After The First Week: Settling into the School Year
Congratulations, families! You’ve made it through the first week of your wBees journey. This milestone marks the beginning of a meaningful and transformative chapter for both your child and your family. Whether your child is returning for another year or just beginning their preschool adventure, you’re likely experiencing a mix of emotions—and that’s completely natural. Starting something new is a big deal. As we settle into this new rhythm, we’d like to share what you can expect in the weeks ahead and offer suggestions to help pave the way for a joyful and connected school year.
Changes to Expect
Separation in the first weeks: Separation is totally unique in every child. Some children have a harder time at the beginning, with some tears and big feelings. Others are confident right off the bat. Regardless of how your child is feeling, it’s important to know that all feelings are totally welcome and each child’s journey will be different.
What we find with some children is a big wave of excitement and eagerness for school in the first days or weeks, which is then followed by big emotions around separation. The initial novelty and excitement fade, and reality sets in - This isn’t a one-time thing! We’re doing this every day.
You may start to hear, “I don’t want to go to school,” or “I don’t like school,” which is common for children at this age to say, while in reality, it’s a more complex feeling they are trying to describe. It’s often their way of trying to tell you that they miss you and don’t want to be away from you, or that the new changes might be feeling overwhelming. Validate those feelings in the moment and reassure your child that two things can be true at once - “It’s okay to feel sad and miss me AND you can also have an awesome day at school!”
This is completely normal, as it takes some time for a child’s mind and body to adjust to the new routine and structure. A young child’s body takes longer to adapt, and oftentimes, the adjustment can come with big feelings in the morning before school or some tears at drop-off. Please know that if you notice this with your child as the month goes on, we are here to partner with you to support your child. When they arrive at school, they will always be met with warmth, comfort, and space to process those big feelings.
Expanded Social Circle: Your child will begin forming relationships with their teachers and peers, which is an essential part of their development. Encourage these new friendships by arranging playdates with their classmates and talking to them about their teachers. Continue to practice teacher names and reassure them that these are trusted adults who keep them safe and care for them so much! Brightwheel is an excellent tool for this. Look through photos with your kiddos and ask them about who they see in the pictures.
Routine Adaptations: Check in with your family to see how this new schedule is going. Do you feel prepared in the morning? Are you making time for some self-care as well as connection time with your family? What can you tweak and adjust to have extra time for transitions that require more attention?
Different Environments: As your child becomes more comfortable with wBees and their new classroom, you might hear some insights that might differ from how your child usually goes about their day at home or elsewhere. Some behaviors can be associated with their environment, which is entirely normal. Some children nap every single day at school but never at home. Some children are more open to trying new things at school, but tend to stay within their comfort zone with their family. Whatever these differences may be, whether in behavior or temperament, it’s essential to recognize the significant impact that a space/environment can have on a child, and work with your teaching team to address any questions you may have about these differences.
Sustaining Routines
Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent daily routine, including regular sleep and meal times. Consistency provides comfort and security for your child during this time of change.
Arriving on Time: Our work cycle is child-led, allowing students to follow their interests and own workflow. It is still important to be on time to honor that time for your child. Oftentimes, children who come in late might feel like they’ve missed out on getting to try new works, being able to fully immerse themselves in a particular activity, or they might feel disoriented coming into an already bustling classroom. We hold work time sacred at wBees because we know how important it is for children to dedicate their attention to the things that intrigue and interest them. It’s a moment for their curiosity to take the lead and for them to explore at their own pace. Of course, we totally understand life gets in the way and hard mornings can get the best of us, but we appreciate all the efforts you make to have your child arrive at school on time.
Open Communication: Keep the lines of communication open with your child. Ask them about their day, and actively listen to their thoughts and feelings. This helps them feel understood and supported. If they don’t seem to want to talk about it right after school, that’s totally ok! Their bodies and minds are likely still processing all the different things they did throughout their school day. Checking in later at dinner or in the evening might encourage more language!
Try doing a “story of the day” before bedtime. Narrate to them the flow of their day, reiterating what they did (you can use Brightwheel photos to help!), and end with their afternoon and evening plans up until bedtime. This is a beautiful practice that encourages language, cognitive skills, and connection with you! Encourage them to fill in the gaps or add their input and details. “This morning we woke up and had breakfast together. You brushed your teeth, changed into your school clothes, and we biked to school together. At school, you painted with your friends and did a language work with a teacher. At park time, you went to Rosemary’s playground. After nap time, I picked you up and …….”
Create a Visual Schedule: Use a visual schedule at home to help your child understand and anticipate daily activities, including school. This is especially helpful for children whose routine might change from day to day (students with part-time schedules). This can reduce uncertainty and help them feel more in control.
Here are some tools we’ve made for you!
Building a Strong Connection
Connect with teachers: Our first conferences are just the first touchpoint for this wonderful partnership. Your child’s teachers are always available to answer questions, expand on what happened throughout the day, and give you insights into their child’s world at wBees. This partnership between home and school is invaluable.
Feel confident that we’re here for you! Whether it be a simple question you’re having second thoughts about or a bigger concern you’d like to share, I (Victoria) and your team are here to partner and share in this journey together.
Book Suggestions
For Adults:
"The Whole-Brain Child" by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson: This book offers practical strategies for understanding and managing your child's emotions.
"How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish: A classic guide to effective communication with children.
For Kids:
"The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn: A heartwarming story about separation anxiety and the love between a parent and child.
"Llama Llama Misses Mama" by Anna Dewdney: Follow Llama Llama as he experiences his first day of school and learns to cope with separation.
The first week of school is just the beginning of an exciting journey for both you and your child. Embrace the changes, maintain routines, and actively engage with your wBees community. With open communication, patience, and confidence, you can navigate this transition successfully, creating a strong foundation for your child's education and future. Remember, you're not alone in this journey; we’re right here with you!
