Help!! My 6 year old has first grade separation anxiety! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Question

My 6 year old started 1st grade at the same school he attended for kindergarten 2 weeks ago. He has also been on that campus for years because older brother attends the same school. He never has shown any seperation anxiety until now. They day that I volunteer he is fine but I would say 3 out of 5 days I have to take him to the office and leave hem there for them to calm and and they then walk him to class. I plan on continuing this same plan until he stops. I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions at helping me and my son get through this.

Answer 1

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I would say continue what you are doing. Ask him why he is so scared now, did something happen, a teacher or kid scared him? If not then continue on with what you are doing I bet it will stop soon. Good luck and just reassure him you will always be there to pick him up, or when he gets home however it works at your house.
I volunteered in both my daughters kindergarten classes and honestly the kids who acted like that were fine within 5 minutes if the parents left. Some kids just take longer to adjust to change. Give it a little more time. I would make sure that he is not afraid of anyone or anything though.

Answer 2

Bring him home and homeschool him. You know, there's nothing wrong with meeting kid's emotional needs, rather than getting them to 'tough it out.'

School is all wrong for little boys. And he still needs you, mom, despite what the school board says.

Answer 3

The best thing I recommend is to not give him attention. By giving attention to the behavior, you encourage it. When I worked in daycare I would take the child for the parent and talk with the child so the parent could "sneak" away. Once the child realizes that they will not be forgotten, they get used to the idea and drop offs are a cinch. Reward the child maybe. If they make it through an entire week, give them something special, like special time with you on the weekend. Believe it or not, It is just a phase to make you feel guilty. If the child will talk to you, make sure nothing is going on at school ie bully, mean students, fear of something. Good luck.

Answer 4

Daughter is the same way she starts grade one next week. Last year we just dropped her off and the teacher would take her and distracted her while I left. Unfortunately we started it at the end of the year, but this year we're planning on dropping her off in the yard with her brother. So how bout you drop your kids in the school yard instead of the classroom.

Answer 5

tell him to get over himself.
he wont love you that much when he hits 10 anyway so start early.

Answer 6

seriously, just stop going in, he needs to realize that it is not a choice to go to school, it's a must, if mommy is there, then he can throw a fit - aka sepetation anxiey- and you take care of him. If you stay away and at the end of the day, he'll sooner or later realize that it's ok to be at school with his friends. It is hard, I left my daughter when she was 1 and I thought she was going to die, then a few weeks later she was fine. He is not going to be fine until you break away and leave him truely alone there.

Source(s):

my personal experience

Answer 7

Stop walking him to his classrooms. If there is a bus available let him ride the bus to school, if the school is within walking distance then he should be walking to school with other children who walk. By you taking him to his classroom you are enabling his behavior. Are you going to be walking him to his classes when he gets into college?

Answer 8

I was the same way in first grade and it finally came out that the teacher was newly graduated and couldn't control the class. She would get attention by slapping the desk with a ruler. I had a nervous breakdown at the age of five!!
You might try talking to your son and find out why he suddenly hates school. Another child might be picking on him and has threatened him if he tells, etc. Get to the bottom of the problem asap.

Source(s):

mom and gramma

Answer 9

I'd begin by helping him through his night routine, PJ's, teeth brushing, prayers, story, then lay with him, talk to him about all the things he likes. Then steer the subject to all the things he likes about school. Emphasize on those positive things, talk excitedly about his friends and the fun things they'll do together at school.

The next morning, start with a big hug, at breakfast remind him of a couple of those fun things you talked about, try to get him excited about going in and doing those fun things. Also, talk to his teacher and let her know what's going on. Surly, she/he can say a few encouraging and welcoming words to your son.

Good luck. I know it's hard. Also, say your prayers for your son. That will be your God Send.

Answer 10

He needs to adjust and it sounds like what you are doing is best. But I would try to figure out why he's so upset. You may feel better if you set up a meeting with the teacher and find out if he's fine throughout the day.