jill’s

My class starts at 2pm and ends at exactly 8pm. Sometimes when I have my break, I go out of my room to check my children especially when I feel the need to.

My husband arrives at a varying time from 5pm up to 7pm. But he goes home the earliest possible when needed.

As parents, we are most especially concerned about our children’s needs. I am just a wall away from them and I can hear clearly their cries of wanting me to be beside them. We have hired a part-time yaya as I am also just a part-timer for this online job. However, my children who are three and two years old are really very choosy with the person/s who look after them. Adjusting is not easy for them. There is a stranger anxiety, most of the time. Sometimes too, separation anxiety. These two are normal for most who are very young children.

Sometimes I can’t help but conclude my about children’s attitude. I am thinking it’s in the genes that they could have inherited from either of us. But nowadays, there are so many ways to help children cope with these anxieties. Children vary. Some may be effective for them while some are not. Here are some that I’ve learned but doesn’t mean that I use them =) Hope you can add some more.

1. Tell them ahead of time what is going to happen, where are you going and who will be with them.

2. Introduce new people one at a time and have them get comfy with the new person.

3. Kiss them goodbye. Don’t escape like a thief does.

4. For very young children, playing peek-a-boo is a learning tool about object permanence and when something is gone, they can be back too.

5. Bring them to children’s party, day care centers or nursery programs and others.

6. If children have their own preference, know what it is. Try to make adjustments gradually.

7. Practice them beforehand how to say hi and smile to other people.

8. Read to them storybooks about meeting new people and parents having to leave and come back home again. A better and fun way of explaining this to them.

9. As a parent, be friendly. Be the first to set an example to them.

10. When you leave, don’t bring their anxiety with you. They say!