Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 12:47     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.


That's what I try to do, I try to leave quickly but her dad doesn't have the heart to so he stays and tries to calm her down which I think makes it worse as she still cries when he leaves. I talked to her last night and this morning about it, but she still didn't want to stay once we got in school. I guess what I don't understand is if this is normal behavior for a child who used to go to preschool without any issues. Albeit, she didn't go to preschool this summer as she was traveling but still, it seems like she had a lot of anxiety about starting K and kept saying she didn't want to go or wanted me to stay in the classroom with her.


i think it is normal. As I said above my son still gets anxious when we have a new babysitter. He cried when we left him with a sitter last week and she has watched him before, it has just been a few months. We were shocked he was fine going to school today, but who knows sometimes it hits on day 2.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 12:38     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.


That's what I try to do, I try to leave quickly but her dad doesn't have the heart to so he stays and tries to calm her down which I think makes it worse as she still cries when he leaves. I talked to her last night and this morning about it, but she still didn't want to stay once we got in school. I guess what I don't understand is if this is normal behavior for a child who used to go to preschool without any issues. Albeit, she didn't go to preschool this summer as she was traveling but still, it seems like she had a lot of anxiety about starting K and kept saying she didn't want to go or wanted me to stay in the classroom with her.


I agree with the PP, say goodbye and leave. My ds in 2nd grade now, was like this and is still like this sometimes in new situations (it happened at a camp this past summer). I give a firm hug and tell him he's going to be okay and that I'll see him in the afternoon. Then I leave.

He might be upset for a few more minutes, but the teachers will know how to handle it and help your child transition into the new routines.

Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 12:28     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Anonymous wrote:well, first one mom screamed at me at daycare in the parking lot, for parking the way EVERYONE parks who takes their kid there (we've been there for about 6 years now). then someone tailgated me after i dropped off my second kid at school. fortunately, a cop picked him up after he floored it past me (i was going about 3-4 mi above the speed limit).

then my breakfast meeting cancelled on me. AFTER i arrived.

can i start over?


PP here... i forgot to add - my school-aged child woke me at 4:45 a.m. that she couldn't sleep. i tell her to go back to sleep. she thought i said to read. so, yes, all three of us were up at 4:45. and none of us went back to sleep. sigh.

that daycare woman really crapped on my whole day. she was clearly new to the school. but what a total bitch.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 12:26     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
well, first one mom screamed at me at daycare in the parking lot, for parking the way EVERYONE parks who takes their kid there (we've been there for about 6 years now). then someone tailgated me after i dropped off my second kid at school. fortunately, a cop picked him up after he floored it past me (i was going about 3-4 mi above the speed limit).

then my breakfast meeting cancelled on me. AFTER i arrived.

can i start over?
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 12:22     Subject: Re:How did the first morning of school go today?
My kindergartener has been waiting for this day for so long. She had trouble sleeping last night and woke up early today. She could not wait to get to her classroom. Super excited! No issues leaving her. I even surprised myself by not crying. I volunteered for lunch today and it was really busy helping all the kiddos get their stuff open. Saw so many of the kindergarteners struggling with their juice pouches. Some were too shy to raise their hands and just sat there until somebody noticed. Same for the kids in the lunch line. Many forget to get forks and spoons and although the lines weren't that long they were very slow moving.
Muslima
Post 09/02/2014 11:49     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.


That's what I try to do, I try to leave quickly but her dad doesn't have the heart to so he stays and tries to calm her down which I think makes it worse as she still cries when he leaves. I talked to her last night and this morning about it, but she still didn't want to stay once we got in school. I guess what I don't understand is if this is normal behavior for a child who used to go to preschool without any issues. Albeit, she didn't go to preschool this summer as she was traveling but still, it seems like she had a lot of anxiety about starting K and kept saying she didn't want to go or wanted me to stay in the classroom with her.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:46     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
FCPS parent here. First day - so far, so good. K student, very happy, no crying, got ticked off that I even showed up at school to take a picture
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:29     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Muslima wrote:My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?


drop them off quickly, say good bye and don't linger. they are usually fine within 5 min of you leaving. the longer you stick around the worse it is for everyone. You can try explaining that it is ok to be nervous and that everyone is nervous when they go to a new place. I do sympathize thought. It is so hard to leave them when they are like that. We went through this when my son entered pre-school and even at 5 he still gets this way when we leave him with a new sitter. He was fine at k drop off today, fingers crossed he has a good day.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:27     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
The real resistance from the kindergarten group usually comes toward the end of this week or beginning of next. Those who thought it was a great adventure on Day #1, realize that it's going to be like this EVERY DAY by the end of the week and sometimes they break down. It's not that they can't handle it... it's just that they are surprised to find out that this is the drill EVERY DAY.

It may get worse before it gets better for the younger ones, even if today was smooth. But, kids are resilient and they will adapt just like the millions of kids who came before them.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:22     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Anonymous wrote:Great commute! First high schooler to arrive. DC is in good spirits and all summer homework done. Fingers crossed!


Ha! I think summer homework done.... last night. (Though reading done earlier.)
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:20     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was your child happy? Tearful? How were mom/dad?

We are 45 minutes away from leaving for the bus and kiddo is very excited but also a little anxious.


2nd grader, notorious late sleeper, got himself up at 6:30 and was dressed and had eaten breakfast by 7:00. (Bus is at 8:30). Guess he's excited!


Sweet!
Muslima
Post 09/02/2014 11:19     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
My child was screaming and kicking today for her 1st day of K. She really didn't want to stay. She's been in daycare and pre-school since she was 2 so I'm not sure why she developed this new separation anxiety but the teachers had to physically hold her in the classroom as she was trying to escape. Any tips from parents who've experienced this before?
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:18     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Anonymous wrote:DD cried bc she couldnt find her classroom! In K. Why was no one there to help the little kids find their classrooms? I wasn't able to walk her in.


I was able to walk DD in. BUT 2 of her preschool classmates were being escorted from the bus by an patrol kid and when asked they had no idea where they were supposed to go. I was able to send them to the right classroom after the patrol kid tried to leave them at the wrong class room. Teachers' names are very similar.

DD gave me the "WTH?" face when I teared up, kissing her goodbye. She was already busy at her desk coloring. It was a non-event.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:14     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
First morning off to kindergarten went surprisingly well. I was worried because my son was having some anxiety about it last night, but he was fine this morning. Or course, I can't stop thinking about him and can't wait to pick him up and hear about his day.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2014 11:09     Subject: How did the first morning of school go today?
Great commute! First high schooler to arrive. DC is in good spirits and all summer homework done. Fingers crossed!