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

[Anonymous]

I'm a working parent, DD will be in before and aftercare because our school's hours suck. I'm trying to decide - do I walk her in to her classroom and try to get her settled or drop her off at before care on the first day because that will be her usual routine? I'm leaning towards parking on the street and walking her in, but I also want to make sure she's comfortable with before care What did you do?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

You won't be allowed to walk you child to class.
When my children were in K, we were asked to pin an index card to their shirts that stated their name, bus, teacher etc. Hall monitors were everywhere directing them based on that card.
Not sure if that is still done but rest assured, everyone in the building will be making sure all the kindergarteners are being shown where to go for the first few weeks.

[Anonymous]

I dropped my kid off, but parents weren't permitted to enter the classrooms (there was an open house the Friday before school started where you could see the classroom, meet the teacher etc.)

[Anonymous]

You should do what all the other parents do.

I've been at schools where we couldn't walk-in. We had to say goodbye on the blacktop. Every parent was waving like crazy.

I've been at other schools where we COULD walk in. Virtually every parent did it. It would feel sad if a child had no one.

Day 2 you can do your normal routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't be allowed to walk you child to class.
When my children were in K, we were asked to pin an index card to their shirts that stated their name, bus, teacher etc. Hall monitors were everywhere directing them based on that card.
Not sure if that is still done but rest assured, everyone in the building will be making sure all the kindergarteners are being shown where to go for the first few weeks.

Depends on the school. Our school requires all K kids to be walked to the K classroom.

OP, I would follow the normal routine from day 1.

[Anonymous]

Our school allows it on the first day only, so I do it.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You won't be allowed to walk you child to class.
When my children were in K, we were asked to pin an index card to their shirts that stated their name, bus, teacher etc. Hall monitors were everywhere directing them based on that card.
Not sure if that is still done but rest assured, everyone in the building will be making sure all the kindergarteners are being shown where to go for the first few weeks.

Depends on the school. Our school requires all K kids to be walked to the K classroom.

OP, I would follow the normal routine from day 1.

No, do what is the school tradition, even if that is different from the normal routine.

[Anonymous]

Everybody walked kids in on the first day at our school, and there was no before care that day--it started the second day. But as illustrated by this thread, it clearly depends on the school.

OP, have you already met your child's teacher? If not, I would definitely walk her in. If there's already been an orientation or open house with the teacher, it's less critical and depends more on what will make your child most comfortable.

[Anonymous]

No, my kid took the bus. We aren't allowed to walk them to class.

The school does offer a breakfast for K parents that morning.

[Anonymous]

Our FCPS school lets parents walk their K-ers to class the first day, then has a coffee for the new K parents afterwards.

[Anonymous]

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!