Photo by DarkmoonArt_de from Pixabay

Welcome to our May blog! This month, we’re looking at the phenomenon of kindergarten anxiety. 

Kindergarten anxiety is a standard type of anxiety which most children go through as they end their preschool days and look to the future of the elementary school. All of us worry about change, and young children are no different. Well-meaning adults exacerbate kindergarten anxiety by cautioning young children about the rigors of kindergarten. It’s done out of concern for the kids but winds up making them feel unprepared for the sudden uptick in responsibilities and demands placed upon them.

There are ways around kindergarten anxiety. The important thing is to talk to your child and reassure them that they can handle what’s coming and that you are on their side and believe in them.

Some children fear the pressures of kindergarten. Instead of telling children that they will have to behave better or learn faster, it’s essential to say to children that a kindergarten is a place of love, joy, and learning. Focusing on the positives is very helpful to young children but acknowledging that there will be a few hard times in which parents will provide support is vital.

Other children feel a bit rejected by the preschool they attended upon graduation and confused by the need to move on from a place they loved and felt secure into an unknown location and teacher. These children have a bit of an adjustment and grieving process to deal with, and adult empathy is vital. It would be best to wean children slowly from a school where they feel safe and valued to their new environment. We recommend a few intermittent final days with Creekside Kids before kindergarten to help children transition and then a few intermittent days after the start of kindergarten to reconnect and realize they are growing into their new school and out of their preschool years.

It is not unusual for children facing the end of preschool and the unknown of kindergarten to display unusual or challenging behaviors in the late spring. Anxiety is just under the surface for many children ending their preschool careers and moving to kindergarten. For parents and caregivers, this is the time to be extra vigilant and empathetic toward our little ones, as they are often unable to express the fears and worries they feel verbally.

We’re so glad to know you and your kids at such a young age of discovery and empowerment. If we don’t know your kids yet, and you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for them, we’d like to invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our regular hours of operation are 6:30 am until 5:45 pm, Monday through Friday; however, we have a shortened schedule during COVID of 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.