Back to School!

Thanks very much Little Evo.  You're probably right.  I am just panicking about them being happy and comfortable.  I bet you are right that they will settle in much more quickly than I will. Thanks for the support!

The best thing about the new school: we can walk there from our home. 

We used to drive for 20 minutes to his montessori preschool.  In the evenings it would take 30-40 minutes to get home.  It's so cool to hold his hand and walk through the footpaths to his new school  

This is exactly how it was for me when my daughter started reception here in the UK.  Right down to the long drive to/from Montessori preschool back in the US!    5+ years down the line, and I still love the walk home from school with my daughter.  My son walks to and from secondary school on his own (with friends) and I love that too.

Michiganmom, I'm sorry about your worries.  Little Evo is probably right that it will turn out to be an easier adjustment than you think after the first few days.  Hopefully all will go well!  Please do let us know.

Hello- My son just started year 3 today.. Was so hard for me to let him go knowing he might have a hard time adjusting to the system here. My poor little Yankee Boy is out there swimming with the much more witty, clever, scouser kids.  Doesn't help that my Fiancé keeps teasing me that by the end of the week he will know how to take the tires off the car faster than a Nascar pit crew team.    Oh well! It's all part of the adventure right? Here's for positive thinking on my son's first day!

Hi Smashley mine is in Year 3 as well and I find it's harder for me to adjust than him. Just wait until he comes home and you are all excited to see him and you ask him about his day thinking you are going to hear every little detail and he tells you ''it was fine.''    He will have a good day and so will you! 

So it's the end of the first week and my 6 year old in year 2 has come home and cried 3 of the last 4 days and it's tearing my heart out.  The first day he was beside himself because everytime he went outside and asked anyone to play they would tell him no.  The second day he thought he was in trouble because the lunch ladies wouldn't let him eat the little cupcake in his lunchbox because "we only eat healthy things at school". The third day again no one would allow him to play.  He cries and begs to go home.  In Michigan where we live there are 7 children that were in class together within 2 blocks of us as well as both my sister and nieces and aunt within 2 blocks as well.  I talk to the teacher everyday.  She is trying I guess but I feel sick.  My six year old in a new country, new school, new kids, uniform, and going all day all at once.  Now my 4 year old is set to start reception on Monday!  I am not sure what to do.  My husband suggested going home at half term to have both kids birthdays and Halloween with their families but I don't know if that would make it better or worse?  Thanks for listening. 

Michiganmom, just reading that made me want to cry for you and your son. It is all about adjustment more than anything else. I'm surprised the teacher hasn't given him a ''buddy'' as this is something we do at my children's school when a new child comes to our school where the teacher has another child be his special friend for the day and they sit beside them and help out with work and make sure they are included in playground play as well. They then pick another child for the next day and continue to do this for about a week. Maybe giving this as a suggestion to help ease your son's worry would help.

I just wanted to give you a hug and your little boy too and say it will get better just hang in there.

Michiganmom, please, sit down and have a chat with the teacher and even school head if need be if this persists for much longer. The teachers need to be working to make sure your son integrates well. That is their JOB!

((hugs))

ETA - a suggestion for how the teachers can do this is to have a little lesson about America and make sure that they bring up things about the US that kids always like (certain TV shows or characters, food, things like that). They can talk about how far away it is and how you have to fly there, etc. Also, if the school allows it, see if your son can bring in some US style treat (brownies or something) as well as pictures of Michigan. The school should be embracing the diversity!

Thank you so much for the advice and support.  I needed it.  I need to advocate more for him, and be more assertive.  You guys are so wonderful!  He did finally have a tear free day on Friday.  He is all about friends at school.  Friendships are everything to him.  He had playmates on Friday and felt so much better.  I pray this continues.  I will update you.  Thanks again!

I wish much success for your little guy!  Be as positive as you can and keep encouraging him to try his best to make some friends. He'll be fitting in and more comfortable with school in no time 

Glad to hear he's starting to make friends, it should get easier from here on in.  Balmerhon's suggestions for learning about America sound good.  I know I always try to do that with the kids at my playgroup (reading Dora's Thanksgiving to them this year and making pumpkin bread).

Oh Michiganmom, I'm so sorry to hear about your son's difficult start.  I hope things go easier with your second child's reception start today.  I agree with Balmerhon that you should talk to the teachers if things don't continue to improve for your six-year-old.  They're supposed to help children with these kind of transitions and making friends.  Good luck!