Is ANY child absolutely fine with starting Reception?

[Elf]

I've been reading a few threads here and as it is that time of year I was interested to hear not about the children who are finding it tough starting school but those who are apparently fine.

In my opinion, most schools prefer the 'leave her and she'll be fine in five minutes' approach which frankly I don't buy into as it can go on for days/weeks etc.

Anyway, please let me know if your child started Reception with no worries. And any opinions as to why that was. Thanks.

I saw one child crying on the first couple of days but that was all - they all seem to have been okay I think

Main problems are tiredness and lack of food during the morning, but not stress relating to school per se

I think the hardest thing will be once the playground girlie cleaks start bitchin' - that will last about 18 years I suppose

I think if you want to generalise there is some truth in what wildpatch says. I've seen no end of mums talking in front of their children about how worried they are/how they'll miss them and children do pick up on that.

I also think it's true when teachers say they'll be ok in 5 minutes -because 99% of the time the tears are for mummy's benefit but any teacher worth their salt will have fantastic distraction techniques and be able to deal with any wobbles throughout the day.

Friends from nursery definitely help in the short term.

DS was one of only a few children who had not been to the school nursery so I think he did really well starting school. Having said that he did know one or two of the other children already. He loves school and always has which is a big positive for me.

My ds started at 4.5 with no anxiety issues (ie no crying/screaming/clinging on to me) In fact he wandered in ahppily form day 1, although we did have behaviour issues in reception.....

IME a crying, clingy child NEEDS the dump and run approach (if the dumping is dumping with a staff member of course)

this is week 3 and today we got a last minute whimper from DD, whereas last week she started wailing at 8.10am and school doesn't even start till 9.10am ... and still within 2 minutes of my leaving she was happily running around and playing .. it is my presence that makes her upset

thanks mykidsmum

I have been doing that twig but he's been crying on and off for the WHOLE day. By the time its home time he's red and puffy with ewt snuggly toys

hastily adds princessmel I don't mean your child because continuing upset through the day is very different, but again is not what most people experience

I don't think you can blame the parents in all cases. I have twins who are seven now, they have been brought up the same, by me, and whilst one was great when she started school the other was a total clingy nightmare. Even now at seven she still can be, i have no idea why.

x-post .. yes I didn't mean your experience i think you're in the 0.1% I'm afraid

PrincessMel - Hope the meeting goes well, if it is too long a day couldn't he do half days for longer? If not 5 yet he isn't obliged to be there full time anyway.

I'm afraid of that too. He's usually so happy. All my friends are suprised as he's so confident.

He is getting better though. Its just hard to see.

The problem at our school is, for the clingy children the dump and run method is probably the best approach but as we are encouraged to stay it makes it harder for parents to leave. We are encouraged to stay until year 4.

Yes I've been told that too. I'm going to discuss it. I just dont want to go backwards as his crying in the day has lessened a bit. It was worse before. Mainly just at lunchtime now.

A commo theme in this thread is how children knew at least some of their classmates through pre-school. That certainly helps (dd is in that situation), but isn't always necessary. Ds1 knew nobody in his class when he strted school, but settled in very quickly and easily. Key factors were, IMO:
That he was ready for schhool (luck, because school strtaed when he was ready - had he been younger it would have statred months ealier).
That he had fun on his induction visits, so was looking forward to more.
That he 'clicked' on day one with a couple of classmates.
That we play-acted school for weeks ealier, making much of the routines, the putting youtr hand up, the calling yoyr teacher "Miss", the nhomework, etc. We walked past the school several times to warch it, and plated fancy-dress a couple of times with uhis uniform.

I am also of the firm opinoin that playdates in your home help a lot

so child is on own territory

have playdate tonight, should be sorting something fantastic for dinner but can't move my bum from this chair.

it is an absolute nightmare , but yes. It causes me huge problems, having four children in four different classes at the school, although it has changed recently to just on tuesdays and thursdays for three of them, although this was a result of building work at the school.

no, it is shit

dd1 in tears every day, being sick, nightmares etc

knows half of the class from playgroup so it is not that everyone is new

going on for nearly 4 weeks now

I have a whiny thread somewhere but am of the view that she has to go so have to stick it out and hope it doesn't go on for much longer

its terrible for parents with more than one child at the school, parents with toddlers, parents who work and parenst with clingy children. i have no idea why they do it, would love to dump and run!!

Mine was fine.

I completely disagree with "personally i think its the mom's with the problems. not the children. and i think they put their own issues on to their children."

Pretty much like when Psychomum thought that all her friends with boys were just bad parents because they climbed on things and bashed things, and played with cupboards... then she had boys and learnt

Different children react VERY differently - again, having seen Psycho's DS1 start school without a care in the world, and her DS2 still needing to be peeled off her each day now starting Yr1.

I think DS will be my one with problems