Separation Guide
Transitions are so hard! Especially if you are young and not sure whats coming next. During the first day’s of your child’s experience at MOS our primary goal is to support your child’s transition to school and help them become comfortable in their new environment. Teachers will make every opportunity to bond with each child and support them as we explore.
Establish a routine that works for your child.
If you prefer, you can hand your child to a teacher, say good bye and then leave, or you can explore a bit of the forest, wait for a friend to arrive and give three hugs, whatever it is, do that. It’s most important that your routine is consistent. If another caregiver is scheduled to drop off, it is best if a similar routine is followed.
Some other tips:
1. Always let a teacher know if you are leaving and your child needs additional support. Some children fare better if they are ‘handed over’ into the care of a teacher. Others may do better if they are engaged in an activity before their caregiver says goodbye. The important thing is to determine what works best for your child to set up a successful transition.
2. Always follow through when you say you are leaving. It can be so heart wrenching to walk out the door when your child is upset. It’s so tempting to say that you will stay for a few more minutes. Unfortunately when you change your plans based on your child’s reaction, it shifts the responsibility onto your child. It’s better to say “I know you are feeling sad but I will be back. Saying goodbye is HARD.” Trusting and counting on the adults words is an important part of separation and it’s important to acknowledge that this process is hard.
3. Please refrain from leaving and coming back. It can feel disruptive to your child if you have said goodbye, then return and say goodbye again. If you and the teachers determine that your child’s separation process needs to go more slowly, we suggest that you discuss a plan with the teachers. This way they can support your child when you leave.
Some helpful books:
A helpful article can be found here.