What's Happens After the Chaos of Drop Off

It’s busy. 

Drop off is one of the busiest transitions of the school day. Here's what happens in most schools:

1. Teachers greet the children and do a visual wellness check for each child (required in licensed child care in Ontario).

2. Children change into their indoor shoes, hang up their outerwear and backpacks, wash their hands and then choose their first activity of the day.

NOTE: The majority of the time, children are entering the classroom all at once so teachers need to be able to focus on the children (it sometimes can feel like a stampede!). Please try to avoid sharing important messages with the teachers during this time.

3. After the first 10 minutes of chaos, the classroom becomes calm.

In this case, calm doesn’t mean quiet or still. The children are walking around the classroom, choosing activities, talking to one another, etc. but the drop off transition is behind them and now everyone is focused on the day ahead.

It’s hard to believe that things can settle down so quickly but they do.

Two Things You Can Do To Make the Transition Easier

1. Drop Off On Time - One of the most helpful things parents can do is to drop off at the scheduled time. The first 30 minutes of the day is a delicate time, especially for the children who have a difficult time at drop off.

Some children also get upset again, after they've settled, because they saw someone else's parent at the door.

2. Don't Linger - There is something to be said for "out of sight, out of mind."

Saying a proper goodbye and then leaving quickly will be easier on everyone.

Teachers have a Long List of Strategies...

Teachers have a long list of strategies to help children settle, like:

• Spending time with that child, keeping them close for a little while
• Validating their feelings and reminding them that they’ll see mom/dad after school
• Sing, dance, or generally act a little silly
• Read them a book
  
• Excitedly invite them to do an activity together
• Give them space if that's what they showed/said they wanted

Every child is different so teachers will just try different things until they find something that works. Just trust that they will eventually find something :)