| Velcro clothes items have become not only | | | | own worry and anxiety. Read some books or talk to |
| acceptable but fashionable. As parents of | | | | parents that have gone through this before the big day |
| preschoolers you no longer have to struggle with | | | | comes. Leave your child alone with a relative or close |
| teaching your kid how to tie his shoes before he | | | | friend for just a few minutes to start and then for |
| enters kindergarten. You have also done away with | | | | longer times. This weans him off his dependence on |
| those abominable zippers that just won't pull when | | | | you. |
| your child is in a hurry to go outdoors to play and that | | | | Playing games like peek-a-boo with an infant, and hide |
| won't unzip when he runs in to use the washroom. | | | | and seek with your toddler or preschooler, helps your |
| Instead, Velcro has come to your rescue. Even I find | | | | child realize you may be out of sight for a while but |
| Velcro handy as I strap on my sandals. | | | | you are coming back for him. |
| We're OK with Velcro on these items but we don't | | | | I encouraged a parent to stay in class with his child for |
| want to encourage Velcro children. Velcro children are | | | | the first day if the child would just not let his parent out |
| the kind that stick to you like a burr when you try to | | | | of sight. It wasn't worth it to allow the child to scream |
| drop them off at playschool or any other place. | | | | and throw a tantrum. As a parent or a teacher you |
| Velcro children are super sensitive. I know; I was one | | | | need to evaluate each child's emotional state |
| of them. I stood in the corner of the hallway and cried | | | | individually. Sometimes a child just is not emotionally |
| on my first day of school. I grew up in a large family | | | | mature enough to handle separation. One patient loving |
| that loved me and was kind to me and I was used to | | | | dad stayed eight days. I was so impressed. He didn't |
| being around people, but not strangers. I had been very | | | | coddle his son; he was just in the room. |
| sheltered from strangers since my siblings met all my | | | | You may want to visit the classroom, be it |
| social needs. I tagged along with my older sister who | | | | kindergarten, or Sunday school, children's church or a |
| was in grade three that first week of school. I'm sure | | | | daycare, before the day your child will be dropped off. |
| she didn't appreciate me although now she says she | | | | Your child may need only a few minutes before class |
| doesn't remember that. | | | | or he may need to become familiar with his new |
| That experience helped me be super sensitive and | | | | environment, playing, while you talk or have coffee with |
| aware of Velcro kids in my preschool classes. They | | | | the caregiver or teacher. Depending on the teacher |
| were usually the sweetest ones, hiding behind their | | | | and her situation, if you are comfortable with her, invite |
| moms. I felt for them but I knew from experience that | | | | her for lunch. I did that with my son's grade one |
| once they became familiar with the environment and | | | | teacher and we were all bonded for the year. As a |
| bonded a bit with me and at least one other child, they | | | | preschool teacher I was always honored when a |
| would wave a happy good-bye to their mom, too. | | | | parent invited me into her home. |
| There are many ways you can prepare even the | | | | Also, please be honest with your child. Don't sneak out; |
| most sensitive, shyest child to enter his new world | | | | that breaks his trust in you. Tell him that you will be |
| comfortably. Leaving your child behind for the first time | | | | back for him soon and he will be OK. |
| or introducing him to a new growing experience can | | | | So with advanced planning and your warm |
| also be a huge emotional time for you, his parent. Your | | | | reassurance that there are a million fun things for him |
| child senses how you feel so try to envision before | | | | to do, your child will soon happily be waving good-bye |
| hand what will happen and how you will deal with your | | | | to you. |