Social Emotional Learning

Elementary School

At the start of the year, counselors have been helping younger students adjust to new routines. This month, we are tackling tough goodbyes and easier transitions at home.

Big Feelings at Drop-Off

Some kids breeze through the school gate like pros. Others hold on like their life depends on it. Both are normal. Separation can be really tough at these ages, and let’s be honest, it can be just as tough for parents too. The good news? There are ways to make mornings easier and quicker without dragging it out or feeling alone in it. If you’re struggling, here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Invent a “secret handshake” goodbye that is silly, fast, and just yours. Kids love rituals, and it helps make goodbyes consistent.

• Skip “How was your day?” and go for the fun stuff. Try: “What was the weirdest thing that happened at lunch?” or “What was the funniest thing you saw today?” These questions invite real answers.

• Role play at home. Make it a family skit: one person is the staff at the gate, another is the teacher, another is a crying kid. Maybe someone can be Sra. Alluin with a walkie-talkie! Practice the goodbye, the walk through the gate, the wave from the inside. The more kids rehearse it in a playful way, the less intimidating it feels in real life.

Conversation Starters for Kids

• • “What part of the morning makes your (belly feel wobbly, the butterflies flutter, etc...)?”

  • “Who feels like a safe person when things feel tricky at school?”

  • “What’s one thing you’d like me to say (or not say) when we say goodbye?”

These kinds of questions help you see what’s really going on underneath the clinginess. Sometimes it’s worry about routines, sometimes it’s needing more time to warm up, and sometimes it’s just wanting the goodbye to be fast.

When You Need Extra Help

If mornings feel like a battle every day, you don’t have to manage it alone. Teachers and support staff are used to helping with transitions. You can always let your child’s teacher know you’d like help with a quick, confident hand-off at the gate. Often, a short, predictable routine with staff support works better than stretching it out.

A Note for Parents

In the early years of elementary school, kids are right in the thick of learning how to do “big kid” things. This includes not just reading or math, but also the emotional skill of saying goodbye and settling into a new space. Some are “see ya later” types, others are “one more hug” types, and both are exactly where they should be. Developmentally, kids warm up to separation at different speeds, and that’s normal. Goodbyes aren’t a test of parenting; they’re simply another place where kids show us who they are, how they grow, and how much support matters along the way.

Middle School

Last month, middle-school students participated in a Peacemaker Assembly about nonviolence, accountability, and forgiveness.  Keep reading for details about this assembly and ideas to keep the conversation going at home.

The Peacemaker Assembly, presented by the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, shared a powerful true story about the consequences of violence and the importance of forgiveness, compassion, and nonviolent choices. At the end, students pledged to be “peacemakers” in their own lives.

Here are some questions you can ask at home to help extend the learning:

·       “What does it mean to be a peacemaker at school or at home?”

·       “Why do you think forgiveness was such an important part of this story?”

·       “Can you think of a time when your choices made a ripple that affected other people?”

Encourage your child to share their peace pledge with you and talk about how they want to live it out this year at school, in their community, and at home!

You can find more amazing resources from this foundation here!