Crying at pre-school

Does he settle once he's there. Or does he cry the whole time? It's totally normal for them not want to go in. My son is like this too , wants to stay home with me. I try not to say things like "OK that's where you are going today though" I just say oh that's OK, I will pick you up later, what do you think you will be doing today? Can't wait to hear all about it etc. He is unsure until get to door, goes in without a fuss and settles straight away It's just their little minds being more aware and if they will see you again xx

Mine cried every single morning 😩 but they said he’s completely fine when he’s there! They think he’s maybe just trying his luck. I’m trying to take it as a positive that he likes being at home so much 😂

I've got to start the transition all over again in couple weeks as current nursery is closing :( xx

Mine went through a phase of doing this and it’s so tough 😭 he goes to the local preschool too and he had been going in happily for months, and then all of a sudden not so happily. This went on for about a month. In the morning he would say ‘me want to stay home’ and ‘me no like to go to playschool’, it’s heartbreaking but I do think you sort of have to power through. Is there a way to make going in fun for him as a distraction? I tried asking my little boy what was upsetting him etc but he would just say ‘don’t know’. So after a few weeks of trying to support him emotionally etc wasn’t working, we then changed tactic. Preschool said he could have a Spider-Man sticker when he went in, and this evolved to pretending to be Spider-Man to get him out the house and into the car, shooting webs etc, and looking for the green goblin out the window in the car on the way, and then more webs etc going into playschool and then finally he would get a sticker. It seemed to work…

And he now goes in OK. He wants me to go in with him and help him put his coat and lunch bag away, whereas I used to drop him at the gate, but he’s not crying anymore and doesn’t ask to stay at home x

Echo the above but perhaps there is another developmental phase (dare I say 'leap' from the baby days) where they become more aware of their attachment to you? My boy has had similar recently since he a) moved up to the much bigger nursery room and b) he was out of nursery for one week due so when he went back it felt like an adjustment again. My boy usually settles as soon as I'm not there. Perhaps he wants to be near you and home comforts. Like Eilidh says, try to power through!

@Ruth yes, he’s fine once he’s there and when I pick him up he’s happy as Larry. I try and say those things and he just screams no at me 😭 he’s exceptionally strong willed. The ladies there have told me he soon settles down so that’s good I guess. I’m so sorry you have to start over again. My little boy is switching his school nursery next year so we will have to start again too 😭😭 xx

@Ellie I feel like you're writing about my son haha. He will scream no too or say he can't. It is just their age though. We never want to go to work either, but 9/10 we are OK once there We made our decision today on what new nursery he will be going to. I've had to take tablets as I had such a headache. Looked at a preschool today but so different to a private nursery. I feel Oliver isn't ready for that environment just yet, even though he went running around chatting to the children, exploring the classroom. It would prepare him for big school but it seemed to be a lot more educational. Even though he's come on absolutely amazingly in 6 months, I still feel he needs a little extra support so we've chosen a private one who will have more staff etc. Only downside it doesn't have a garden which he loves but it's right on sea front and they take them out twice a day. Don't worry too much about your little one, it's totally normal, they are just more aware at this age and testing us.Just got to power through

I’ve been going through the exact same with my little girl following her summer holidays. But it’s starting to get better. The ladies at her pre school said it’s very common and a lot of them go through this phase and not to worry. It’s so hard though when you have the guilt every time you drop them off

Thank you all for your comments, really do appreciate it. Turns out there is an issue with this other little boy there. They spoke to me when he came out today and said they have had to put some “things in place” to help stop him bothering my LB. Not really sure where to go from here as he’s very emotional about it xx