I’m looking for a bit of advice here. Any hints and tips really.
Miss A aged 2 1/2 and has started Pre-school, and she seems to be having problems settling in. She’s never been to nursery, so doesn’t have any experience of being left. And well…. it’s heartbreaking.
Today, or rather this morning she has sobbed her little heart out and asked to go back to bed, with a doll her Grandma gave her.
So I have let her, the mum inside me that doesn’t want to push her to do something that causes her this much distress, has given in. However another part of me feels that this is only going to make things worse in the long run.
Please I would welcome any help, especially from other mum’s who have been through this themselves.
Yours, a little bit despondently.
The ana mum diary x
My daughter loved her pre-school – she used to skip there happily.
However, when she started going full days at a different nursery it all changed. She didn’t want to go and would come up with all sorts of excuses not to. One time she fell to her knees outside the house clutching her tummy saying it hurt. Of course I took her back in and let her stay home. To this day she still claims tummy ache when she wants to get out of something!!
It’s a toughie. All I can say is it will get easier. 2 and a half is quite little still, so I probably wouldn’t force her, but you’re right, it is difficult not to make a rod for your own back.
Could you perhaps go in and stay with her and play for a little while? That used to help my daughter. Failing that, bribery!
Bless her. It’s so tough on you too. I’ve cried the walk home many times. x
Thanks so much for the comment Liz, really appreciate the support.
I have tried staying with her, and she is great whilst I am there. I was just hoping that now I could try and get to the point where she lets me leave happily?
I think the fact that she started quite young may well be holding her back a little, especially as she is quite clingy at the moment, maybe it’s the timing that off?
Think maybe the solution at the moment, is have another go in the new year?
Awh, poor A! Two and a half is very little, as Liz said, and I think you did right to give in at this point. I haven’t any experience as my two couldn’t wait to get into pre-school (not sure what that says about my parenting!) but I have experience of working at pre-school, and without fail all the children who sob leaving their mummies and daddies are fine within ten minutes of them leaving – and any hanging around and signs of wavering on the parents’ part just drags things out and makes things worse. Could she bring the doll grandma gave her to pre-school? Make up a story that it is time for the doll to go to pre-school, but she is not sure, and maybe Miss A could help the doll to settle in at pre-school? (just a thought). Where I worked this would have been allowed (to bring something from home) but I know they are all different. Good luck A and Miss N xx
hi ive got 4 children, 3 are in school, it was so hard to let them go to school when they really didnt want to. in my oppinion staying with them even if only for a few mins make it worse, i gave the playgroup/nursery my childs favourite things (which was a blankey) always and as hard as it was kissed them, cwtched them and told them i loved them and that i would be back soon. does miss A eventually stop crying/being upset when shes there or cry the whole time? X