Supporting Children Through Separation Transitions

Sometimes children have difficulty separating from their parents at school, especially if it is their first experience in a school setting. This is very normal, as young children thrive on the close bonds they develop with loved ones, and the feelings they experience around separation are brand new to them.

If your child is experiencing separation anxiety, please speak with your child's teacher about creating a positive separation transition plan. There are a number of strategies that we have found successful in helping children with separation anxiety. The ideas your child's teacher will discuss with you will include:

• Primary Caregiver:
  Each child will be assigned a primary caregiver when they begin our program. This primary caregiving relationship supports you and your child in developing a strong bond with one consistent classroom teacher. This is especially helpful for children during difficult separation, as the nurturing relationship your child will develop with their primary teacher will help them establish the trust and security they need to understand the separation process and thrive at school. Your child's primary caregiver will be the person who checks in with you each morning to find out how your child is doing, and to discuss separation strategies with you. They will help your child with all their daily needs and transitions, will help your child through any difficulties during their time at school, and will closely monitor your child's experience and share information with you at the end of the day.

• Extended Classroom Time:
  This is often the most helpful way for your child to have a positive experience with separation, especially during the first weeks or month of the school year. This involves your staying in the classroom with your child for the first week of school. We would then plan for you to leave your child for short periods of time during the second week (20 minutes to 1/2 an hour the first day, 45 minutes the second day, etc), increasing the amount of time you are out of the classroom over the first month. This allows your child time to establish and develop trust in their teacher to take good care of them in your absence. While this is not typically considered classroom co-op time, you may be able to get participation credit for helping your child through this transition. Please speak with the Simcha director regarding this.

• Home Visit:
  Home visits are a wonderful way to help support your child through separation anxiety. When children see their family welcoming their new teacher into their home, it sends a strong, clear message to the child that this teacher is an important person, that their family trusts this person, and that school is something their family values. Once a teacher visits a child at home, they often come to school with much more enthusiasm and comfort, and much less stress and fear.

• Family Pictures:
  When children are able to look through a special family photo-book, or see their families' pictures on the wall, it can help them verbalize, understand and resolve the fear and sadness they may experience while you are not with them at school. Please ask your child's teacher about bringing photos into school to assist your child's transition.

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