. Most children |
| cared for by summer help. This feeling of | | | | are fearful that others won't like them or choose |
| newness will last for a few weeks, so be | | | | to play with them. Your job as a caring adult is to |
| prepared for some resistance to a new schedule | | | | help them to be the kind of friend others will |
| or transition to a different environment. Day care | | | | want to be with. As they learn to be kind, helpful, |
| and pre-school jitters are pretty common.Let's | | | | loyal and fun to be around, other children will be |
| see if we can find some tips to make transition | | | | drawn to them naturally. |
| time easier on children, parents, teachers and day | | | | 5. Model enthusiasm and a love for learning. Help |
| care providers. | | | | your child to know that you and the whole family |
| | | | will be excited to share what he/she has learned |
| 1. Calm their first day jitters with encouraging | | | | that day. Set aside a special time to regroup |
| words and open discussion. Children are naturally | | | | (ideally at the dinner table) and share what each |
| nervous about new situations. The more calm you | | | | one of you has learned that is new. This will help |
| are when discussing upcoming experiences, the | | | | all members of the family be grateful for new |
| less nervous and upset he or she will be. Ask | | | | information and it will reinforce lessons and ideas. |
| them what questions or concerns they may have | | | | This is very important as we want our young |
| and then answer honestly and find out anything | | | | children to be eager to look for new and creative |
| you don't know. Typical questions may be what | | | | ways to solve problems. |
| time you will take them, where they will put their | | | | Transitions back to school, starting pre-school or |
| things, what they will have to eat, how and when | | | | day care can be tough on everyone including |
| they will get home etc. | | | | parents.We need to recognize that many |
| 2. Visit the day care or school ahead of time. | | | | emotions will be coming to the surface as we |
| Even if you can't attend a back to school night or | | | | adjust to a new schedule and routine. Be patient |
| event, be sure you visit with your child at the | | | | with yourself and your child and soon everyone |
| facility to ease anxiety. The more a child is familiar | | | | will know what to expect. |
| with the situation the less they will have to fear. | | | | As caring, loving adults we want to make the |
| Be very sure that while you teach them to be | | | | transition as easy as possible. Our job is to help |
| aware of their surroundings, that you also teach | | | | our kids to help themselves as they move |
| them to not be afraid. | | | | towards personal responsibility and education. We |
| 3. Let your child have some choice and voice in | | | | don't want to do everything for them, but we do |
| the decision making. No, I do not mean that he | | | | want to make it as easy as we can for them to |
| she may choose whether to go to school or | | | | succeed. |
| which school to attend. I mean that they be | | | | You are doing the most important job in the |
| offered a choice of a red backpack or a blue one. | | | | world and I salute you. |
| Perhaps you could ask if they would prefer cereal | | | | |