A tiny goodbye ritual that turns into a safe morning
A few minutes now can build a goodbye ritual your child will recognize and carry with them to daycare or school.
Morning goodbyes can feel like a sensitive moment, for kids and parents alike. A short, steady, predictable ritual helps a child know exactly what to expect, and to say goodbye feeling secure.
In just a few minutes you'll get a personalized goodbye card, ready to print and hang by the door or tuck into a bag.
Takes about 3 minutes
Works for preschool through 1st grade
Print it right away
A little about you
So the ritual fits your child perfectly.
How do you usually say goodbye?
Pick the one that fits best, or describe your own.
A short, consistent goodbye ritual helps kids know what to expect, and that is what makes it calming.
What matters most for you to say at goodbye?
This line will appear on the card, exactly as your child hears it from you.
A steady, repeated line gives your child something to hold onto every morning.
What matters most for them to say to themselves?
A short line your child can repeat when things feel a little hard.
A personal, first-person line becomes a tool your child can use on their own.
What helps them most in the morning?
You can choose more than one.
Knowing what helps your child is half the way to an easier morning.
A few more small details
This helps your child know what to expect after goodbye.
Goodbye ritual for
—
Print and hang by the door, or fold and tuck into a bag
1
How we say goodbye
2
What the parent says
3
What I say to myself
4
What helps
5
Who picks up
6
The first thing we do
Remember:
A ritual doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours. The more you repeat it, the safer an anchor it becomes.
A ritual doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours. The more you repeat it, the safer an anchor it becomes.
How to use this card
- Print it and hang it somewhere your child sees in the morning, by the door or inside their bag.
- Walk through the steps together a few times at home before trying it for real.
- Keep the same order and the same words every morning, that is what builds the sense of safety.