Anyone have this problem with their preschooler?

[melk]

Does anyone have trouble getting their preschooler to go to school?
My middle child (of course!) is suddenly very adamant that she does not want to go to preschool. She says she hates it, I asked her why and she said "Because you leave me there." (They know how to get you, don't they?) Anyway, I literally had to drag her there today. I don't want her to think that she can just quit. I spoke briefly with her teacher and she assured me that she doesn't cry when she's there, and she joins in activities. She's always happy when I pick her up and at home she tells us about her friends, what they did today, her classroom job, etc. So I think she really does like it, but for some reason she just drags her heels about going. Anyone have any advice on how you dealt with a similar situation? It's like I feel guilty on the drive there because she's crying, but after I drop her off I always peek back in and she's fine so then I feel alright with it. Ugh, I guess it's just part of being a parent!

 

[coqui]

No advice to give you but I guarantee the table will turn come college ( you don't want to let her go)

 

[preshi]

My son does almost the same thing. I have to hold him down to get his clothes on him, drag him to the car, listen to him yell and then when we get there he is fine. It's only when I have to take him in though because I take him about an hour early... when DH does it everything is A-OK...

 

[JAP]

Ahhh DD did the same thing last year! It drove me crazy. Is was very difficult when she cried and I felt horrible. By the time I picked her up in the evening she was happy as a claim.

I do not have much advice other than hang in there!

 

[trayletha]

Yes - Yes - Yes

I found if I get her up an hour or so early she does better (great alittle LESS sleep is just what I need ) It gives her a chance to do things at her pace.

 

[Serena]

My youngest was like that all the way to second grade. Good luck.

 

[jldriscoll]

Dealing with it now. My second dd is very different from her sister and it took me a long time to figure out what works for her. There is a WONDERFUL book that helped me greatly "figure her out" pm me and I'll give you the title.

When my dd uses the "I'll miss you" line I always tell her what I will be doing and when I will be back for her. This almost always works (even though she can't tell time, she finds comfort in hearing me say at 1 o'clock )

BTW, she NEVER acts this way for DH!! They do like to torcher us moms!

 

[ckr]

We have also been through this stage. She really pitched a fit when I'd try to leave her (at the door, the house had a porch). We talked about it and we made up the name "The Happy Porch" since (trying to divert from the idea that this was where I left her) it was where I CAME TO PICK HER UP! (Cheer! Hurray! It only works if you're REALLY "into" it! LOL!)

She started looking forward to that last kiss and hug on "The Happy Porch" before going in to play with her friends. And of course I'd make a big deal about "The Happy Porch" when I'd pick her up.

Another tried and true -- Make drop off as quick as possible. Talk with the teacher and let her know that you need to do this, so that she understands and can help comfort your child the first few times if there's a problem. As a rule (not stated -- DD doesn't know it), we don't enter DD's classroom with her. We've found that upon her first entrance into the classroom, she'll find something interesting, but if she has time to momentarilly take it in that AND still have mom/dad to cling to, she will. With the quick drop, we're already gone by the time she becomes disinterested in whatever had caught her attention. And so she goes to something else.
Note: My DDs were of the push mom's buttons/fine within 60 seconds of thinking mom was out of earshot variety. The quick drop just eliminates the drama because the desired audience (mom -- the one with easy and multiple buttons to push!) has left the building! LOL!

 

[Steve H.]

DS did that for about the first month of preschool for him -- "No school, no school!!" all the way to school and then constant tears pretty much the entire time he was there.

We were about to pull him out of the school, but tried one last option before we did that. We moved him to Wed./Fri. instead of Tues./Thurs. because they said there was less kids on those days and he'd get a little more attention. That, and my MIL now drops him off in the morning and DW picks him up in the afternoon (he only goes 1/2 days). Not sure which one (or both) worked, but now he really likes his school!

 

[Sonya]

My best friend's DD is doing that right now. One thing that worked for her was to have her bring in something for "show and tell". She looked forward to that and wanted to share so she didn't put up a fight.