Kindergarden Crafts and Activities for Separation Anxiety

Source : Carol Deeb , ehow.com 

 

 

Anticipating the start of school is exciting for kindergarten students. However, when the day finally arrives, some children might be hesitant to separate from their parents. Crying, tightly clasping mom or dad and throwing tantrums are behaviors that indicate separation anxiety. To ease kindergartners' stress from being away from their parents during the school day, teachers can create crafts and activities that are fun and distracting, eventually leading to a peaceful separation.

 Pretend Time
 

Use dolls or make paper figures to represent a family. Set up the scenario that the child will be staying at school and the parents will not be there. Have children take turns talking for each of the characters. Have the children take turns acting out the parents, who console the child with reassuring words. Explain that the parents still love them when they are separated and that the teacher will be able to help them with anything they need. Also stress that the parents will be there after school to pick them up. 

Picture Perfect

 

Ask parents to give their kids a picture of themselves on the first day of kindergarten. After parents leave, your first activity can be to have the children create frames for their pictures. Offer construction paper and safety scissors so the students can cut out a piece larger than the picture, decorate the edges with markers and glue the photo to the frame. If the students' desks are not large enough to keep the picture on top, have them tuck it inside where it's accessible to pull out when they are feeling anxiety about being away from their parents. 

 

Teacher's Helper
 

A child who enters kindergarten full of angst can be the teacher's helper. Have specific tasks set aside in anticipation of a student who does not want to separate from a parent. Include activities such as cutting shapes for a class lesson, passing out papers to each desk, counting pencils needed by every student or following the teacher around and helping with little tasks until the child calms down. Being prepared with several activities can distract more than one child when needed to get their mind off the fact that their parents are not there.

Treasure Hunt
 

Before school starts, hide objects around the classroom, such as a book to read to the class, pencils, crayons and other items that students can use during school. As children arrive to class, tell them you are starting a treasure hunt as soon as the parents leave and give them a paper bag to decorate. The craft will distract them as the parents say goodbye, and the treasure hunt will be an exciting and educational experience. Give each child a piece of paper with pictures of the hidden treasures to find. To reinforce concepts, have a theme each time, such as a color, letter or number that must be found.

Anticipating the start of school is exciting for kindergarten students. However, when the day finally arrives, some children might be hesitant to separate from their parents. Crying, tightly clasping mom or dad and throwing tantrums are behaviors that indicate separation anxiety. To ease kindergartners' stress from being away from their parents during the school day, teachers can create crafts and activities that are fun and distracting, eventually leading to a peaceful separation.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_12196710_kindergarten-crafts-activities-separation-anxiety.html

Anticipating the start of school is exciting for kindergarten students. However, when the day finally arrives, some children might be hesitant to separate from their parents. Crying, tightly clasping mom or dad and throwing tantrums are behaviors that indicate separation anxiety. To ease kindergartners' stress from being away from their parents during the school day, teachers can create crafts and activities that are fun and distracting, eventually leading to a peaceful separation.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_12196710_kindergarten-crafts-activities-separation-anxiety.h