As a 4 year old Kindergarten teacher, what do you do when a student...?

Question

arrives crying on the first day of school alone if they came on the bus. Or what would you do if the parent enters classroom with a crying child?

Answer 1

Can you imagine going into a strange room with strange people and not being upset? Try having a picture class schedule. If you start with circle time, have a picture of children in circle time, then free play, then snack or whtever your schedule is. Then you can say to the child "First we are going to have a meeting, then we are going to have time to play etc all the way up to the time to go home. As the day progresses you can remove the pictures of what has already happened and just leave the ones to come.

I hve also found that having an early snack  helps the child to feel better.

As  for the Mom, tell her to say goodbye, one last kiss and then go. Give mom the phone number and tell her to call back in an hour. Also, keep copies of "The Kissing Hand" handy. Reassures Mom that she is not going through anything other parents face.

Answer 2

I have taught preschool and kindergarten for over 20 years and there are always children who come in clinging to mom and crying.  You need to get mom out of the classroom as quickly as possible.  Short sweet good byes are the best.  Tell the mom that she is welcome to stay out in the hall out of sight until the crying stops or she can call the school to check on things.  You have to take her feelings into consideration because she is probably ready to cry, too.  Usually once you get rid of the parent you can get the child interested in something and they will stop crying.  It may take awhile for the first few times, but each time will get shorter.  As for the child who comes on the bus, it is actually easier since there is no parent there.  Just get him interested in an activity.  sometimes just ignoring it and letting him go off and find something works well too.

Answer 3

Happens all the time.  You have to try and get the parent out of the room as fast as possible, believe it or not they are an enabler.  Once alone the kid will find his/ her own feet and will be fine.  Normally, they do this a few times when school starts, and its ALWAYS for the benefit and around the parents.

Answer 4

You cuddle them!  Assure the parent that the child will be fine in their absence, and reassure the child that they will do plenty of activities while they are in your care.  Try to get the child interested in an activity as soon as they calm down a little.  Remind the child throughout the day that parents come back after lunch (or whenever they do come), or that the child will be going back on the bus.  You want the child to be as aware as possible of what is going to happen all day, so make sure to tell them of what is coming up.  The scariest part of a new situation is not knowing what is coming, so prewarning a child of a change is critical.  Crying is typical of children in a new situation, and the first day (or week) of school is a pretty typical place to see that behavior.  Reassurance and consistency will help the child learn to trust the new situation and you.

Answer 5

Try to comfort the child and tell her other things about what she will learn at school. Tell the child that she will still go home later after class. Play with her for a while.

Answer 6

try enlisting the help of another student. if the cryer is distracted they will stop and join the class. the parent can then leave.

Answer 7

Spank Em' in fronta the parents.

Answer 8

Distract he w/her favorite classroom toy

Have the assistant read a book to her

Have crying child be a "teacher helper"

Have the parent leave quickly/ reassure the parent the child will be okay

Maybe update the parent midday on the status of the child/reassure parent again

Answer 9

I agree with the others when they say have the parent drop them off and leave right away.  The child may cry for a few minutes, but then they will see all the stuff they are going to get to do and they will be fine. Talk with the parents. Assure them that it's in the best intrest of the child to do it that way.  My son did it for a few days, and now he races me into daycare to see if he can beat me in there.

Answer 10

explain to the parents that they must do a 'drop and run'.  they need to say all their goodbyes before they get to the classroom and explain to little gomer that they'll be back.  once they enter the classroom, it's 'i love you and i'll be back later'.  kiss and leave.  they can stay in the director's office or anywhere out of sight to listen for reassurance but they can not re-enter the room or let the child see them.  they need to understand that they are the cause of gomer's problem.  they need to be strong for him.

also, suggest to the parents that they might let little gomer bring a treat to share with the class.  this can be a bag of apples, a box of crackers, a coloring book, whatever little gomer gets to pick out.  it will give him something to look forward to.  and let him do it until he's comfortable coming to school alone.

also, get him interested in things as soon as he enters the door.  have stations set up for the kids at arrival time.  a table of play dough, a table of puzzles, a table of games, etc.  that way he can join in immediately.  or even announce that 'little gomer is here, we can open the play dough table now'.

every child wants and needs to feel special and every parent wants to know that the teacher feels their child is special.  that is the part of customer service that most teachers don't get.  we are also here to educate and raise the parents as well as the children.

good luck with little gomer (and parents)

Answer 11

To be truthful...it's actually easier when they come alone off the bus.  :-)  LIke the others have mentioned...having the parent there can cause a little more problems.  Number one is to show empathy.  I would prefer to hear a teacher saying to a student... "Coming to school was hard today." Instead of saying, It's okay...you're going to have fun and so on.  It might not be okay...we don't know.  Usually it works to give them a hug...show some empathy and get them interested in an activity...preferably sensory, stay near them for awhile and then slowly move away.  Sometimes reading a book with the child allows for them time to get their emotions under control.

As for parents, I find it's a good thing to discuss this with the parents prior to the first day.  That it is benefitial to have short and sweet good-byes.  Reassure them that some children do have difficulty with this transition but most join the group soon after parent leaves.  I've known some parents who are having a harder time than the child.  One of the things I've seen done was getting a digital picture of the child engrossed in something and having fun during that first day and printing it off for the parent at arrival.  Does not have to be a high quality colored picture but just something to show the parent that, yes, my child did have fun today.  Showing empathy to the parent works just as well as showing empathy to the child.  I have a youngster now who "puts on the show" at drop off and pick up and as soon as the parent shuts the door he's all smiles and so on.  But up until then he clings, bangs on the door, cries.  He's such a lovable stinker.  When mom comes he doesn't want to leave and throws a fit and so on.  I've made it clear to the mother how it is so she has learned, as hard as it is, to just smile, give him a hug, say I love you and walk out the door and let me handle him.  :-)  Encourage the parent to have a "good-bye" routine.