For adults, change is a part of everyday life that most people have learned how to handle. But for young children, change can be uncertain and scary. For children, enrolled in preschool saying goodbye to teachers, friends and the comfort of a lovable environment can be difficult.
Preschoolers' Reactions to Change
Like adults, children experience a range of emotions during change including anxiety, excitement, fear and sadness. Kids with different personalities will deal with these emotions in different ways. Typical reactions to the end of school include:
- Acting out: During periods of transition, some children will misbehave at home and school as a way to express anxiety or fear.
- Clinginess: It is common for preschoolers to stick to a parent, teacher or another child that he or she will be going to kindergarten with for comfort.
- Pushing friends away: Some kids will purposely push friends away or be mean as the end of school approaches as a way of creating distance, making leaving preschool easier.
- Nervous habits: When a child is anxious about something such as graduating to kindergarten, he or she may develop nervous habits for comfort such as chewing on clothing or hair, and nail biting.
- Tears: For children who feel sad about the transition to kindergarten, the days and weeks leading up to preschool graduation may include periods of crying and talk of how much friends and school will be missed.
Helping Kids With Transition to Kindergarten
According to The Florida Center for Parent Involvement, “moving from preschool or home to kindergarten is one of the most significant transitions young children will experience.” Parents need to help children deal with complex emotions and address reactions to the change.
Norma Richard, assistant professor of education at the National College of Education of National-Louis University suggests in the article “From Preschool to Kindergarten" in the National PTA's magazine Our Children, that parents "think of this transition as an opportunity for your child to grow,” and use it “to help your child cope with the difficulties she will face in terms of loss and separation."
Things parents can do to help children navigate this uncertain time include:
- Create a loving environment: Provide a warm, nurturing environment at home where a child feels unconditional love.
- Set standards for behavior: Have rules and be clear what is and is not acceptable behavior.
- Develop a routine: Knowing what to expect at home makes dealing with changes outside the home easier. Have a predictable schedule including a set mealtime and bedtime. Try to eat dinner as a family as much as possible.
- Be observant: Watch for changes in a child’s behavior at home and communicate with teachers regarding any changes in behavior at school. Let the child know that some children feel sad or nervous when leaving preschool. Ask how he is feeling.
- Talk about it: Ask questions, answer her questions and address her concerns. Richard suggests starting the conversation by mentioning a preschool field trip and then “ask, ‘I wonder what trips your new teacher will take you on?’"
- Listen: Listen to a child’s questions and concerns carefully so each can be addressed and reassurance provided. Let the child know it is okay to be sad, excited, scared or maybe all of those things at once.
- Share: A parent might share a story about a situation when he or she felt the same way about a change and how he or she handled it. Demonstrate for the child that he is not alone and that many people have similar experiences – even grown-ups.
- Stay connected: Provide reassurance that children will see preschool friends after graduation. Stay in touch by scheduling play dates during the summer and the new school year.
- Say goodbye: Have children say goodbye to teachers and friends. Make or purchase small gifts as a way for the child to recognize someone special. Let a child know it is okay to cry or feel sad. Learning how to say goodbye now, will make it easier later in life.
Helping preschoolers learn how to handle the transition to kindergarten will reduce the amount of stress experienced by the child and set an example of how to deal with adjustments throughout life. The benefits of helping children navigate change in a positive way include increased self-confidence, improved relationships with other children and adults, and more openness to new experiences.
By building a strong foundation for dealing with change early on, parents can give kids skills that will be used throughout life.
Related Articles:
From Preschool to Kindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness & School Skills Checklist
References:
Childcareaware.org. Making the Transition From Child Care to Kindergarten: Working Together for Kindergarten Success, ChildCareAware, National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (accessed May 24, 2010).
School.familyeducation.com. The Kindergarten Kickoff, National PTA (accessed May 24, 2010).
Fmhi.usf.edu. Transition to Kindergarten, Florida Center for Parent Involvement, University of South Florida (accessed May 25, 2010).
Jane Larkin - Jane was a commercial mortgage broker for hotels and held Six Sigma, advertising, marketing and public relations jobs in various ...
