Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

School Daze: Handling that Transition

Aired September 02, 2002 - 10:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The first day of school can be emotional and traumatic with worries about what to wear and making new friends and how to find the lunchroom and all that stuff and that's just for the parents.
CNN's Gail O'Neill has some tips for parents of children getting ready to take that crucial first step.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAIL O'NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer as millions of kids get back into school mode. But imagine what it must be like for 4 and 5 year olds joining the pack for the very first time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just feeling weird.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nervous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just really nervous.

DIANE STINGER, ASST. PRINCIPAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR, ATLANTA ACADEMY: In any situation that's new, and I'm sure we experience this as adults, if it's different, if it's strange, if we don't know what to expect we're apprehensive.

STEPHEN W. GARBER, DIRECTOR, BEHAVIORAL INSTITUTE OF ATLANTA: There is that fear of the unknown. And then there's that whole -- that whole issue of separating.

O'NEILL: It can be a little scary for beginners, but easily remedied.

MARIANNE GARBER, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, BEHAVIORAL INSTITUTE OF ATLANTA: And we all feel more comfortable when we know what to expect and we -- when we've even had a taste of the situation.

O'NEILL: So why not stage a test run beforehand. Take your child to the school, have them meet their teachers,...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This will be over here.

O'NEILL: ... some of their classmates. Basically show them the lay of the land. And then when the big day finally arrives, drop them off...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get your backpack and take it inside. O'NEILL: ... and make a quick exit.

STINGER: The best way to say goodbye is to do it quickly. And invariably we have one or two who will cry, and we're asking the parents to let us take them. We do it gently. We do not hurt them, but some -- I have had to climb into vans and pick a child up.

O'NEILL (on camera): Of course for lots of kids having to say goodbye is a total non-issue, which means if there is a problem, experts say, parents may want to take a look at themselves and then ask the question whose separation anxiety is this anyway?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think I'm having it. She keeps asking me when I'm going to leave.

M. GARBER: Children read us very quickly. Children are very smart, and they don't want to disappoint us. If you want them to be upset about leaving you, they kind of get that message so they get a little more clingy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that was your gig.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my, well I think it was more nerve- wracking for me than her. I left in tears. I was nervous, and she was ready to get in -- get in the mix.

O'NEILL (voice-over): Child care professionals say the key for parents and children alike is to develop a routine because heaven knows...

(on camera): What would you tell them?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm OK.

O'NEILL (voice-over): This is just the first in a long line of firsts to come.

Gail O'Neill, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com