Daughter is having difficulty adjusting to kindergarten...what's normal, and what's a red flag?

[Anonymous]

Good luck. I think most sleep experts think that some kids still need a nap at 5. Full day K is not for everyone. Wish there was more choices.

[Anonymous]

My DD is never happy at drop-off,

I taught K. Some kids will do this for months-but are fine once Mom is out of sight. Really.

[Anonymous]

We start the bedtime routine for our K son at 6:45. It's so early! But that allows him to be asleep by 7:30 or so, which means about 11 hours of sleep with his 6:45-7 am wake-up time. This whole week I've had to go in and actually wake him up.

When he doesn't get enough rest it's miserable for everyone. I keep telling myself that eventually we'll be able to push his bedtime back a bit later, but this is what we have to do for now.

I think the full day really takes a lot out of the kids. He also eats quite a bit when he gets home at 3, sometimes practically a full meal. I can understand it though....he eats lunch at 10:30. If he doesn't get some major food in him right after school he becomes a total mess by 4:30 or 5.

Good luck, OP. I think the rest and hunger situations are pretty challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for these helpful responses! Majorly appreciated. She is definitely exhausted, and I'm going to try to get some more protein in her diet. Thanks again.

I was going to suggest that you make sure she gets a protein snack at some point in the afternoon. I was like this as a child, and it turns out that I was hypoglycemic. The solution was peanut butter. I suggested this to a friend who was having the same issue with her child, and she said it was a miracle. Take a protein snack with you to pick up and make sure she eats it immediately. Then talk about school.

[Anonymous]

Also, remember this when the SLEEP people want elementary kids to go to school earlier.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We start the bedtime routine for our K son at 6:45. It's so early! But that allows him to be asleep by 7:30 or so, which means about 11 hours of sleep with his 6:45-7 am wake-up time. This whole week I've had to go in and actually wake him up.

When he doesn't get enough rest it's miserable for everyone. I keep telling myself that eventually we'll be able to push his bedtime back a bit later, but this is what we have to do for now.

I think the full day really takes a lot out of the kids. He also eats quite a bit when he gets home at 3, sometimes practically a full meal. I can understand it though....he eats lunch at 10:30. If he doesn't get some major food in him right after school he becomes a total mess by 4:30 or 5.

Good luck, OP. I think the rest and hunger situations are pretty challenging.

We do this also. Lights out in our 5 year old DD's room around 7:20 and she is usually sleeping by 7:30 and wakes up at 6:45. She does much better with an earlier bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DD is never happy at drop-off,

I taught K. Some kids will do this for months-but are fine once Mom is out of sight. Really.

I hope you're right, but I don't think this is the case for my daughter. Even her friends report to their parents that my daughter cries a lot at school.

[Anonymous]

Is your daughter one of the younger children in K?

[Anonymous]

I would suggest:

Earlier bedtime
Lots of downtime after school

Don't schedule any after school activities for her until at least the Spring.

Is she in soccer or some other after school activity? Is she in ext day?

It is a HUGE adjustment starting K. Kids have to focus and behave for 6 hours! That's tough on a 5 year old.

[Anonymous]

Some kids just don't love school. There's nothing you can do about it if it is really just her disposition. (This is separate from having friends, learning, doing well etc.)

Let her complain. Make sure she gets enough down time and enough sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for these helpful responses! Majorly appreciated. She is definitely exhausted, and I'm going to try to get some more protein in her diet. Thanks again.

I was going to suggest that you make sure she gets a protein snack at some point in the afternoon. I was like this as a child, and it turns out that I was hypoglycemic. The solution was peanut butter. I suggested this to a friend who was having the same issue with her child, and she said it was a miracle. Take a protein snack with you to pick up and make sure she eats it immediately. Then talk about school.

This is GREAT ADVICE!!!! If the school is peanut-free, go with cheese sticks.

If she is crying at school, you might want to inquire about what times they do eat and what the snacks are. Suggest substitutes. Also note if behavior is worse on treat days at the school (I really, really, really hated when there were snacks at school -- one cupcake could ruin a whole day for us).

[Anonymous]

A lot of this is very normal and my kids went through it.

Is she getting enough sleep?

[Anonymous]

OP again. These responses have been helpful in thinking about how to help my daughter, and also to put things in perspective. I appreciate it. We're working on sleep and diet, as many PPs suggested.

[Anonymous]

Taught K. Some kids suck thumbs, some kids act out, some kids cry. All of this is kind of normal. As long as she is participating, etc. she will be okay.