My twins just started fourth grade, so we’ve had many “first days” of school. When they first started preschool, it was tough. There were many days of clinging and tears when I tried to leave, especially from one of my boys. Eventually, as they got used to their teacher and school, they loved going to preschool, but I worried that it would be difficult again when they started kindergarten at a new school.
Do these two look happy to start kindergarten?
My strategy was not to make a big deal of the first day of kindergarten. The typical plan for “car riders” is that Mom or Dad drives up to the curb, opens the door, and the child goes out by himself and into the school. They strongly discourage parents from walking kids into school. So, I wasn’t sure what I would do if I threw open the car door on that first day, and one of the boys refused to get out! We’d either be sitting there making a scene, holding up the car line, or I’d have to find a parking space and defy the rules by walking him in. Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about.I had the twin most likely to cooperate sit closest to the door, and he hopped right out and headed into school. (By the way, it helped that we had gone together to find their classrooms and meet their teachers the previous week.) My other son hesitated, looked at his brother’s retreating back, and then yelled, “Hey, wait for me!” and ran out the door. Success! I think my tires squealed going out of the parking lot as I wanted to make a quick getaway before he realized what he had done. Ever since then we’ve never had trouble with the first day of school.
