Ways to ease school anxiety

 

Back to school time is filled with many emotions- excitement, anticipation, anxiety for both children and parents. Anxiety is the front runner in my house.  

 

 I am afraid of mentioning Kindergarten to Chloe in fear of the meltdown that follows. I was hopeful that the visit to her new classroom, meeting her new teacher and classmates would help some, but it didn't. Whenever we talk about returning, she cries and says she'll miss me.

 

  Chloe attended a three year old program. It was two days a week, two and a half hours per class. She was a little apprehensive leaving me at first, but to my surprise adjusted quickly. I made up a little song for her knowing how she liked them.

I always come back,
I always come back,
I always come back for you!

I never said it was a fantastic song! For being created on a whim, it worked! Every time I picked her up, she would sing "you always come back, you always come back, you always come back for me"!

The following year, Chloe attended Pre-K. This doubled in both days and hours. She went Monday- Thursday, 10am-2pm. She really liked it but complained of how long it felt to her from September all the way through June. I had trouble getting her there the last month. This came to a surprise to her teacher when I mentioned it. She was doing so well in school, never showing signs of anxiety.

She grew very attached to her Pre-K teacher and is having a hard time knowing she is not going to be her teacher again. To boot, not one student from her Pre-K class is in her Kindergarten class. On top of that, she will be in school for 2 hours longer than Pre-K. A lot of change for a little person.

My mom taught Kindergarten for 25 years and recommended some books to help ease her woes. My favorite is The Kissing Hand. When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him. Mrs. Raccoon teaches Chester that just because he is away from her doesn't mean that she cant be with him in other ways. She shows him the secret of the kissing hand so he doesn't feel lonely at school and knows his mother loves him. It comes with little heart stickers to place in your child's hand to remind them of how much you love them when they're away from home. So cute and Chloe loved the little stickers. She slept with one in the palm of her hand after reading it before bed.

We also read llama llama misses mama. I loved that this story went along with my little song of always coming back. Little llama wouldn't try anything new all day. He wouldnt play, read or eat with his classmates. He was so sad his mom left. When she returned to pick him up, he realized that she will always come back for him and that he does in fact like school.                                       
 
Reading has helped Chloe's anxieties some. We also went shopping for her supplies together- I read that this can help. I thought she would be apprehensive but she was excited to pick out her own lunch bag, backpack and folders...everything princess of course! This helped her realize that its not just talk- that it is in fact beginning soon. She didn't freak out- so I have that!

I also started getting back on a set schedule now- before school begins. Bed time gradually  returned to the 7:30 pm it was before Summer. This will help reduce Chloe's stress. Creating a daily routine has always been a huge part of our family life- it's what keeps me somewhat sane! I am going to create a morning checklist (will post!) to help our mornings run smoothly and organized. Daily things like brushing teeth, combing hair, getting dressed will be on the checklist. This will also allow Chloe to feel as though she is in control of her morning which will hopefully lead to less of us butting heads.

This is not easy! Knowing she is having anxiety is giving me anxiety!

Do you have any tips to help ease the transition from Summer to school? Please share!