Did you ever wonder, while scrolling through your social media feeds of smiling children going back to school, what was happening before or after the pictures were taken? Were they excited or scared? Did they know what was going to happen next?
I think that one of the important things I remembered from one of our blogging get togethers was from what Marcia Francois said: about how pictures are just a snapshot taken from a fuller life. One moment. They don’t fully represent the full story but they sure make me wonder about it.
Little kids going to school for the first time are probably going to have the worst shock but some adjust faster than others. Even older kids may struggle for various reasons. I remember one four year old crying because it was a change of school and he desperately wanted familiar things. I remember reminding him about that time he clung to his bag on the hook outside when he was older, in Grade 1, listening to those little ones crying at the beginning of the year again.
Being a teacher of toddlers is a totally different ball game to Grade Ones. They are small and needy. And on the first day I had one that literally cried the whole day. I am very lucky to have assistants though, and that has made all the difference. On the second day I just held him alot and he also started smiling again, this happy smile, and I knew we were making progress.
So how is Nicky doing with all of this? Well, I have a problem. He wants to stay with me in the toddler class instead of going to the older group which is doing more age appropriate activities. Every now and then he gets brave and goes over, but mostly he likes to stick with me.
I wonder if he really realises, though, how lucky he is to have me around, and that when another kid cries for his parent, I am right here? He does reach out and try and comfort them, though.
We’ve had a few meltdowns. We had a very long afternoon nap on Monday. Tuesday we had a meltdown and in the end I put him in front of the TV just to give myself a break. By Wednesday we had the sleeping pattern nailed with an early night. But we are still going through a period of transition.
He is playing with some of the older kids – riding bikes and on the trampoline. I think that slowly, gradually, he will get there and hopefully detach from me and the little kids.
I am really enjoying the school and the environment. I have a nice boss as well. I have a lot to be thankful for right now in this new season of my life, but I am adjusting too. Not just to the early mornings, but to this challenging age group, to make sure they get the most out of their education and that I give them what they need at the level appropriate to them.
I’d like to know from you how your back to school experience has been, and how things are going for you…
We had a surprisingly pleasant experience. I was prepared for the worst, and it turned out good. Being in a familiar environment is key for my baby. It worked well to have him at the school the evening before.
Good Luck with your new chapter, look forward to reading about how it is going.
Mostly our son has adjusted really well to school. But we sensed yesterday that going everyday of the week is just a bit much for him at the moment, So we have decided to introduce Tuesday/Chooseday (Just for the first term). Where he can choose if he wants to go to school or not… the other days he will go.
That’s a neat idea!