Inside kindergarten separation anxiety and the predictable goodbye rituals that help children settle
By Ashley Lynch
The classroom door can be the hardest place in the world for a 5-year-old, and for the parent watching from the other side. Tears, clinging and nervousness are familiar scenes at kindergarten drop-off, and understanding kindergarten separation anxiety can make the difference between a bumpy morning and one that builds a child’s confidence.
Child development experts say a calm, consistent routine is one of the strongest tools parents have. The way you say goodbye, and how you handle the wobble that follows, shapes how quickly your child settles into the school day.