· Ben Okafor
Settling in, one goodbye at a time
The first weeks of school are big for everyone. Here's what we do to make drop-off easier, and what helps at home.
Every September, the Acorn Room fills with children who have never been to school before. Some walk in without looking back. Some need a few weeks. Both are completely normal.
What we do
- Keep goodbyes short and warm. A hug, a clear “I’ll be back after lunch,” and out the door.
- Offer a job. Feeding the fish or watering a plant gives a child something to hold onto.
- Send a photo. If a child had a tricky goodbye, we text a photo once they’ve settled.
What helps at home
Talk about school before it happens, and keep mornings predictable. And trust that tears at the door rarely last longer than the walk back to your car.