Kate Silverton Instagram – Is your child starting nursery or pre-School soon?
Remember very young children are navigating the world with a brain that is much less developed than your own
It means that unfamiliar people and situations can put them into ‘fight/flight/flop’
This is the body’s NATURAL defence response to what might be perceived as a threat ie being left alone
No matter that as adults we know our children will be safe, no matter that we know we have to work, no matter that we know we are coming back
Many children at this age can’t ‘rationalise’ all of that just yet. They barely have a good grasp of time … so what is an hour to us can feel like forever to a very young child..
If your child expresses distress – SOOTHE
If your child is clinging to you – it’s a sign they don’t FEEL SAFE …
And that’s understandable – just as I imagine you would feel some anxiety in the example I share in the reel
It’s our job – and the job of those people caring for our children – to ensure their environment feels safe .. and that they support us in soothing our children
Installing a #bonding-bench is one way of doing that… a space in a corridor or in the playground where parents or carers can sit while a child who is struggling, can acclimatise to their new surroundings, coming back and forth to do what in therapy we call ‘reference’ the carer / mum / dad .. to allow them to build up the confidence ( and ultimately resilience ) to begin to enjoy their new fun surroundings & begin to ‘go it alone’
Many nurseries & schools are excellent at offering support to parents – with home visits, well-trained staff who understand attachment and distress and who help parents to soothe and ensure every child feels safe before / once they have crossed the threshold
But trust your own instincts too – remember ‘if it feels wrong, it IS wrong’ and you are the strongest advocate for your child.
Ensuring your child has a smooth and solid transition can make all the difference for future transitions
Good luck and I will post plenty more here – with many more exercises and tips in my book ‘there’s no such thing as naughty’
#attachment #preschool #parenting #anxiety #parentingtips | Posted on 28/Aug/2024 00:35:26
