Hesitant to let go of the child at the school doorstep, most parents suffer separation anxiety when their toddlers cling to them.
As the first day of preschool looms nearer, parents of toddlers envision a day filled with tears and bawling. Hesitant to let go of the child at the school doorstep, most parents suffer separation anxiety when their toddlers cling to them. An issue that went unnoticed earlier, separation anxiety has now become the main focus in preschools. Many of the city’s pre-schools have started adopting innovative techniques to help both child and parents deal with it.
“I was dreading the first day,” recalls Nitu Vinshi who recently put her one-and-a-half-year-old child in playschool. “But fortunately, the school had a parent orientation session a fortnight before it began. I was relieved when they said that I would be able to sit with my for the first three days. Although my son was shy initially, my presence reassured him enough to play with other kids. Now he wants to go to school even on Sunday,” she added. The parent’s presence helps the child adjust to a new environment. “For the first three weeks, the parent engages in activity with the child during the forty-minute session. Gradually, the parent will transfer some of her duties to the teacher. This will help the child adjust,” explained Nisha Gomes, principal of Babes, a preparatory school.
EuroKids even consults child psychologists and drafts creative ways to introduce toddlers to various activities and new ideas. “We give the parents a bugs bunny soft toy named buddy. The child is introduced to the toy before school starts,” says Kavita Mathur, head, academics, EuroKids preschool. “When the child starts his first day, he is greeted by a similar bugs bunny toy. The sight of a beloved toy makes them feel reassured.”
According to clinical psychologist Varsha Patkar, the preschools are playing it right. “The gradual introduction to a new environment will make the child feel more reassured. Sometimes, preschools can carry it too far, leading to confusion. But this is definitely a positive trend,” she said.
Savvy parents now demand open communication with schools and nurseries. “It took three weeks for my daughter to get used to school. The teachers kept me informed about her activities. This open communication reassured me. I will demand the same amount of interaction when my daughter starts primary school,” says Archana Bhatia.
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