The Inevitable Wobble

At some point in Reception it is more than likely that your child is going to have what we in the profession call a 'wobble' .....

A day one wobble .. 

This may happen at the door on day one when your child suddenly resembles a koala bear hugging a tree, except they won't be cute and quiet and it won't be a tree that they are hanging onto dear life for! No, they will be screaming the house down as the teacher will be calmly trying to persuade said child to let go of your leg. You might want to die of embarrassment or feel like a failure or just plain wicked for daring to enroll your child in education. But please don't worry, we have seen this countless times. We know how to calm a child down and help them to settle. Nine times out of ten the exact same child will be playing cars and singing frozen songs fifteen minutes after you have left. Children like to play on your heartstrings so they might do this a few times before settling into a nice routine. However, trust me when I say it will pass and you are doing everything right. 

My top tips for a smooth drop off in those first few weeks... 

1. If possible, walk your child through hanging their items on their peg and finding their carpet space. 
2. No sneaking off! - be honest and give them a quick hug and kiss goodbye. 3. Don't linger for too long at the door - this can unsettle a previously settled child.
4. Explain to your child what is going to happen before it happens, the less surprises the more comfortable they will be. 
5. Plan a fun afternoon/evening activity for when you pick up. 

A lunchtime wobble ... 

Your child might be the child who has a lunchtime wobble, this can present itself as a sudden aversion to food, tears and/or tantrums. Going into the dinner hall for the first time can be very overwhelming for a 4 year old, its another new environment that they are not familiar with. Having to choose your own lunch can also be very difficult when you've never had to do it on your own before, especially if it's called something else at home! Children can also worry about things like carrying their lunch tray and using a knife and fork. Once again these things usually sort themselves out with time, but if a child seems upset a member of staff will be there to support them. 

Top tips for dinnertime ..

1. Ask for a copy of the school menu and talk your child through the choices before dropping them off at school. Knowing what choice to make really takes the pressure off.

2. Practise using cutlery at home, especially cutting up food.

3. Practise taking a plate to be washed up and/or putting rubbish in the bin. 

4. Ask to see the dinner hall on your school tour so your child can start to familiarise themselves with the space.  

An unexpected half term wobble ... 

So, you are six weeks into the school term and your child has taken everything in his/her stride, you've been totally wobble free, hurrah! But please don't count your chickens just yet. Sometimes a wobble can creep up on you, these unexpected wobbles usually happen around a school holiday, usually when the realisation hits that this school game is their new forever and/or when they've had a taste of freedom again! 

How to survive the unexpected wobble .. 

1. Lots of early nights - your child will be exhausted, long days and new activities use lots of energy! They are still so little and need their sleep.

2. Lots of reassurance - Remind them of all the reasons they love going to school; the friends they play with, the painting activities, the slide etc.

3. Speak to your teacher about how your child is feeling they will probably make an extra special effort to plan fun activities for your child and show them how much they love school really. 

Remember that whenever a wobble happens your teacher will be there to support you and your child. It is important to speak to them about your concerns, but try not to worry too much, it's more than likely to be a phase that will pass shortly. Stay patient!