Overly sad about kindergarten ending?

Question

I have a daughter just finishing up kindergarten. Last day is Thursday. She is very shy and reserved. She does not make friends easily. However, she was blessed with the sweetest teacher ever in kindergarten and this helped her to come out of her shell. The teacher also said her class this year was the sweetest class she has ever had. Obviously this helped my daughter feel more comfortable and open up. She loves her teacher and this class so much, and lately has been crying that the end is here. She is terrified of first grade and getting a new teacher. There are some first grade teachers that yell alot unfortunately (hopefully she won't get one of them!) Anyway, the chances of her having a friend in class this fall are very slim. There are 9 first grade classes.

Getting to my point, I know many kids often feel sad when the end of school is near. But my daughter is literally falling apart! She doesn't want it to end. It is rubbing off on me because I know how hard it is for her to start over and make new friends, and she may not be blessed with such a great teacher and class next year. But I still tell her that she will be fine in first grade and that I will help her along as I did this year. I volunteered alot which was great. How else can I help her get through this sad time? Especially when I am sad myself? The teacher and I became good friends as well. My daughter's heart is breaking. Anyone else going through this? Or are your kids thrilled to get out of school?

Answer 1

I would keep telling her that you understand she's sad, and you are sad for her, but there are plenty of things that could happen next year that are good. She didn't know that she was going to have so much fun in Kindergarten, so, how does she know how much fun she will/won't have in 1st Grade?  Have faith in the fact that God promises good things, just be looking forward to the blessings that you aren't aware of, yet - and let her know that she's loved no matter what happens.  When scary things happen with my young kids, I tell them that I might be scared, too, but I have a faith that the Lord will take care of us, no matter what happens to us - we'll make it through.

She's surely to make friends with some one in first grade.  Good luck, God Bless.

Answer 2

My kindergartener is sad about school ending for the summer, too.  She said to me, last night, that all summer long she's going to be sad when the weekend is over, because there won't be school to go to the next day.  :-(

One thing that I did to help her with this is to sign her up for summer reading programs at the library.  She's got that to look forward to, now.  

I've also told her that we'll invite her teacher over for the annual parade here in town over the summer.  I'm sure that her teacher, who's lived in town for decades, already has her own plans for parade day, but, I'm also sure that, by then, my daughter will be so caught up in summer that she'll be able to handle it well.

Answer 3

My little 2nd grader is sad too. I'm planning on throughing an end of school party for him and all his class mates. I promised him that they could get together throughout the summer but he is still really sad.

Answer 4

It is natural for your daughter to be sad about leaving her teacher and her friends, especially since she grew to feel  secure there.  Yet you need to help her focus on the excitement of growing up and going into the first grade where she will need to learn to start becoming more independent.  Obviously you emphathize with your daughter, and it sounds as though you and she are very close, but it is important not to let her see that her emotions are "rubbing off" on you as you say.  She needs to be able to feel confident about the change and you will help her if you yourself are confident about it.  Good luck.

Answer 5

Before she starts school again, maybe you can talk to the principal, and ask him/her what teacher everyone repsects alot. Tell the principal about your daughter. Talk to some of the teachers, tell them about your daughter so she'll feel more comfortable about going. Your daughter is just unsure, the teacher was really nice to her, that made her feel comfortable, but now she has to leave and she is afraid no one is going to trea t her the wya the teacher did. Maybe you could go with her on the first day of first grade. Do whatever it takes to make her fee comfy about her surroundngd=s! Good luck and I hope everything works out splendidly!

Answer 6

Well, I hate to break it to you but every year is like this, especially when your child is blessed with an amazing teacher.  I have 3 kids and 2 of them are in school-each year it is hard to say goodbye to their teachers and the friends they have made (for them and me :)  I suggest keeping your daughter very busy this summer and have fun instead of worrying about 1st grade.  Then as school approaches have her help pick out the school supplies and get her excited about school again.  Take her to open house or meet the teacher and let her say hello to her former teacher.  Then act excited and happy to go meet the new teacher.  She needs to see that you are happy about the new transition.  And odds are someone from her old class will be in her new class or she will make all new friends.  Not a year has gone by that my kids have had ALL new students in their class and each year have made even more new friends to play with.  Tell her she will still see her old teacher and other friends at school events, playground, etc...This year my daughter even made the transition into middle school and we survived.  It is part of growing up and something we all must do.  Just make the best of it and make her feel important to be going into 1st grade.  My son has the BEST teacher ever this year and will be sad this week when school ends, but he has learned that is part of life and he will always be connected to her in some way (we live nearby and see her at the pool :)  Have your daughter take a picture with the teacher and give one to the teacher and keep on in your home as a nice reminder.  And keep in contact with her through emails-I am constantly emailing previous teachers to brag about grades, sporting accomplishments and to share pictures-they LOVE it!  Have a fun summer and good luck next fall :)

Answer 7

Homeschool your kid. If your kid is terrified all the time, homeschooling will help. Your child will feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Answer 8

Is it possible for her to meet her 1st grade teacher? It might ease some of her sadness of having to move on from kindergarten.

You could also ask if she can write a letter to her kindergarten teacher at some point through the summer. Maybe her kindergarten teacher can talk to her about how much fun 1st grade will be in a return letter.

I remember when my first daughter finished kindergarten. I cried at the end of the year. I was sad that she wouldn't be getting that teacher back.

My 3 y.o just finished her first year of preschool. I didn't cry for this one... but its sad because she doesn't understand she is on summer break now and won't go back to school until September. She woke up this morning with the intentions of going to school.

Ask her current teacher about placement for next year. Here they already have the teachers picked out for the students who are already enrolled. Maybe if you have a chance to go in and meet the 1st grade teachers you can help with placement (or change placement) if you don't think its a good match. Her kindergarten teacher may be a good help in suggesting a good match for her.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Last year, I was ending sixth grade. I always liked to get out of school like any other kid, except this year. I had an AMAZING teacher who'd definitely taught me to get out of my shell, meet some people, and have fun. She'd helped me a lot with my confidence. I didn't want to go to junior high that year. I wanted to go back in time and replay that year over and over and over!

However, I soon learned that junior high had a lot of great teachers too, and since do many other elementary schools were gong into the junior high, there were a lot more kids to make friends with.

Every late start, I went over and visited with my sixth grade teacher. I stopped by a lot over the others class rooms, but most of my time was spent in her room.

It's GREAT that you've become friends with her teacher. Remind her that she'll see her again, and have play dates with the friends she's made over the summer, so that she doesn't feel lonely at all. It's going to be a hard time for her, for sure, but you can give her the confidence she needs. I went through some hard years, and my parents were with me every step of the way.

Answer 10

Your not alone.. lots of parents face this when their kids get attached to a "good" teacher. ( they are hard to find)

Ask her old teacher to introduce her to the new teacher. If she see that her old teacher is friends with this teacher it may help ease her into the class. My daughters went to a private school and the teachers all came for a home visit so they could get comfortable in the younger classes.

Just reaasure your daughter that she will be fine and then drop it, if you don;t make a fuss over it, she will eventually be okay. In the mean time be supportive. and let her know that she can go back to visit her old teacher.

Answer 11

Awww

My suggestion would be to get busy with planning summer activities...

possibly with some school mates?

worry about the fall when it gets here...

that's 3 more months for her to leave kindergarten behind.

when the fall comes, you will need to find ways to make first grade sound as fun and as appealing as kindergarten was.

Volunteering in class never hurts....

good for you.....

I did the same and my daughter has always been fond of those days.