Nervous about preschool

[baileyann3]

I'm starting school this fall and I'm going to need to send my daughter to preschool 3 half days a week.

I'm sooo scared and sad and nervous and.. everything.

She's never been with anyone besides me, DP, and our moms. She is shy and takes such a long time to warm up. I cannot imagine me leaving her somewhere easily. I anticipate tears and screaming, and then what do I do? Will they let me hang out until she is okay? I might be there all day!

Anyone have a very attached two year old starting preschool or daycare soon? How can I prepare her? How can I prepare ME?

[~cassie]

Yes, my 2 yr old is starting in about a month at Mom's Day Out 2 days a week. He is shy as well, in fact he just now will go to my sister whom he says a few times a month. In my experience they let you ease them into the new setting but I also know for my kids it is better to drop them off, stay a few minutes while a teacher interacts with them/gets them busy and then I say bye and leave. It's always worked, hoping it works for my youngest.

[tangledblue]

This is sort of obvious, but don't let them sense your worried vibe! Have the idea that it will all go OK, and hold on to that idea. It might not be easy, but your confidence will give them confidence.

Also, talk to them about all the fun things they get to do at preschool. Learn their new friends' names and talk to them about what they do at preschool. Act really excited whenever they bring home a little project or whatever. Make sure the teacher knows how your children like to be comforted when they are upset. Maybe send a well-liked toy (not an irreplaceable lovey that might get lost) and/or a picture of you all together with a letter that the teacher can read to your child if/when she has trouble adjusting.
HTH!

[K1329]

My kids have both absolutely LOVED preschool. Dd started at 3 and ds at 2.5. They both transitioned well. It was me who had all the worries! And dd is shy, too. We stopped by the school many times before they actually started - usually after hours. We peeked in the windows, played on the playground, etc. I think by the time their first day rolled around, it felt like a familiar place.

Good luck! I think your dd will enjoy it!

[Latte Mama]

I'm right there with you OP. My DS is starting in September as well. He is also going 3 1/2 days a week and has never been with anyone but me, DP, my mom and my sister. I'm nervous too but I bet they will both end up being fine.

My DS is very attached to me and kind of a pushover around other kids. I hope he learns quick!

[Louisep]

Ugh, we just had our second day today. I'm not going to lie, parting with them is miserable for all concerned. My DS is a little younger than yours though, so it might be different for older toddlers.

The good news, he stops crying 5 minutes after I leave and has a blast the rest of the day. I bought a couple of books about going to preschool and he enjoys reading them, I talk to him a lot about school and what he'll do there and when mama will pick him up again.

Try and visit the school beforehand as much as you can and even see if there are any play dates with other kids in her class. Definitely meet the teacher and attend an open house.

I can't imagine it getting easier, but everyone tells me it does! The first day was marginally worse than today, so I guess it's true.

Good luck!

[mama2rey]

It does get easier. I work so I had to put my son in Daycare in January when he just turned 2. He cried at the beginning. Make sure that there is someone who will comfort your daughter-a good preschool will be understanding. Also heads up-sometimes they cry when you leave, but stop the minute you walk out the door. It made me feel better to be able to peek in 2 seconds after I left to see my son playing happily when 2 minutes earlier he was screaming at me not to go.

A book that also helped us was "Llama Llama misses Mama", its about a child who goes to school. My son stopped crying at drop offs after we started reading that book at bedtime.