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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

My DD gets really upset when we talk about her starting reception...HELP!

9 replies

prawncracker · 14/08/2006 22:05

My DD who has just turned 4 is terrified about starting school in september. And I am dreading it too. She has been going to the adjoining kindergarten for a term but is totally unconvinced. What can I do to ease her passage into reception class?

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Maddison · 15/08/2006 10:57

Is she starting full time straightaway? Or is she being eased into it? They seem so young to be starting school.

My DS1 started reception last Sept and did afternoons only the first week, mornings only the second week and from the third week onwards he was full time. I think they did this to just ease them in and get used to it, so it wasn't a full day immediately. Could this be what your dd is worrying about, being away from you for a 'full' day?

I would tell her that she will be with her friends from nursery and that she will have a great time, reception is about learning through play so it's not like she will be sat down at a desk all the time writing and reading etc..

I hope this helps you a little, hopefully somebody else will come along with more suggestions xx

Wallace · 15/08/2006 11:04

Dd just started today. She was not looking forward to it at all. I'm afraid to say I bribed her...I mean offered a reward. And if she is good at saying goodbye, she will get a Bratz doll (her choice) after the first 4 weeks (that's when they start full-time)

She was a wee bit teary this morning, but didn't cling.

Bugsy2 · 15/08/2006 11:58

I would stop talking to her about it. My DS was such a worrier & I used to have to brief people not to talk to him about school in Sept before he started. If just talking about it is going to worry your DD, I really would back off. You can explain until you are blue in the face but in her little head it won't make much difference.

After all his anxiety my DS struggled a bit for the first few weeks. Was very teary & clingy in the morning and I had to hold his hand and take him right into class every day. However, by the first half-term he started to get into the routine of it all & I'm happy to say that now two years on, he bounds in every morning no problem.

Philly · 15/08/2006 14:21

My ds starts in September and is also very unenthusiastic.The problem ius also that he is a third boy (but not going to same school as others ,complicated story!)and in general comes accross as very confident and chatty,I'm sure his new teacher already has him labeled as very noisy ,but actually he IS confident at home and nursery because he is top dog at nursery adn very has to keep up with the others at home but underneath he is just as nervous as any other child also people keep sayoing things to him like
"you'll have to sit up straight at school" or "eat your lunch" or Mrs x won't like that will she"so i think he has got a very negative idea of school.I've just decided to stop talking about it too him for a bit because i could see he was getting stressed,we had to get his uniform last week and he said to the lady in the shop that the jumper was itchy so she said that he would have to wear it like all the other good boys.Three o'clock in the morning and he is crying because he doesn't want to wear the itchy jumper at that "horrid school"!

Original poster

prawncracker · 15/08/2006 20:26

Thanks for all replying to my plea! It makes me feel better to talk about this. I have decided not to talk to her about it too much and to arrange as many play dates with her new classmates prior to her starting as I can. I have seriously considered the bribery option too! No decisions on this as yet. We did go uniform shopping today and she didn't get upset at all - infact she was most chuffed as I bought her 'days of the week fairytopia pants' in M&S. TBH I suspect there will be tears and a settling in period and I just have to take this on the chin and get on with it.

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cat64 · 15/08/2006 20:34

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KTeepee · 15/08/2006 20:48

My ds was like this last year, up to the last minute adamant that he was going to stay at home with me or go back to his nursery. I avoided talking about it as much as possible. He did not look too happy in the playground the first morning (wouldn't let me take his photo with the children he already knew) but he went in ok and hasn't looked back!

Ime there are often more tears from the children moving up to Yr 1 for the first few days....

Wallace · 16/08/2006 07:13

Dd had a wonderful time yesterday, and is looking forward to it today

jenkel · 18/08/2006 14:46

My dd is just the same, she turned 4 a couple of weeks ago and everytime I mentioned reception she just got very upset. I have now decided not to mention it again as I dont want to ruin her holiday so we have left off for a few weeks. However, I have started to get her uniform organised and I have been showing it to her and she seems happy so fingers crossed.

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