"When my oldest son Edwin first started preschool, it was incredibly stressful. He was about 3, and it was the first time in a big classroom for him. As a sensitive, quiet child, he was very upset on the first day. He cried and clung to me, and it broke my heart to see his little hand reaching for me with tear-soaked eyes as I left him there. Needless to say, I cried too."
"The experience with my second child, Charlie, couldn't have been more different. The minute I dropped him off at preschool, Charlie smiled, took his teacher's hand, and was gone. He woke up every day happy to go and happy to see his teacher and his friends. Edwin got there, too; it just took some time. Now-at age 10-he is a completely different kid; he is excited to go to school, even on the first day of a new school year, eager to see what adventures await."
Temperament appears at birth and shapes children's emotional responses to new environments. Some infants show distinct styles of response as early as four months. Children vary from highly sensitive individuals who experience prolonged separation distress to more adaptable children who eagerly join teachers. Transitions such as starting preschool or entering high school can trigger anxiety, depression, and loneliness for vulnerable youth. Reassuring routines and reminders of caregiver return can help some children adjust. Framing school transitions as opportunities rather than threats can empower children and support gradual adaptation over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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