To do: Get emotionally ready for dropping the kids off at school or preschool.
Time: 15 minutes, repeated!
Materials: Conversation, a drive past daycare or school
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While the transition from home to school can take time to perfect, you can bring about a positive change in drop off behavior with these ideas.

Tips for a good drop off:

1. Say long goodbyes at home or in the car. Once you get in the school, try to move things along quickly. Remember, this is your child’s special place, and the more the parent intrudes the harder the separation is!
2. Your child may be tearful for the first 5 minutes, but the activity of the classroom will soon have them entranced. Trust your school community!
3. Level up the independence factor, year after year. It’s amazing to see how proudly a child will conduct themselves when they get to walk into school all by themselves.
4. If your child is ready to go to the classroom, try to refrain from “But one more hug?” If they are ready, let them go and reflect on how much they have grown. You can be excited for them!

Speaking positively about school everyday will help your child adjust to the new schedule. Remember, rather than asking “Did anything bad happen today?” try starting the conversation with “What amazing things did you do today!?”

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