My youngest DD turned 3 in late June. She started PK 3 days a week from 8-11. This has been her first full week and it has not gone well. She screams for about 10 minutes after she is dropped off, then about halfway through recess she starts back up. Recess for her is at 10:30 and we pick her up at 11. My older daughter is in 1st grade and is able to play with her on the playgrounds during recess and they give hugs goodbye but it is hard for my PK to separate from my oldest. So by the time we pick her up she is crying and it is so heartbreaking….will it get better, is she too young??
I told my hubby that if it wasn’t better in 2 more weeks we should consider pulling her until next year, he said no and that she would be fine….I have my doubts….what do ya’all think?
I work FT so, if she wasnt at PK she would be at the sitters with a 6 mth old baby. Great sitter but no one else to play with for her and she is technically ready, she knows all her shapes, colors, can count a little bit. She is excited to talk about school, happy to hang up her back pack it is just the good byes make her break down.
Some say sister on playground may be too much..how do you "fix" that?
Well we had quite the break through...I have been trying a rewards incentive for her and telling her to try to be brave and if she can be brave then she can earn a pink coin. I have also been asking her to hold one of my necklaces for me till I see her after work. For the last 2 days of PK she hasnt cried.
AND
She had pictures today at school and didn't even cry! You don’t even know what a milestone that is, since she was 6 mths old we have NEVER gotten her to take pictures and not been screaming her head off. I even had a coworker who does photography try to "sneak" pictures of her at the zoo. She is getting 2 pink coins today! I am so happy I could cry!!!
I think playing with her sister at recess just brings up the separation anxiety all over again. It would help if they could change that, at least for a few weeks until she is more comfortable. I really think she will adjust. Just try to be upbeat and quick when you leave her. Don't let her see you upset or anxious.
Follow your mommy gut
Just to reassure you, my majorly outgoing son surprised us all last year by doing exactly this when he started preschool last year. Just when I said one more week and we would pull him or make major adjustments, he was fine! He bonded with another little girl who struggled to transition. From then on, he was happy, secure and a part of the group. More reserved than I expected, but happy.
She will adjust.
They all do. Usually.
Some adjust quick. Some adjust less quick.
In the end, they all adjust. Usually.
The Teacher... is used to this.
She only goes 3 days a week for only 3 hours.
I would NOT... have the older sister be her recess playmate.
Older sister, should be able to have recess too... with her friends.
And it just makes it harder, on the younger child. To have older sister go away at the end of recess.
How does the Teacher handle this????
Each Teacher & school... has different manners of helping kids adjust.
Ask the Teacher.
Get the book "The Kissing Hand." It is a real cute great book, about going to school. Just for this purpose.
The crying each morning even for 2 weeks can be normal, but I think sister on the playground is too much..
If there is no way to have them stay separate.. It is going to take longer.
That is when you will have to rethink them attending the same school till baby is a little older.
She will adjust. You're doing a real good thing as she is at the age to make friends and work. Keep reassuing her and she will get used to it.
Well it is hard to say whether or not she is too young. It really depends upon how well you've socialized her previously.
I would stick to your idea. If she's still having major problems in two weeks, pull her. But you'll need to really work on getting her socialized so she's ready when she's four years old.
I can also see how it would be difficult to only go three days a week. There's no consistency every day. She's uncertain as to where she's going to be. Kids don't like to have their schedule seem different every day, especially at that young age. And even though you might feel like it is consistent, she doesn't really understand it like you do. If you're going to do it, I'd do it 5 days a week or not at all.
I don't have any in school yet, but I do have a 3.5 year old. :) I guess my question would be why PK right now? Is it an alternative to day care, or just something you were wanting to add for socialization? If it's an alt. to day care, then I would keep trying. If your other option is to keep her home with you, I'd do that for another year. There are SO many fun learning activites that you can do with her, places you can take her. If you are wanting to provide more social time, look into free activities at your local library or children's bookstores. Just my 2 cents...we don't plan to do any pre-school, and my husband is a teacher. My DD goes to Bible Study Fellowship with me one day/week, and the pre-school program there is phenomenal (she even learned the Pledge of Allegiance last year!). We will also have her in AWANA at our church while we are at choir practice, and when I can, I take her to a free Music Merriment class at a local bookstore. We'll work on numbers and letters at home - my next goal is numbers so we can start working on time so she knows when she can get out of bed! LOL! Good luck, keep us posted!
She might be too young, she might just need more time (in two weeks you will know if she is ready or not). My daughter at age 3 could only handle TWO days a week from 9-11:30am, even then I helped with snack once a week till Christmas to help ease my daughter's worries.
At home I would follow a similar schedule to the preschool's in the morning; free play, song time, bible time, snack time, art time, reading time, recess time.
I think she will adjust. I agree about not letting her sister play with her at recess. Listen to what your gut is saying also because she may not be ready.
My son goes to a sitters and he has no other kids to play with. Hes there every day after school for 2-1/2 hours. in the summer he goes to camp so he can be with other kids and not bored. We are even thinking about sending him to winter camp. I agree with the whole sitter thing but she is only 3.
