A little hand grips your hand just a little tighter at the gate. Eyes look up, checking “are you really leaving”?
It's easy to want to rush through this part. But those first few minutes at the classroom door aren't something to get past quickly. They're a big deal.
Every "bye, see you later" is your child practising something huge: trust. Trust that this new place is actually okay. Trust that you're coming back. Trust in themselves, that they can do this.
Here in Golden Bells Early Years, teachers see this happen every morning, a warm hello, a familiar song playing, a favourite corner waiting for them. Nothing fancy. Just enough to help a child feel like they belong here too.
One child cried at the door on Monday and was negotiating for 10 more minutes of playtime by Thursday. That's not unusual - that's basically the whole story of the first week.
Give it a few days. Watch the same child who once held back at the gate come running in with their bag, already looking for their friends.
Because when children feel safe, they stop counting minutes and start making memories.
