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How do I stop my baby from having anxiety on the first day of Nursery school or Kindergarten? There may be nothing you can do to stop this totally natural survival and growth mechanism from taking place. Yes, some children run into class on their first day of school without looking back or even a wave goodbye. Others cry for a day or two and yet others take a week or two. There are even children who take a month or more to get over their anxiety of separating from a caregiver or getting used to a new environment. While you may see your child cry during drop-off and pick-up times for a number of days, weeks or more, most of this anxiety lasts only a short time in the classroom on any given day, once the caregiver has left. Of course the dynamics between the quality of teachers, program, and facility of your child’s new school plays a big part in helping him/her to become more comfortable, independent and confident. The question though is what can you do to help. So, here are some suggestions that may help minimize, alleviate or, by some miracle, eradicate the natural responses that you and your child will inevitably confront as you approach the milestone that is the first day of school.

Having worked in the field of early childhood education for over ten years and being a parent myself, I am often asked by parents who have young children on how to find a school that will best meet the needs of their child. It can be a daunting, perplexing predicament these days because there are simply so many choices available in Hong Kong, especially for children aged six months to six years old. Preschools offer parents and children varied methodologies, curricula, religious and international affiliations, facilities and credentials. As often as twice a year, parents spend hours trooping from one “open house” to another, investigating campuses, meeting staff members, and receiving colorful brochures while trying to reach a decision.