The First Week of School: a Nightmare for a Small Child

From 3 years, a child will normally says loudly that he will not go to school! After the curiosity of the early days is over, this phase of rejection is not uncommon. To re-motivate your child to go back to school, you should listen to his arguments, taking into account to find the right answers.

Difficult separation

The child will feel lost. He will feel that by sending him to school you want to get rid of him. He takes it badly especially if you stay at home with a little brother or sister. On the other hand he makes you feel guilty by leaving him for a whole day at school but which will reinforce his sense of abandonment.

Give time to talk to him before going to school. Do not leave him too quickly in the morning. Take a tour of his class with him and take the time to let him show you his drawings. This will help him settle down more easily. Also talk to him about the time he spends in the playground, where he eats, who is going to pick him up in the evening and what you are going to do together after school. If possible, in order to make his school days appear shorter, try to pick him up during lunch and nap time.

Disappointment

Constraints are difficult to bear. At first the child will feel that by going to school he is making things that grown ups do. He thinks that school is a wonderful place where he will do extraordinary things. He sees himself having many friends. This is not the case! At school days appear to be long, has to abide with the rules and has to take part in activities whether he like it or not. It is very difficult to bear the constraints of life at school but he must go there everyday.

Try to make school life for him better. It is up to you to build up a good image of school and showing him the benefits of learning. Try to sympathise with him and tell him that you understand that his days are long and school is tiring and boring. Tell him that you felt the same when you used to go at school. Also try to reassure him that this will soon pass and he will meet friends every morning. Try to avoid criticizing the school and teachers because this will make him feel worse!

He does not feel up to it!

If something went wrong during school like for instance a teacher made a remark, a friend pushed him or mocked him, dropped his glass during break or peed in his pants; this will surely be a setback for him especially in the first weeks of school. Normally, during the first weeks of schools certain instances will break his self-esteem and the slightest incident takes on dramatic proportions. Overwhelmed by feelings of shame, he is sure that the school is not for him and he feels that school is not the right place to be.

When he comes back home make him speak of school and help him in talking about what has happened during the day. Make sure he points out what is disturbing him reassuring him that whatever is bugging him is not as really big as he is seeing it but it will pass soon.

Sources:

http://www.panic-anxiety.com/phobias/didaskaleinophobia/