5 Foods Women Need Most

Separation Anxiety:  The First Weeks of School
10 Thoughts to Consider

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A full day at school, leaving Mom and riding the bus are a lot of changes for your little guy to swallow at one time! 

Keep in mind that he may be going through some grieving ...he has just lost the comfort of home and routine, mom's one-on-one attention, and all that is familiar to him and, suddenly, he is thrust into an environment where there is constant noise, new surroundings, new people and new routines for 6 long hours. Just the change of being in a school environment can be overwhelming. 

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Give him a picture of you that he can keep in his pocket and pull out any time he needs to look at you.

2. For the AM routine, let him help you set up the routine so he knows
exactly what is going to happen and when, so there will be no surprises
(eating breakfast, what to wear, riding to school, when mom will leave the
school, etc).  Be honest with him.  Children can trust when they  know what is going to happen...when is mom going to be there; where will mom be; how will I get home, etc.

3. Give him choices so he feels he has some control.  "Do you want to ride the bus or have mom drive you?"  "Do you want to wear the blue or yellow shirt?"

4. Stay a few minutes in the class if the teacher allows and your leaving
doesn't cause a scene.   Each day, lessen the time.

5. If he has an older sibling in the school, have the sibling check in on
him.

6.  Discourage yourself from giving in to him and allowing him to stay home.
That reinforces his behavior and leaves you in a pickle.

7.  Develop a reward system.  If he gets through the day reasonably well,
have a small gift waiting for him when he gets home.

8.  Ask the teacher for ideas...she probably has handled this problem before.

9.  Encourage a friendship with another classmate....invite someone over to
play.  He will start looking forward to seeing his friends at school.

10.  As hard as it is to turn around and walk away, realize that you are not
a terrible mom for doing just that.  Many of us moms have had a child that is
more clingy than the others but they do eventually work through it on their
own time.

Author, Betsy Waxman, RN
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