Starting off for the first time and/or returning for a second year of their first day of preschool or childcare is a very big deal for our little learners & explorers. After all, we are that bridge from home to school for the very first time. This is why creating a soft, cozy space that doesn’t feel like a huge leap from home is my favourite way to approach this change for them.
Today, I am happy to share the approaches I used this year with my team as a preschool supervisor at Creative Kids Learning Centres to help our young children work through their separation anxiety and feel at ease and know that they are in safe hands in our classroom. Hope you enjoy and I would also love to hear from you if you have others ideas you’d like to share with us! You can either DM me here on Instagram or you can also email me at lyricalwriters@gmail.com!
Before deciding upon what extra support would work best for this group of 3 to 5 year olds, I first considered their ages, how many children were returning, and also which children were brand new to the concept of preschool – all of which are on top of the many additional dynamics based on the information that was provided to us about each individual child and their needs.
Based on the above, I decided to go with a broad range of activity invitations to connect with the children through many different open ended communication aids to support the unexpected which was inevitably coming our way as soon as the children entered the doors to our classroom for the first time – or playground rather, which is where we start our day each morning for the first 30 plus minutes. This is a beautiful way to have the children enjoy some fresh air and move their bodies before being expected to focus and follow any directions and/or instructions we might have for them throughout their 4 hours with us.
Products and activities that were very helpful from Day 1 included two very soft and sweet plush dolls – along with a silly puppet to nibble at some funny bones – and of course, plenty of art supplies and materials to draw pictures and write letters to parents being missed. Last but certainly not least, we had bubbles to offer – these are always the perfect ice breaker!
MY 5 TOP TIPS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR
1. OFFER THE CHILDREN THE SOFTEST AND SWEETEST PLUSH DOLL THAT THEY CAN HOLD ONTO FOR COMFORT.
WORRY PALS
When we offer young children something soft to cuddle, it is not only a visual comfort, but a physical one as well when they feel the softness in their arms. This is why I was so happy to discover The Worry Pals this year and just in time for Back To School!
Over the first two weeks of preschool, of course there were some tears and also fears of the unknown. Our Worry Pals were instrumental – both on the playground and in the classroom – for the children to take their turns holding onto when they needed that little extra ‘softness’ they might be missing from home. As the first few days unfolded, I went from offering the dolls to the children to leaving them out in different places for them to find on their own, and carry around with them in their play. These classroom pals have now been well travelled throughout every nook and cranny of our environment – both indoors and outside! They might even be taking on a role similar to Elf On The Self over the coming weeks as the children find them in unexpected places!
These 14″ tall adorable plush dolls are offered in a set with one wearing green, and the other, pink pajamas. Both come in beautiful boxes which add to the excitement of receiving them and opening them up. Each doll also has removable clothing for easy washing which is very handy for this age.
For even extra comfort, this set also comes with an accompanying story and journal. This feature is especially helpful at bedtime. For those kiddos who are a little bit older and are interested in journaling, this package can also help them get into the routine of regular journaling at bedtime. If your child is too young to journal on their own, they can tell you their words of worries, and you can write them down to talk about while you offer your reassurance now that you know what is causing them their worries.
Thank you again Worry Pals for you extra comfort this September! You can find all the information about ordering your own set here!
2. TICKLE THE CHILDREN’S FUNNY BONES WITH A PUPPET WHO CAN OPEN IT’S MOUTH REALLY WIDE!
My crocodile puppet is always a big hit right off the bat with many of the children, but I always let them come to her first. I named her Lucy to offer extra intrigue as this is often not what they would expect her to be called! After I share her name, I often ask the children if they think her teeth are soft or hard, all the while, I would give Lucy’s teeth an intentional squish to show the children that they are soft and not scary at all. This is when I would start to grab their attention, and also when I would start to tell the children that Lucy is very shy so we need to move slowly around her. The most common reactions I get are a wide circle around us for those kiddos who take longer to warm up to her – and so far, they always do! Many children also giggle at Lucy right off the bat and become instantly curious about her and often even approach her, though possibly quite slowly. From this point, it never takes long for the children to come over for a nibble and I use Lucy to offer her playful nibbles at transitions and dismissals and even just when I can see someone might appreciate a little humour.
3. HAVE PAPER AND MARKERS READY TO DRAW WHAT COMFORTS THEM
If a child is unconsolable and the plush doll and funny puppet haven’t worked, offering them paper and markets to draw their home they will be going back to right after class, or maybe a family pet or a stuffie they have brought to school, could also be another hit in many cases. Some kiddos will jump right in and colour on their own and be easily redirected to this fun activity, and others might ask you to draw something for them. If there is enough staff to have one staff member assigned to the table to draw with the children or just to be there to offer extra comfort as they colour or draw, that’s another great option. If the children ask us want to draw for them and there are not enough staff to have someone assigned to the art table, you can have a few colouring pages ready to go with varying subjects such as animals or maybe a garden or a butterfly or even happy face – any image that depicts positivity shall do the trick!
4. HELP THEM WRITE A LETTER TO WHOMEVER THEY ARE MISSING.
Whether it be Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Opa, or maybe even Aunty – if a child is missing someone at Drop Off and not wanting to be separated from them, you can also offer to help them write a letter to their loved one that they can share with them at Pick Up time. This activity is an opportunity to involve the child in providing you the words they want to say and they can even draw a picture or you can draw an outline for them and offer them to colour it in or help them out if you have time and they want your help. Whenever I help colour, I start with an outline with thick lines using the colours they hand me and ask them to help me colour in the middle. This makes it easier for them to colour within the lines so they don’t get even more upset and they are rewarded with a colour piece of art quite quickly.
5. DON’T FORGET THE BUBBLES – THE ULTIMATE ICE BREAKER FOR MOST YOUNG CHILDREN!
Last but not least, I always have bubbles ready to offer on the first day as this is an activity that speaks to everyone without having to use words. You can offer fun sound effects, playful popping, and even the option for children to take turns blowing bubbles themselves!
I hope you are all off to a positive start this school year and look forward to staying in touch to see how your year progresses!
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