1st day of Kindergarten - did you walk your child to class?

[Anonymous]

I know people pooh-pooh it here, but this is truly a huge milestone. If your school allows you to walk the kid to the classroom, I would do it. Both DH and I walked DS on the first day.

First day of 1st grade, I walked him to school (I know this because the people in the house next door had donut holes and coffee). Can't remember if I took him all the way to the classroom or if only K parents were allowed to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, just to the dropoff point designated by the school. No one was allowed to walk the kids "into the classroom." That would be chaos.

It's funny to me that half the schools in the country seem to have parents walk in, and it's not chaotic, and the other half are convinced that it would be chaos. I wonder what the difference is?

Having said that, I think the important thing is finding out how most kids are going to be arriving at school. I wouldn't walk my kid in against the school's wishes, but if most parents are walking in, but I wouldn't want my kid to be the one without parents where almost every other kid has one. Many schools have a tradition that involves parents, whether it's coffee and muffins for the K parents, or it's that they're allowed to walk them into the classroom on the first day, or they walk them to the line up on the playground or the gym. So, call and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope, just to the dropoff point designated by the school. No one was allowed to walk the kids "into the classroom." That would be chaos.

It's funny to me that half the schools in the country seem to have parents walk in, and it's not chaotic, and the other half are convinced that it would be chaos. I wonder what the difference is?

Having said that, I think the important thing is finding out how most kids are going to be arriving at school. I wouldn't walk my kid in against the school's wishes, but if most parents are walking in, but I wouldn't want my kid to be the one without parents where almost every other kid has one. Many schools have a tradition that involves parents, whether it's coffee and muffins for the K parents, or it's that they're allowed to walk them into the classroom on the first day, or they walk them to the line up on the playground or the gym. So, call and ask.

Yes, we've been to several elementary schools due to moving, and this has been my experience as well.
Many schools invite parents to walk students to the classroom or a line-up area, and almost all parents do this. Even those who do before-care typically.
First day of Kindergarten is a big dea. There are photos and it's a great time to meet other parents, and as the above PP mentioned there is sometimes coffee or muffins or whatever.

You won't regret participating! Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

At our DCPS almost every kid is walked to class until about 2nd grade. DH or I walked DD to her classroom until about midway through third (at her request). Small school, hovering parents. So is day it depends very much on the school culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember. I just asked my 15 yr old and she doesn't remember either. So it doesn't matter. Nobody will remember.

I'm worried about my Kindergartener's feelings/ability to adjust to a new situation NOW, not what we'll think about it 10 years from now.

She'll deal, whatever you do. It really doesn't matter. However she adjusts, she won't remember it. Whichever way you choose, she'll follow the hoard of other kids.

[Anonymous]

Of course. What kind of mom are you??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad you posted this OP, because this time next year I'll be sending my first to K. My DH would totally try to walk her in, sit next to her and linger as long as possible. Ha. So gotta cut those cords now.

My mom was an elementary school AP when I was in kindergarten (at a different school). So she missed every single first day of school for all of us. It never would have occurred to my dad to walk me inside haha. We're all fine, I promise!

And yet, here you are, searching for answers.

[Anonymous]

our school doesn't allow it -- not even the first day.

[Anonymous]

Our school very strongly encouraged us to do what we would be doing going forward. So I put each of my kids on the bus for the first day of K. I remember seeing tons of bus pictures on FB from other K parents, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school doesn’t allow parents to accompany children to their classrooms on the first day. We have to say goodbye outside and they assure kindergarten parents that their children will be fine. I really didn’t want to put my kindergartener on the bus on the first day and was going to drive her, but another parent with older kids made the comment that it’s best for children to follow their normal daily routine from the beginning because that first day or two, that’s when everyone is looking out for the little ones and showing them where to go and the kindergarteners are learning how pick up and drop off work. I think it’s probably best for you to get your dd settled in before care. You don’t want her to think that getting walked to the classroom is an option if it’s not after the first day.

Same with us! What we did was put DD on the bus, then drive to school separately and watch the kids line up at the playground and then march into the school building.
FWIW, my child wasn't in before care.

[Anonymous]

Lots of schools including mine don't allow this. Drop off is at the door even for pre-k. Check with your school office to see what they allow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your neighbors.

At our fcps elementary school, nearly all of the kids are walked into the building the first day of classes. This is not just for kindergartners, but up through 3rd or 4th grade.

Same here. I’m a teacher at another school and have never gone but DH usually tries to walk them in. It’s okay if you can’t. Some kids go to before care or take the bus. It seem like every child has a parent because so many parents are there taking photos. The truth is that many do their normal routine. The parents don’t actually come in but only walk them to the class door.

[Anonymous]

I dropped my kid off at before care and went to work. I didn't see the classroom until back to school night a week later. It was fine.
I did take pictures at the before care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school doesn’t allow parents to accompany children to their classrooms on the first day. We have to say goodbye outside and they assure kindergarten parents that their children will be fine. I really didn’t want to put my kindergartener on the bus on the first day and was going to drive her, but another parent with older kids made the comment that it’s best for children to follow their normal daily routine from the beginning because that first day or two, that’s when everyone is looking out for the little ones and showing them where to go and the kindergarteners are learning how pick up and drop off work. I think it’s probably best for you to get your dd settled in before care. You don’t want her to think that getting walked to the classroom is an option if it’s not after the first day.

Same with us! What we did was put DD on the bus, then drive to school separately and watch the kids line up at the playground and then march into the school building.
FWIW, my child wasn't in before care.

Are you my spouse, lol?! That’s exactly what we did and I thought we were the only ones.

[Anonymous]

FCPS- we were allowed to walk our kids to class on the first day. The teacher let us linger a few minutes but then we were on our way.