How long did it take before your youngster got over the crying and separation anxiety for school?

Question

I know each kid is going to be different and depending on their age, but I'm just trying to get an average. My baby girls 1st day of K and my sons 1st full day of school after being homeschooled was yesterday. This is so hard for us all and I know it will get better over time. How long did it take for you & yours??

Answer 1

Daughter 1 - had No separation anxiety whatsoever. She barely looked back when she got onto the bus.

Daughter 2 - It was at least October when I was seriously considering removing her from kindergarten. She would come home and sit in my lap and just sob and sob. It was horrible. I had decided if November 1st she still had issues I would take her out. Mid-October she did a complete turn around and loved it.

I have often been told it is harder on the parents than the child. Just keep a positive attitude and listen to all the wonderful stories. Try to focus on the positive things about their day.

Answer 2

I don't have kids but it took me til the beginning of 1st grade.

It took my brother until Pre-K.

Answer 3

I'd say give it a week or so. This gives them time to adjust to their new schedule and get comfortable in the classroom.

Answer 4

i got over it at about a weeks after kindergarten but that was because it was a new building.

Answer 5

   It really depends on the child and also the school because last year my 4 year old started pre-school on wednesday he  was sad for 2 days then was fine on Friday but after the weekend it took him another day or so before he really started enjoying school.

Answer 6

my son cried for a minute

then they gave him a color paper and crayons he got over it

he said bye momma go home

truht iw as the one who cried

he's going for his second year of school (pre-k i started him when he was 3yrs old) i know im gonna cry again

but he has to go to school so i have to deal with it

Answer 7

It depends on the child. For children who are around other children or other people apart from their parents regularly, then it may take a couple of days even if they were home schooled initially. If the child is comfortable with anyone holding him/her, or they have no issues with being around others, it can take a couple days as well. If, however your child does not like being around others or was not exposed to other children, it can take up to a month. My child took a week to get use to staying with others and going to school. Don't worry about it, it will pass. You can probably try taking him out regularly and leaving him with trusted family and friends more often if you are not doing that already.

Answer 8

When my baby started school it was hard for both her and I but it only took a couple of days, you need to make sure your child doesn't feel your anxiety, make it sound fun and exciting each morning when you take them to school and let them know you'll be back this way they don't feel the abandonment feeling.

Answer 9

well i got over it after 2 days because i had soo much fun and my mum used to tell me real good things about the school

Answer 10

Mine never did cry.  Of course mine had been through day care and pre school before they started elementary school so there was no anxiety.

Answer 11

It took me a week of preschool!

Answer 12

My son which is grown.. had a very high INSECURITY problem.. .. he didn't cry all the way threw school but anywhere he went w/o me.. was a hassle unless he had  his b/f to distract him...  from day care to head start, prek, to kindergarden,, to first grade.. by 2nd grade he got much better.. but those years were hard for the 2 of us.. Good luck.. just assure him... U will always be backkkkkk..... over and over again.. good luck..  

Answer 13

My daugher is a mama's girl for sure. She went to pre-school at 3yrs old and it was hard. She would freak and cry when I left. So what I did was come with her to school a little early. Helped her settle in. Drew a picture with her that she could keep for the day. I also put together a little photo albumn of just her and I to look at if she missed me. That seemed to help alot.

Each kids has their security. Whether its a blanket, stuffed animal and some cases its YOU. So to ease the transition, find what that is and enforce that its not being taken away or lost.

