Parent Resource: Tips For The First Day of Preschool

The start of preschool is a milestone that is anticipated with joy and excitement, but it can also be a time of crying and uncertainty - for preschoolers and parents! Some preschoolers may experience separation anxiety during the first few weeks of school. This does not mean that something is wrong, this usually means that the child needs time to build trust with new faces and routines, as well as with the fact that you (the parent) will always come back! Bethany Christian Preschool wants to help you and your little one transition well into the new school year.

Here are a few things you can do to help you and your child adjust to school...

• Try to act confident yourself. Children are so intuitive! If you seem anxious and unsure about leaving your child, your child may pick up on that and start wondering if there really is something to worry about!

• Focus on the positive! Do not automatically assume that your child is worried about starting school or that she will have separation anxiety. Do not signal that she should be nervous by asking leading questions, such as, “Are you worried about starting preschool and being away from mommy?” Instead, focus on the exciting aspects of starting school.

• Talk about school before it begins. A great way to prepare kids for school is to talk about it with them! Describe or even role play some situations that they can expect will happen at school – such as snack time, recess, story time, etc. We also suggest doing a fun countdown, reading some back-to-school-themed books together or praying for your child’s new teacher and friends at night before bed. These small acts can help your child have a better understanding of what to expect in a school environment and can ease the transition once school begins.

• A quick good bye is best! Do not drag out the separation process, especially on the first day. Take your child to the classroom, hug her, tell her that you love her, tell her what time you will back to pick her up, and then leave. Do not stay or return if your child begins to cry. Our staff promises to embrace your child and help ease him/her into the classroom. This is what they have been trained to do and this is what they love to do!

• Arrive on time! It seems to be easier on most children if they arrive just before the classroom door is opened. This way they can enter the classroom with their friends. It can be much harder when they arrive after all of the other children have settled into activities.

• Have a playdate! Try to find at least one or two other children that will be in your child’s class (or at least attending the same preschool) and get together with their families before school starts. If your child starts to express worry about preschool, remind him that he will see his friends there.

• Think about your own emotions. Plan ahead about how you will handle your own feelings about leaving your child so that she does not see you getting upset, and then get upset herself. Think about what you will say when you leave your child and how you will keep from getting emotional in front of her.

• Beyond the first day... Separation problems sometimes show up on the second or third day, just when you thought you were getting off easy! It is also common for children to have difficulties when there are major changes in the home. Let us know if there is anything happening at your house that you think might affect your child’s behavior at school.

• If your child is having an especially hard time, we will give you a call!

Remember, it will be okay. These things are a normal part of a preschooler’s life. We are looking forward to serving your family and having a great year together at Bethany Christian Preschool.

Parent Resource: Bethany's Parenting Seminar

Bethany Christian School hosted an informational parenting seminar. After enjoying the comedic stylings of Dede Lomenick, the audience heard presentations from Sam Kastensmidt, Dede Hunter, and Julie Brasington. To review the slideshow presentation, please click here. 

Attendees were provided with the book 12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid: Leading Your Kids to Succeed in Life written by Dr. Tim Elmore.

SUMMARY: Sociologists are becoming increasingly alarmed by the stunning increase in mental health issues among young people. Over the past decade, as young people venture into college and adulthood, they are crumbling under the pressures associated with independent life in the real world. The number of diagnosed anxiety disorders has skyrocketed. Though suicide rates are climbing in all demographic categories, the suicide rate among teenage girls has doubled in the past decade alone. Rates of loneliness and depression are venturing into unprecedented territory. With the urgency of this growing mental health crisis, researchers have raced to identify the causes behind these trends. Study after study has pointed to two chief culprits: (1) the inundation of technology at young ages and (2) the trend of over-parenting. 

To read more about the potential pitfalls of technology and "over-parenting," please read the following articles.

Psychology Today: "Why Are Today's College Students So Emotionally Fragile?"

Psychology Today: "Ten Reasons Teens Have So Much Anxiety Today"

TED Talk (video): "How to Raise Successful Kids without Over-Parenting"

Atlantic Magazine: "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?"

TIME Magazine: "We Need to Talk About Kids and Smartphones"

TIME Magazine: "You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish"

Bethany Reaccredited with High Praise!

To ensure our compliance with the highest standards of education, Bethany Christian School is accredited by three major agencies, including Christian Schools of Florida, Middle States Association, and the National Council for Private School Accreditation. 

In March, Bethany underwent its five-year accreditation review and evaluation. A four-person team was commissioned to spend a week inspecting every aspect of our program. The team visited our classrooms and interviewed students, parents, teachers, staff members, pastors, and board members.

The team, which included administrators from other private Christian schools, offered Bethany its highest possible rating in each of the seven categories of evaluation, and they found that Bethany was fully compliant with each of the 164 required standards. In the official report, they praised Bethany for offering an “outstanding education” and a “very clear Gospel-centered environment.”

Cheryl Burdin, the Head of Spanish River Christian School, wrote: "The love of Christ and the joy of learning was present throughout campus, and it was definitely shown on the faces of the staff and students. We are greatly encouraged by the incredible Kingdom work at Bethany Christian School!” 

In addition to the healthy community of faith, Bethany was praised for its academic prowess, as demonstrated by our students in the NWEA's Measures of Academic Progress. Ninety-one percent of our 8th grade graduates literally scored off the charts — exceeding the highest available category in the data interpretation guide and demonstrating a grade equivalency beyond the nation’s average high school senior. A stunning 93% of our Middle School students achieved reading scores above the national median score. Likewise, our 5th graders concluded their Elementary careers averaging scores on par with the nation’s average student entering 11th grade.

Congratulations Bobcats! It is wonderful to see that Bethany's students -- from the little ones in our nursery to the young adults in our Middle School -- are flourishing.