Sometimes the pain of separation seems to hurt us more than our children. Most children quickly adapt to a new classroom, especially if it is in the same school with familiar friends.

Here are some quick tips to help transitions and separations:

• Know your child and realize that each child’s response is different.  We all want our children to take to their caregivers with eager enthusiasm, however children’s responses to transition and separation depend upon their age, temperament, and experience. Just as adults experience a vast range of emotions as we anticipate a transition, children do as well.  Children are still in the stage of development where they need a lot of extra emotional support and education from us. Keeping this in mind will help as we support our children with transitions.
• Be positive. Our children have incredible intuitive skills.  They sense our anxiety and hesitation. As the first day for transition draws near, begin talking to your child about what to expect and about any concerns or fears they may have. Present the new classroom as a place where your child will learn new things and make friends. This mindset helps children feel safe and secure and provides them the opportunity to learn to navigate change.
• Tune-in to your child’s behavior. During times of change, our children may have behavior regressions, delayed reactions or even outbursts at pick-up time. It’s all normal typical part of child development. We can reassure them with positive comments, physical affection, and love.
• Contact the program to see how the day is going. If our children are upset when we leave them, we can feel uneasy or guilty. Just knowing they are okay can help us settle down and have a good day. One of the markers of a high-quality early childhood education program is the value that is placed on the relationship between home and school.  High-quality programs will welcome these parent phone calls and check-ins, recognizing this partnership as invaluable to a whole-child approach to early education and care.

Adapting to transition and overcoming separation anxiety may take time for some of us, both young and old. Transition times are learning times for our children and us. Remember that becoming comfortable in a new classroom is an ongoing process, not just a single event. Our children learn through consistent experience that each goodbye, as hard as it may be, is followed by our happy return.