Helping Preschoolers Cope With Separation Anxiety
When the youngest learners are given space and tools to process the intense emotions they feel when caregivers drop them off, they become more confident in a classroom setting—and build foundations for their lifelong school experience.
For preschoolers, being dropped off at school can be an overwhelming experience. What’s more, the fallout from separation anxiety can have a distracting effect on an entire class and make it difficult for teachers to move on with the lessons of the day. At the play-based Serra Preschool in San Francisco, California, teachers have put simple strategies in place—developing succinct goodbye routines, writing letters to caregivers, and sharing transitional comfort objects—to help equip young students with the skills to manage their emotions. As a result, the little ones become more independent and resilient, and they can move on with the business of learning.