It Takes Time For Toddlers To Settle Into Preschool in Bangkok. Here’s What The Transition Looks Like.

My son recently started preschool in Bangkok and I wrote a post about how we prepared for this major milestone. And now that my son is about to complete a month of preschool I wanted to share more details about the transition because it wasn’t all smooth sailing. 

The first week of preschool went pretty well I have to admit. My son didn’t cry or throw any tantrums during drop off and he seemed pretty happy during school too from what his teacher told me. So you’re probably wondering why I said it all wasn’t smooth sailing? 

Nap schedules need readjusting — even on the weekends

I was warned that nap schedules go awry when kids start preschool. During the first week when we got home from school my son was so over excited with all the new experiences he just refused to nap — he just wanted to run around and play. So his naps were happening much later in the afternoon around 3/4PM, which wasn’t ideal because when he woke up he was extra cranky I’m guessing from being so overtire) and then he also didn’t sleep at the right time at night. 

Having a predictable, consistent routine is a cardinal rule when it comes to kids. They are conditioned to learn cues to know what to expect next in their daily routine whether it’s sleep, food, play etc. Preschool is a whole new “thing” in my son’s daily routine and he needed to be taught what to expect before and after preschool. Initially he threw some tantrums and refused to take a nap at the right time but within a week he understood that after school he gets a bottle of milk and then it’s nap time. 

We follow my son’s new weekday meal and nap timings and routine on the weekends too so there is consistency for him every day.

Be prepared for frequent illnesses due to exposure to new germs 

During the second week of school, my son got a viral infection and had a high fever for a few days so he pretty much missed the whole week of school. His doctor gave me a shocking statistic that kids can fall sick up to 10 times during their first year of school because they are exposed to a new environment with so many new children, toys, etc carrying all kinds of new germs. It’s not a pleasant thought but it’s the hardcore truth so just be mindful and prepared. 

I was expecting my son to catch a small bug here and there once he started school; I just didn’t think it was going to come full throttle in his second week! 

Separation anxiety happens and manifests in strange ways  

I was warned about the delayed realisation kids have when they realise that going to school means being away from mama and papa and they are being left “alone”.

My son, who is usually pretty happy-go-lucky and independent, suddenly got extra clingy with every family member. He wanted to be held and hugged a lot more than usual and got very upset and sensitive whenever anyone said “bye”. I’m happy to report this has improved a lot and he’s not as clingy. 

But right now, bedtime and naptime are still a slight challenge because on some days my son is extra sensitive about having to go to sleep on his own (he is sleep trained). So there are some nights we will co-sleep if he’s being particularly fussy and clingy. 

During the third week during school drop-off in the mornings suddenly there were dramatic tears when my son saw his teacher and realised what was happening. Even though it was gut-wrenching to see his tears, I didn’t go into school or spend long trying to comfort my son. I said a quick goodbye and let the teacher take him in and distract him. I think this is important because my son needs to trust and build a bond with his teacher so he feels secure with her. And it worked! Within a few days those teary goodbyes turned into sunny smiles. 

Starting school is a big change for the whole family. But it’s the biggest change for our kids. And preschool age kids are so young that they don’t really know how to express themselves and their feelings manifest in different, often unexpected ways. So if I’ve learned anything during this last month, it’s to just be extra patient, roll with the punches, and remain positive.