how do you get your 5 yr.old to stay at pre-school?

Question

my 5 year old twins, Matthew and Grace are starting school in a week and both have said they don't want to go,what can i do to make them stay and behave?

Answer 1

reassure them, give them a big hug and kiss each and tell them you'll come back when you are finished work, or when they are finished school.. but then you should LEAVE. they may cry.. they may pout or scream, but i dont think those preschool teachers are going to let them leave. They are also trained on how to deal with misbehaviour.

I am always truthful with my daughter at five. She had a GREAT time at Junior Kindergarten when she started at 4, but was nervous when it was her very first week. Once she saw how much fun it was, she never gave me a problem again unless she was ill.

They'll be alright. Just make sure when you drop them off and leave after the hug and kiss, DONT GO BACK. They will expect you to come back everytime and will give those poor teachers more of a fuss than if they KNOW you are gone when you say youre going. It also gives them a sense of knowing what's going on. It really does do good for them, even though it's one of the HARDEST thing I have done with my daughter.

(another thing was to let playdoh harden over night because I had warned her if she didnt put it back in the containers, it would get hard and we would have to throw it out. I looked at it all night debating.. and DIDNT put it away. Some of it didnt harden all the way, so that made me feel better the next day!)

Answer 2

If this is their first experience with school or child care settings, this is perfectly normal. If they have been with you for their whole 5 years of life, it can be scary going somewhere new, where Mommy or Daddy is not. There will be new people, a new setting, new children, they may not know what to expect, where the bathrooms are, how to talk to others, where to put their backpacks.... all of these little things can really stress kids out. I bet that once they see what preschool is all about, they will have so much fun, they'll forget about their worries. Talk up preschool... talk about all the exciting things they'll do and see there, talk about the kinds of toys and kids; make it sound irrisistable. Most important: put on a happy face. It sounds simple, but really makes a huge difference. Children respond to their primary caregiver's attitudes and reactions. If you are unsure and appear nervous, your children will pick up on that and will be unsure as well. You want to portray as positive of an image as possible. The first week will be hard... you have to be emotionally strong. Take them in, introduce them to the teacher, and say goodbye and go. Don't drag out your exit, that will only "tell" your children that you are unsure of leaving them in this new place, which will in turn cause them to be nervous. You can also try taking them in for an introduction to the teacher and classroom before the first day of school. That way they can feel more comfortable on the first day they have to stay. Don't worry... they'll be fine. Children have to go thru this natural adjustment to further independance. Almost children warm up to the classroom within a month (most within 2 weeks). It takes a period of adjustment, but this is just a new step in their lives.

Answer 3

I'm going to tell you this as a kindergarten teacher. First off talk as excitedly as you can about school. Don't talk about it being all day or how many hours even if your child asks. Next and most important ... walk in help them hang their stuff up, take a brief trip around the classroom pointing out fun toys, and walk with them to the teacher. Leave them with the teacher... .even if they scream and cry trust me if you stay and let it go on you will being doing the same thing in October. (Trust me it's hard but well worth it for you and your children). If you are really nervous talk to the teacher before hand and discuss this with her. Perhaps find a time when she can call and give you an update when the kids won't notice. She will thank you I promise. Your children are more likely to get over the separation if you make it quick. They'll be fine. It's one of the best years for the whole family.

Answer 4

aww they are probably just saying that they don't want to go because they are unsure what school be like for them. Im sure once they get there they will be okay.
A couple things to try...if you can bring them to school before hand and have them look at their classroom and meet the teacher. There are also some really great books in the library about a first day of school to let them see how it works and what they will do when they get there. Good luck...first days are often harder for mom than kids. ^_^

Answer 5

Take a tour before school starts with your kids. Point out all the fun things there ("Ooh, look! The coloring table! Did you see the play kitchen? You get your very own cubby!"), but the trick is to not let them play yet. That way, when you're at home and d they say they don't want to go, you can remind them of the great crayons and toys waiting for them at pre-school. Also, construct an agenda for what you'll do when you pick them up. That way, you can build pre-school into your day.

Answer 6

First of all you're the parent - You tell them they don't have a choice. I have b/g twins also. They are five and going into Kindergarden. They start on the fifth. We did the preschool thing last year. First of all I had them seperated. They were put in seperate classes. They got to make their own friends seperate of each other. I talked to parents and set up seperate play dates for them. On the first day of school I thought I had it all planned out. I had one pegged for the screamer and one that I thought would handle going into the classroom just fine. I got it backward. My son who I thought would scream walked in and just waved goodbye to me. my daughter screamed the first week, every morning. I put her in the classroom, gave her a kiss and left. I let her scream. Once she realized that I came back every day to get her she relaxed. I cried a lot. My husband thought I was cruel. I didn't let them have a choice. I told them you have to go to school. I also let them know some of the good things that happen, like they'd make friends, have circle time, sing, and all that fun stuff. I practiced that kind of stuff with them at home. I had them meet their teachers before school started so they'd at least have some knowledge of that person and they wouldn't be considered a complete stranger. Good luck.

Answer 7

Tell them that going to school isn't a decision they get to make. Drop them off at school, take a picture, and leave. Don't look back. If they cry, keep walking. It'll be hard but it's important for them to know that it's not something that they can change.

If they misbehave, take away their privledges (favorite toys, no tv, etc.) Make them earn the privledges back with good behavior.

Answer 8

You have to be tough and show them that you are the boss. Right now you can show them stuff about how school is fun. Play school games, print off color sheets, stuff like that. Then on the big day drop them off and leave as fast as you can. The preschool will be used to kids throwing fits and it sounds like they will be throwing a fit. It may take weeks but eventually they will see that they aren't winning and accept their fate and start enjoying it.

Answer 9

My daughter just started Kindergarten. At first she was scared. So to ease her I took her to the classroom and toured her around the campus and chatted with her teacher. After she met a couple of kids in her class she was eager to go play. Hype the situation up and overly excited// say to them "WOW! You are getting so big. Your going to have so much fun at school. Wish I could play and paint and do all that fun stuff too!"

Answer 10

If you know some of the other parents, try to get together so the children can meet before school starts. We did that, it was great. Just having one face you know makes all the difference.

(For the children's benefit, not yours)