It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and children are soon headed back to school!  Separation anxiety is common as children start at new schools or transition to a new classroom.  With change can come fears of the unknown- even for those children who have been going to school for a while.  I have found over the years that the drop-off process is often harder on the parents than the children.  Here are some helpful hints to make it a successful experience for all!

*This year I am also learning how to navigate the drop-off transition with my son, Kielson.  One thing that has been especially helpful for him is to bring a buddy to school, such as a stuffed animal.  Curious George was lovingly packed in Kielson’s bag each day he went to his new camp- George was a great comfort to both of us!

*Together with your child, come up with a special goodbye ritual and stick to it.  The more your child can anticipate what will happen, the safer they will feel (this is especially true for younger children).  Some examples are: a “family handshake”, a high five, or a kiss + hug combo when it’s time to say goodbye.

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Household Materials for Creative Play and Art:
At Stretch the Imagination we have a recycle center in our basement where we
categorize our materials. This can help organize your treasure hunt. I realize that
most people do not have a lot of space to save all their found materials but here are
just a few of the endless treasures you can find and reuse:

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