Supporting kids to return to school after lockdown

@ArraDreaming I love the concept of looking at your little guy and seeing a little you, and thinking about what you would have needed- that is so beautiful, and so spot on I think! I've had moments like that too- it kind of helps me to strip away all of my adult over-thinking about things, and remember that often what kids need in those moments is to feel safe, have that connection, and have a cuddle!

It's great that you can go and have some plays at the school playground, hilarious about the wombat comment! I think that having that level of familiarity (and even knowing things like where to find the loo) make a huge difference for little people when they first start school.

Does your school do a year 6 buddy type of system, where kindy kids are paired up with an older buddy for the first few terms? That was something that our older kiddo loved. It's great that you're looking at different support options for him too.

Hey @ArraDreaming My biggest is in year 1 this year (NSW) so second year of school. We've had a really rough year getting him there. He tells me he doesn't really like school. He has lots of friends and the teachers like him and I can't see any major issues so I'm hoping he will grow out of it. A daily drop off routine and visual schedule has helped a bit. Well done for getting your little one to a stage where he's excited about it. It makes life so much easier and hey celebrate the wins where you can!! 😄

We go back to school next week so I'll check back and let you know how it goes. Wish me luck! 😓

@Former-Member Exactly and sometimes my partner can see the cogs going in my head and she says to me “don’t over think it”…

Its easy to forget how young they are, sometimes getting the green bowl when you were expecting red really is the end of the world. I remember what it was like to feel invalidated over things like that when I was young and maybe I give in too much because of it I don’t know, but if I can swap the bowl over to make his day a bit better why wouldn’t I? To me it may be trivial but to him it’s not.

I think they do, I’m actually not sure as my partner has done the enrolment but from what I’ve heard they do have a little buddy program. We will find out more as we get closer.

it’s good to get him going to kinder, he enjoys it but any mention of school for some reason just throws him right off but he isn’t 5 for ages so have to take that into account. looking at possibly adhd so that may help us understand how his brain works and what he might need.

In saying all of this though he boycotted kinder before he even started and told us he’d scream everyday if we took him and that’s turned out relatively ok so we’ll see how it all pans out.

Your school holidays must run on a different schedule than ours, kids in Victoria just went back this week.

Love this about the bowls @ArraDreaming You're a great Dad!

Just reporting back as I said I would and so far all good here. We've gone from clutching the school gate and screaming to walking in by himself! Fingers crossed that continues.