Last night it was kindergarten open house. Briar FREAKED out. He was nearly crawling up me, and when I held him he had his arms so tight around my neck. I think that it was all the adults there. They just kind of stared at us. I hope that this year goes well. Did anyone elses kids freak out like this?

Hi,
My son Eli (6) started kindergarten this week. He has been unhappy every day so far, not wanting to go in etc... He always loved preschool so it has been a hard experience for both of us. I am hoping he just needs to get use to it and make new friends. Let me know how the week has been for you guys. Hope it all works out!

That is tough when that happens! Sometimes it can be because of all the people/movement/or noise. Can you go in on another day when the room is empty and he can look around without quite all the commotion? Remember too, that sooooooo often our kids reactions mimick what we're feeling inside. If we're feeling overwhelmed, you can be sure our kids are too. The difference is how you handle those feelings, and then how you approach the situation. Kids will take their cues from you. Try not to acknowlege him wanting to climb up on you, but instead distract them into something else if you can. (and watch the other kids...how many of the kindergarteners are being carried? I can tell you teachers kind of frown on the parent of the kindergartener who comes into open house being carried. Big kids now, time to walk.)

If you can't distract them out of the immediate issue, make the visit short and sweet and leave, without bringin attention to the behavior to other people or him. Remember too, not to talk about him in front of him. This does two things. 1) gives attention to the behavior and 2) sets others up to to the same with him.

Well Noah is repeating kindergarten this year. This is the first year that kindergarten is ALL DAY. He and Halle will be in the same class together, and they are in a brand new school K through 2nd grade. Last night was open house for us as well. Noah was VERY shy, not afraid, just shy. He knew practically every teacher there and was familiar with a lot of children as well, but he never said a word, just clung to my leg. Halle on the other hand made herself at home and mingled with the other kids, ran around the rooms exploring and had a ball. It takes him awhile to warm up to people.

all day kindergarten? hey that makes me want to ask them to put victoria in morning class and then in afternoon class too.......... same lessons twice........... hmmmmm

We do "all day kindergarten" with deaf kids all the time! When the school has a 1/2 day program, we use one session for just a regular, uninterrupted kindergarten day, and the other half to recieve their services.

I've also worked in a small district that ONLY had morning kindergarten. The with kids who needed additional services would attend 1/2 day kindergarten, and the other half of the day go back to preschool for their services.

We also have all day kindergarten here. I hope that it gets better for him and it could of just been all the people and the overwhelming of it all.