I still have to go with my daughter who is now 10 to her first day of school but its not because she has to have it. Its because its "our" thing now. She went through the seperation anxiety for about 1 year but it got alot better once I found out that I was her security blanket. =)  

Answer 14

It took a full month  but once he got involved and use to the routine

then school was a favorite , hint the special cookies and snacks

we would pack for being in special k school helped ease the transition

he even got so bold as to learn the three blocks to school by himself at

4 1/2 he now goes on his own and joins other friends on the way as they swap lunch treats and break snacks these were the rewards we got for encouraging him to  become more independent big boy and with

direction and support and a few extras he has since moved on to

first grade he was so eager to learn more and has his walking friends over for weekend play school sessions its a bounding we found so hard since he cried almost the whole first month like we were never going to see him ever again it killed us leaving him as was very trying but he seems to have become stronger about separation since the other kids don't want him to be upset and helped him cope with the  

stresses. Give them time some take to mom and dad leaving okay some don't but make the leaving transparent to him/her and try to

do some hand holding for the new events as they come and they will.

cheers

Answer 15

My middle child is in the 3rd grade and she still gets a bit upset every now and then and so do I .But most days are better than others. But usually the first 6 months it get easier. Good luck. Hope all is well, take care your friend Kym.  :)

Answer 16

It took my son only a couple of days...the first day he cried his eyes out but it was only in the beginning when I dropped him off, the teachers said he was ok after I left

Answer 17

None of our three sons had a problem with beginning school. Each one had been enrolled three months in a pre-school prior to beginning kindergarten.

Answer 18

You are right about each child being different.  I am mom to 4 kids.  My first two only had problems for the first 1-2 days of school.  My 3rd was like, "You don't have to come in, Mom, I know how to get to my class."  Our 4th was a surprise baby, born when I was 38 years old and her siblings were 18, 15, and 12.  She basically knew nothing but living and interacting with adults and teenagers.  Kindergarten came as quite a shock to her.  She has been fretting about everything since the day she could talk and going to school really set her into a major fret.  We were well near to Spring Break before I finally felt like the tears and fretting were going considerably better.  We kept it up because I knew it would get better.  She's 11 now and going into 6th grade.  We start school Sept. 2 and she's been in high gear fret mode for about 2 weeks now.  Every year it takes her shorter and shorter time to get used to the new everything about school starting.  Our best year was the year she went into 4th grade because her 3rd grade teacher looped up to 4th and took the entire class (except for 1 student) with her.  She started 4th with the same teacher, the same room, and the same classmates.  What a relief that was to her.  Yesterday she told someone, honestly I think, that she is looking forward to the new school year.  I was pleased, my baby is growing up!  Age doesn't necessarily have as much to do with it as your children's personalities and your own attitude.  It's hard, very hard, to put on a "happy face" when all you want to do is keep your babies with you forever.  But, that isn't healthy for them or us.  It has been my experience as mom, child care provider, and parent volunteer to say that it takes most kids less than 2 weeks to adjust to a new routine and settle in.  What I have found works best, and I encourage my families to use when they drop off their little ones, is to give one hug, one kiss, and say a routine farewell, such as, "Mommy is going to work now.  Have a good day.  I will see you when school is over.  I love you."  Regardless of their clinging and crying, it is important to make the leaving routine and then let the teacher deal with the tears.  Teachers are used to this and can work best with their students when parents aren't hovering.  Hovering makes kids nervous and gives them a sense that something isn't right if mom/dad won't leave me here alone.  You'll probably cry longer in the car on the way home than they will at school if you follow this simple and upbeat leaving routine.  Some kids do well at first than develop separation issues later in the year.  Others will revert if something new happens, like having a substitute teacher.  My youngest would have horrible melt-downs when there was a sub.  Last year was the first year that a sub didn't send her for a loop.  

Answer 19

my lil bro had 0...he crys when he has 2 leave, hes 3, but wen he was lyk 1 it took him lyk a week or so

Answer 20

It Will Take Me like a month or 2 week to talk about the problem

Answer 21

Well I was a total momma's girl and never wanted to leave her side. So, just about every day I would end up going to the nurse's office wanting to go home. In kindergarten i did this all year but I stopped in the middle of 1st grade. My brother on the other hand he started 1st grade instead of kindergarten and never had a problem.

1st grade is about the medium for most childeren I think.