The time has come for your little one to embark on a new adventure called preschool! While this is an exciting milestone, it can also trigger feelings of separation anxiety in both children and parents alike. As a parent, it’s natural to worry about how your child will cope with being away from you. We’ll explore some simple yet effective strategies to help reduce separation anxiety and make the transition to preschool smoother for you and your child.
Our children are experiencing the world around them at a rapid rate. They are finding their boundaries and understanding what is and isn’t safe. This can surely translate into anxiety at stages of their development, so finding ways to incorporate mindfulness during these times is the first step.
Mindfulness activities you can practice with your child can be fuss-free and take no time at all. Obviously, young children find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time which is why using techniques that use small snippets of attention span being beneficial.
A ‘breathing minute’
All this means is children take a deep breath and check-in with themselves for a minute in a quiet spot. Younger children could even grab a couple of coloured pencils and draw how they are feeling or what colours they feel represent their moods.
Firm up a mindful mantra
This of course needs to be specific to the individual, so perhaps have this conversation with your child and see what speaks to them. It could be something as simple as ‘I feel calm’ or ‘peacefulness is inside me”, by repeating these words you are naturally assisting the mind/ body connection through affirmation.
Try some yoga poses or stretching with your child
Movement helps release and regulate built-up emotions – use prompts such as “Can you stretch like a cat” or pretend you’re an elephant (swinging your arms around). Create some fun around it.
Focus on the senses
Take a walk outside around the neighbourhood. I used to refer to this as a nature walk. Together with your child, talk about the trees, the flowers you see and the insects you may encounter. Listen to the leaves blowing in the wind and birds chirping in the distance. This all helps bring them to the here and now and build a sense of perspective.
Incorporating mindfulness techniques into your child’s everyday life has powerful flow on effects. This is something they will learn to fall back on at times of need but most importantly develop an understanding that connecting with themselves and the environment around them will help them grow and flourish. Starting preschool is a big step for both children and parents. By familiarising your child with the environment, establishing routines, and providing comfort, you can make preschool a positive and exciting experience for your little one. With patience, empathy, and a little bit of creativity, you’ll be well on your way to conquering those preschool jitters together!