Awana Forums

Last week was our first week of Puggles. I think it went really well, but we had one child who has really bad separation anxiety. She knows me outside Puggles, so she pretty much plastered herself to me. It made it hard to actually teach and include all the other children. Anyone have any suggestions? I am hoping tomorrow night goes better.

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I don't really have any suggestions except time & patience. This is how Sophia was her first week, except she didn't know anyone. Last week was better

As a mom to 3 girls who all had seperation anxiety, it's difficult. What I do with my 1 year old is just make it short and sweet or use the "sneak out" method.

As a Puggles teacher, the best thing to do is try to distract the child. They may cry for a few minutes, but will usually stop. If they continue to cry for a long period of time, I would just go get the parent if they were available.

As for your little Puggle, I would think it will get better each week. She is just scared and you are her comfort, but once she realising there is nothing to fear, she should start to play with the others and relax.

I hope this helps!

Melissa

Tonight was Sophia's 3rd week. She cried wanting "mommy" for a while Then was fine till other kids were getting picked up, then started to fuss. Has improved each week

She wasn't there last week but we will see how it goes Sunday night. She is the baby of the family (and last one at home full time with mom) and I think part of the problem is her mom has a hard time leaving when the girl starts crying. I just try to encourage the mom that she will calm down soon.

As for getting the mom if she doesn't calm down, its no problem. We require that all parents of Puggles stay on the Church campus and let us know where they will be. We felt that because of the age of the kids we have (19 months-2 years) it would be the safest thing to do. Our church does a Sunday evening service as well as adult bible studies during the time Awana is going on, so there is plenty for the parents to choose from.

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one of my friend's moms works in the nursery during awana, the kid looked a lil younger than puggle age, but he was so quiet when I went in to talk to her, but as soon as the mom arrived, he started to fuss, weird. I thought i'd share something funny .

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Sparky leader for the AWESOME 1ST GRADE RED TEAM SPARKS!!!!!!!!
Citation 08
http://biblelessonslearned.blogspot.com/

"that's a really old.. CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!"

My son (who is 19 months old) does something similar and I am in the room with him! LOL When the other parents come to pick up, he starts trying to escape the room and crying. It is very funny what goes through their heads at this age!

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Our Puggles class is for workers kids only so having parents or great grandparents there is not a problem

It is funny you ask this question. It was my Mandy's first Puggles week last week (she just turned 2 on the 27th of September).  I made the mistake of sitting and talking with the teachers. Mandy was fine at first, playing with the toys but then she looked up and decided she wanted to hang with me. I realized I should have already made my exit. I gave her a big hug and a kiss and headed to the service.  I could hear her getting upset and actually angry. One of the boys in my daycare gets this way when he does not get his way. I won't allow this sort of thing (time out or at least put in a quiet place until they could settle down which is what her teachers did)

On my way back I was given Mandy's "homework" and in the folder there was a paper about Separation Anxiety written by Dr Dobson. Basicly it mentioned starting slow with time away. Also being honest with a child.  Believe me, a 2 year old may not be able to verbalize as well but they know that "bye bye" means you are not going to be there for a while. Be fair to the caregiver by letting them know where you are going to be and come back at the time you say you will (10 minutes, a hour, etc). 

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Proud mom to new Puggle and bonus mom to my sweet teenaged stepdaughter.

"...still my heart is torn. I will praise you in this storm" Casting Crowns

if possible, you may also try showing your child here you will be before you take her to area and drop her off.  Some friends of mine have 4 kids, she is the nursery director and the Awana secretary.  Their youngest son who just aged out of nursery this year always got real upset if all 6 members of his family(mom, dad, brother, 2 sisters and himself)  were not at the same place, so even with mom workingin the nursery he would scream when dad left to take the other kids to their SS classes.  Then one day for some reason they took the other kids first and he was fine with that, so thats what they did from then on, they all waled downstairs to drop the kids at SS so he could see where everybody was then brought him upstairs to the nursery.