Daily greetings between you and your child are special moments. They are key to daily transitions that must be carried out with care and consistency, and can set the tone for the rest of the day. Making these greeting as joyful and welcoming as possible will help make your preschool child feel more comfortable and relaxed. Here are a few tips to help:
Make Eye Contact – Establishing eye contact with your child helps strengthen your connection with your child. Think about a conversation you’ve had with another adult who keeps looking away- it’s unbearable! Our feelings toward that person are very much affected by this as well. Your preschool child can feel this way too.
Lower Yourself to Their Height – This will help make your child feel as you are at their level, instead of talking down to them, and enable you to maintain eye contact.
Give Them Your Undivided Attention – When parting or reuniting, put away your electronic devices. Even talking on a BlueTooth while picking your child up from school sends the message that they are not as important as the conversation they are not part of.
Give Them a Hug – A simple hug implies a certain level of intimacy with your child and helps boost self-esteem and brings a sense of security. Give them freely and often!
Make Your Good-bye’s Specific and Personal – Instead of giving your child a generic “Good-bye” , try to be as specific as possible, such as “Good-bye I will see you after I am done with work, have a great day, I love you!” . This simple adjustment will help your child feel more comfortable and give them a better timeline as to when you will be back to get them.