Saying Goodbye to Preschool
Helping Your Preschooler End the Year
Preschool children develop deep attachments to their preschool teachers and friends. In her article, "Helping Preschoolers Transition from School to Summer," Robin McClure says, "If your child has enjoyed going to a Parent’s Day Out or a preschool program this year, then transitioning to a summer at home and warm-weather fun may be harder than you’d think." Having a meaningful goodbye will help your child to transition smoothly into summer and then her next school year.
Give Time Meaning for Your Child
Because time is still a tricky concept for preschoolers, visual representations will help them understand when the school year is ending. About 2 weeks before the end of the year, make a paper chain with a link for every remaining school day. Each day, tear off one link and count the number of remaining school days. Do not start this process too early, as too much time can cause your child to become anxious and disconnect early from his classroom.
Give your child an explanation of what will happen after school ends. So many preschoolers think they will be going to Kindergarten the very next day. Explain that there is a whole summer ahead before Kindergarten. Tell your child how she will spend her summer days and if there are any special plans such as trips to Grandma's house or summer camps.
Help Your Child Remember This Past School Year
Talk about your memories and her memories by playing "Remember when..." What were her favorite parts and what were her least favorite parts? If you have pictures from the past year, look at them now. This would be a great time to make a scrap book including photographs of your child at school, samples of her artwork, and her own words describing the school year.
Acknowledge Your Child's Feelings
More often than not preschool children are sad rather than happy about the school year ending. For them, school is not yet work and is more about the relationships they have formed with their teachers and friends. Talk with your child about her feelings. Many children may feel sad to say goodbye, angry at the teachers, excited about summer, worried about kindergarten. Tell your child its OK to have two feelings at once. Some children may regress to younger behaviors or misbehave. This may be a good time to say, "I wonder if you are feeling sad that the school year is ending? I know we will be able to call your friends when you are missing them this summer."
Make an End of the Year Gift
Make a gift for your child's teacher or the whole school. Explain to your child that it will be a way for people to remember her when she is not there next year. Other families may be interested in collaborating on a gift as well. Ideas include a scrap book for the teacher or a piece of art made by the children for the hallway.
Don't Skip Goodbye!
It can be tempting for parents not to prepare their children for the end of the school year. But remember, saying goodbye is a part of life and teaching your child how to have a meaningful goodbye now will help her meet life's transitions with confidence throughout the rest of her life.
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