Parents, were you really nervous about sending your kids to school?

Question

for the first time? My little boy is 5, and starts kindergarten next month. I've always been home with him, and now I feel like i'm giving him up to some big scary world or something. I lay awake at night afraid that he'll get picked on, or treated badly, or that he won't be able to behave himself. Just constant worries.

I don't reflect my anxieties on my son. I tell him school will be so fun and I tell him all the cool things he'll get to do. But in my head I keep flashing back to what a nightmare school was for me. I got bullied non stop in grade school.

So I guess my question is, do other moms and dads feel this anxious about their kids starting school?

Answer 1

I'm a teenager in school now! My mother was so nervous about me. I was your shy,typical girlie girl. I started really young and she told me school is cool:) I was nervous of course but there comes a time in your life when all moms realize it's time for their babies to grow up and start school..lol!!..I'm just saying it's normal for all parents to be nervous for their children:) I turned out to be quite a normal girl!!..

DONT WORRY:)

Answer 2

If possible to help with your fears meet the teacher BEFORE the school year starts up and see the classroom so you know where he will be.  Also volunteer in the classroom (teachers love that).  My son just finished kindergarten and although I am a teacher too (last year I just subbed rather than teaching full time) and I was able to go into his classroom to help out and be a part of it.  It was nice to see exactly what was going on and what he was going through.  I just went in once a week unless needed more for parties or other projects.  Also, bulling generally doesn't happen much between Kindergartener's.  I was worried about my son because he is about as white as they come and has red hair but all the kids got along and they had a great classroom community.  The Kindergarten kids had their own recess and lunch time from the other grades so it kept them all seperated which I'm sure helped with the bullying.

Answer 3

I had major anxiety over my son starting school.  I would get emotional thinking about it.  We decided to place him in the summer school program at his school the summer before he started.  It really helped me more than him.  He was totally ready to go and loved it and I realized we would be OK.  It may be too late for that now if your son starts this fall or your school district may not offer it.  Could you place him in a pre school for the summer leading up to school.  Maybe part time just to get him use to a drop off and being apart from you.  I can relate.  Let me tell you, watching my son walk into the school for the first time I did parent drop off made me cry too.  What a big boy to just take his backpack and walk in.  Boohoo :( they grow SO fast!

Answer 4

trust me he'll be just fine at school. but if you are truly that anxious you could always home school him. i suggest you dont. if he does get bullied try to help him with it. if it continues and HE ASKS YOU to home school him dont hesitant to though cause it can be hard on some kids but to others its a breeze. just see with it is for him before you go to extremes. hope i helped.

Answer 5

I was very anxious when my first child started kindergarten.  She didn't talk at all at preschool (though she always did at home) and I was so fearful that she wouldn't speak in kindergarten either and that she'd be bullied, would have trouble making friends, and that teachers wouldn't challenge her because they wouldn't realize how much she knew since she wouldn't talk.  

She got an awesome kindergarten teacher, was speaking in front of the class (softly) almost right away, made good friends, and has thrived ever since.  

After that great first experience, I'm no longer nervous about sending my kids.  My third starts kindergarten this fall and she and I are equally excited about it.

It will be better than you think.  :-)

Answer 6

I think every parent has some anxiety about this.  We always protect our children and have been by their side since birth and now we send them to school where we aren't able to watch out for them and hold their hand all day.  But it will be fine.  You will see that once your child is going to school, the reality of it is much better than what you imagine.  You will both be fine.

Answer 7

Sure I was, and why wouldent you be? Your letting the pearson whos been following you for their whole life out into the world. You just have to realise that hes a "big boy" now and is ready. It's okay to feel worried, everyone does it. What i'm trying to say is... your son is fine and your on the verge of paranoid. Don't you think waking up in the middle of the night thinking about your son going to school is alot over the top? I sure do!  Take a deep breath and remember you went to school once, right? And you were fine.  If your really scard go to his school the first day.

I hope your fine when he starts.

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Answer 8

I know EXACTLY how you feel! My son is 5 and will start Kindergarten this fall and I'm terrified! I'm so worried that he won't make friends or won't listen or will get picked on. I think of all these crazy scenarios- like what if he goes to the bathroom at the same time as some 5th graders and no one is watching them and they beat him up? Or what if he runs off from the playground and no one sees him? Or what if his teacher turns out like that one in the news recently that stood her autistic student in front of the class and had all of his peers say what they didn't like about him? Sorry, I don't mean to give you any more ideas of things to worry about, just trying to say that I can relate. I think we just have to realize that at least 90% of our fears are probably irrational and that the likelyhood of anything bad happening to our babies at school is actually very small. But we're sending them off alone into a large group of strangers and that's hard! I plan to vounteer at the school as often as I can so I can get to know the teacher better and be involved with my son's school life. I think it will be easier once I'm familiar with what goes on in the building on a daily basis and I grow to trust the people I'm leaving him with. I'm pretty sure it will be scarier for us than it is for them. My son isn't scared at all- he can't wait but I'm a nervous wreck! Thank god I'm a pretty good actress around him- I don't want him to catch on to how scared I am and so far, so good. LOL.