Need Help with Sending My Son to School.

I was going to say just about the same thing as Suz. Maybe you can send him just a few mornings a week this year to ease him into the idea of school. In our state schooling isn't regulated at this age. Also, I was lucky enough to find one of the last schools in our area to offer 1/2 day 5/6 yr. old kindergarten! It's very popular and even the teacher would have agreed with me that the 1/2 day kids in her class were better adjusted and behaved and retained more than the tired full day little ones. I know sometimes with work schedules this isn't an option for everyone, but they have so many more years to be in school full time, why not keep them home for a little while longer?

is pre-K now mandatory 5 days? isn't it possible just to send him part-time?
some of us have to work (i did when my boys were small) but if not, it just makes me sad to send 'em off full-time when they're this small.
:( khairete
S.

I remember this feeling! My son now 8 was a mess and still is..doesn't like school at all! No crying or anything...just plain doesn't like it. But my daughter now 5 and is starting kindergarten in two weeks was mad that she couldn't start school last year...go figure! And neither of my kids went to pre-school of any kind. Each child is different, but, I do agree that if you show nerves that they will sense that. Just be as excited and happy as you can be about the whole situation. I hope all goes well for you!

I taught kindergarten and preschool for several years; the teachers (especially in preK) have lots of experience helping kids transition. He may be clingy for a while, make sure to give him lots of attention after school. He'll also probably be tired more, so make sure he gets to be early enough. In a week or two he'll be adjusted :)

And, kids pick up on their parents' mental state. If you're nervous and worried about him starting school, he will be too. So try to relax and be excited for this big step for him.

If you can afford it, send him to a care center for a week. If not, a week and he'll be transitioned fine. I just changed my schedule due to school starting, and my non-morning kids transitioned in 2 days -- go figure:) So much more flexible than us worried moms:)

You don't say whether he will get a nap there, but if not, then start eliminating his nap now. I was really nervous about sending my daughter 5 days a week, but she did fine. The first 2 weeks she was very very tired. So be prepared for him to be cranky for a while. We have Little Gym and My Gym around here that have 3 hour camp sessions. If you can send him to a few of those or something like it so he can get used to being away from you for a longer period of time, that would help him with the transition. I'm also impressed that you found a public pre-k that had that long a session. Our public pre K is only 2 hours long. Keep positive and he will do well.

My pediatrician posted some really helpful tips for the school season which I found to work very well. If you want to check them out, they're on his website: http://www.thornburgpediatrics.com/backtoschool.html. He also sends some amazing newsletters which address these kinds of issues and all the moms I know that receive them just love them. If you want to join the mailing list, you can just email ____@____.com luck in this big time of change!