Originally Posted by Ms.Kay:
I would start prepping lil sis that big sis will be leaving for school...over and over..and start distracting/redirecting after she leaves...make a special picture or card for big sis...have the other kids big kids help. Rinse and repeat..good luck!
This. Prep her ahead of time.
Big sis IS leaving. Little sis can NOT go.
That is life. It's not going to change so she needs to learn to deal with it. I understand its difficult to manage but it really is something little sis needs to accept and deal with on many levels and in many situations. She isn't big sis.
Originally Posted by gumdrops:
Can you sit her down for a fun activity or little snack so she's not focused on big sis? Maybe get big sis on board and make it a game for her to be sneaky and not let little sis see her.
While I can see this working, I see it as a short term solution to a long term problem.
I don't like solutions that "hide" or gloss over the real issue. Little sis is NOT big sis so hiding or sneaking so as to not upset little sis is just going to create other issues later.
I think many times we try to do something fun or distracting to get a kid to not cry or be upset etc and after a while the 'fun' or the 'special' activity has to increase and be bigger and better than the day before or it doesn't work.
It causes the adult to have to continue upping their game to continue distracting the child from hurt or disappointment.
Kind of like "no cry" parenting.....just give them what they want to pacify them and so they won't cry....kwim?
I think parents and caregivers forget sometimes that hurt feelings or disappointment is necessary in life sometimes and it's not always bad or something we should jump through hoops to avoid.
Teaching a child to manage conflict, disappointment or difficulties in life is a skill not too many people have any more.
The lack of that skill is the issue in a lot of today's societal problems.