Separation Anxiety??? - Albuquerque,NM

I used to teach preschool and sometimes just keeping a family photo in their backpacks would help. That way when ever they felt sad or missed mom, they could go look at their photo for a few minutes. It usually only took one or two days and then they forgot about the picture all together. I've also had moms write a special note just for them ( make a big deal out of it) with a heart saying "I love you and will see you soon" etc. They would keep the note in their pocket and whenever they felt sad they could take it out and look at it. I had one little boy on the first day of school, who held it in his hand all morning and would not let go of it. Then after lunch he gave it to me and said " I don't need this anymore, I love school!" Believe the teacher when she says he's fine for the rest of the time, sometimes when moms linger it only makes the child more dramatic because he sees that it bothers you. Quick goodbyes as if everything is fine and normal are the best, but be sure to tell him you love him and are coming back soon. A great book to read to him is " The Kissing Hand." Hope it won't last too long! I know how hard it is to leave your child crying with someone else!

I have a foster daughter who does the same thing and already has huge separation anxiety for other reasons besides leaving to go to school. All I can say is that it gets better with time; once the child gets into routine he will begin to expect it and the drama will go away. Its a hard to try and do something about it because if you punish him for this it will only make him bitter about going to school. The best thing that has worked for me is distraction. Plan with him to do something fun later in the week/month and remind him about it when he is fussing or change the subject to something else that interests him. And for you, know that getting him through this will help when he goes to kindergarten.

SC, I have a very shy 4 year old, and will start preschool in another month. I already know I will have this problem. I have two older children and I remember my daughter more so crying after I would leave her. The teacher assured me too that she only cried for a few minutes and she was fine. I know how it pulls on your heart. I was always happy to know that she stopped and she only did it while I was there. I think when he's there 5 times a week it'll be easier on him because there is all that time between the days he's not there. Hang in there momma, it will get better, hugs going out to you!

Mine goes full-time, but I still get the drama occasionally. Most of the time not, but it is heart-wrenching nonetheless. My neice had a lot of trouble with going to preschool part time, and it got better once she went full time. My sister said that she just didn't get in the swing of things, and didn't feel part of the class. I'm not recommending that you send him full-time, but just saying hang in there, it will get better. Also, there is a really sweet book called "The Kissing Hand" that helped my neice with school. She is now 14 and my sister still reads it to her the night before her first day of school. My son also likes it, even though he is in preschool.

Good luck and hang in there.