We have all seen it. It's early in the school year and the 3 year old has never been anywhere besides with mom and dad. He or she is dropped off and might be fine for a day or two, but then realizes this is going to happen frequently. That's when the tears come.
We, as teachers, must recognize how hard this is for a child. There are a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of questions the child cannot formulate on his own.
"Why did mom leave me here?"
"Will she forget me?"
"How do I know she is thinking about me?"
If you have a 3 year old that can articulate that while crying, I will be very impressed.
So how do we get around this? What do we do?
There is a fantastic book by Audrey Penn called "The Kissing Hand." I tell parents to get this book. It works wonders for most students that are scared. I highly suggest you have a copy of your own and in your classroom.
Even if you're homeschooling, it's a fantastic story to read to your children.
Here's amazon's synopsis of it:
Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away. Audrey Penn's The Kissing Hand, published by the Child Welfare League of America, is just the right book for any child taking that fledgling plunge into preschool--or for any youngster who is temporarily separated from home or loved ones. The rough but endearing raccoon illustrations are as satisfying and soothing for anxious children as the simple story.
It has 5 stars off 103 customer reviews. The book used to come with stickers you could put in the hand as well. I am not sure if it still does, but that is something else you may recommend if it does not.
Here's a direct link to the book. I hope you at least look at it and read the reviews. It has saved me a LOT of hassles:
http://astore.amazon.com/monteblog-20/detail/1933718005/105-1674808-0433226
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Hello Matt! I've just stumbled onto your blog. I've found that the best way to avoid the scenario you described above is through prevention! Before a child begins school with us, we schedule a school visit where the child comes with the parents and we walk around the classroom, work with one or two things and chat. Then a home visit, where the teacher visits the child at his home and basically "hangs out" with the child for a little while. And a few days before school starts, we mail a letter to the child telling them we are so excited that they will be coming to the school soon. All of this is basically to establish a foundation of trust between the child, the parents (they love this!), and the teacher. It has prevented many a tear from a new 3 year old at our school. However, sometimes the separation anxiety is inevitable and your post is right on the money. Thanks!
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