How Do You Handle Anxiety in New Kinders? 1st Day Activities

There are always one or two…

Kids who have separation anxiety can have a stressful first day of school, so teachers need to do as much as possible to help the transition be a smooth one. What do I do? Here are five things I do every year:

1. Greet the student with a smile!

If a child comes to school the first day acting shy or upset, it is a normal condition of many kinders. Get down on your knees and view the surroundings from their vantage point. The door, the room, the teacher…everything they see is huge in comparison to their home environment. It can be intimidating. Try to lead them to a cozy area to sit and unpack their backpack. I usually have their supply tubs with names strewn about the room for them to find and begin to load after they return from breakfast. This activity serves two purposes: First, it helps them focus on something other than how upset they are, and Secondly, they are helping you organize supplies! For many students, this helps immediately.

2. Have a variety of tech open and ready to interact with on tables or on the floor in zones around the room.

Students at this age are easily redirected by tech, so why not use it on the first day to help them acclimate? I am talking about arrival time. Apps like Moose Math are fun and a way to learn while being a “good kind of distracted”.

3. Work with the parent to say goodbye.

When a child is clingy, and they are not wanting to let go, I try statements like:

“Can you help mom/dad find your spot in the room. Ask them to help you unload your backpack.”

When the child is settled, the parent can quietly slip out. Sometimes not saying a “last goodbye” is the best way to handle an anxious child. Over the years I have observed most children begin to play and interact after only five minutes, once the parent has left.

There is the rare occurrence where parents have to insist on the child letting go to take the teacher’s hand while they deliberately make an exit. The child may cry for a while, but eventually settle and join in with the class.

Something that helps the transition tremendously is the telling the child you will send photos and call to let their mom/dad know they are doing fine.

The very last word you should have with parents and students as the parent leaves is:

“I will love _____as if they are my own child. I promise to take good care of him/her until he/she sees you after school.” This gives the child a promise of seeing mom or dad again at the end of the school day.

4: My GO-TO parent communication tool is the @Seesaw app!

With Seesaw, I can immediately begin posting activity on the first day to help parents know their child is happy and participating. In order to do this, I email parents before school begins and get them connected. It is the best tool for alleviating worries on both sides! If you have not tried Seesaw, it’s free! Just go to http://web.seesaw.me and get your free account!

5: Put music and movement in your very first 15 minutes the very first day!

I use Harry Kindergarten, Rockin’ Dan, Debbie Clement, Heidi Songs, Dr.Jean, Jack Hartmann and many others to help get kids minds off of separating from parents. Even the most backward child usually observes, then tries the hand and foot movements from his/her safe area…eventually joining the group. You can search all of these music personalities on Youtube!

The most important part of that first day should be reading, sharing good first day books, and reading/coloring a take home book to read with parents.

I have two of these books on SALE NOW during the TpT Back to School Sale August 1-2!

Students need to know they can have fun and will have fun again tomorrow…so I created this cute little book to promote positivity the first day: (click the pic to go to TpT)