Leaving a child in preschool for the first time or where children are becoming increasingly anxious at attending is a stressful experience for parents, to help support famillies you can find out about
separation anxiety from NCT.org.uk and
attachment theory from Kings College London
The
transition page of USA's Penn State is also a good read
Mommy don't go
Ideas to help children say goodbye to parents & parents to children at drop off time in the morning- Have a 'see you soon' window that children can choose to wave from.
- Enable children's independance with their closing doors as parents leave.
- Plan ahead with resources that support a child's interest and can distract them from the immediate upset of a parent leaving.
- Suggest parents give children a kiss to hold in their hands until they return - the kissing hand storybook on amazon.co.uk where wanted switch the word story for secret.
Support parents with rhymes and printables
'Pick me up ..' or 'see you at ..' notes eg. clocks for collection and pass on a flag printables enable children to have an active role in saying goodbye to their parent carer by handing them a resource to take away.
A 'my parent / carer board' can contain photos of significant people that children can make reference to throughout their day.
Choosing a fun & nonsensical farewell ..
See you later alligator
In a while crocodile
Bye bye butterfly
In a bit tickity tick
Got to split lickety quick
Take care super bear
Better fly sunny sky
Catch you soon sticky spoon
Hoppity hop lollipop
A wave or hug ladybug?
I'll be back jumping jack
See you then feathered hen
Time to go honey glow
Time to sail captain snail
See you soon red balloon
Open the door dinosaur
Blow a kiss jellyfish
Time to shine smiley mine
In a shake rattle snake
Toodleoo kangaroo
Time to scoot little newt
Have a great day xx
leaving a child at preschool - ways to say goodbye
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