Any story makers out there who can help me write a story to help my dd adjust to being left at school?

[merrygoround]

My dd likes her new school, but hates the fact that I am not there with her. She has cried every morning as I say goodbye, and begs me to stay. I know she likes it because she tells me so, and is always happy when picked up. And the teachers tell me she settles down quickly after I've gone. I am a bit frazzled with the tears, and wondered if I could help her by coming up with a story about a fictional 3.5 year old who is going to school. But I am not very imaginative and am lacking a good main character, and a punchline. Any ideas?

[auntymandy]

She clearly enjoys going and is just using her 3.5year old skills to work you!
I think the book is a nice idea but could make matters worse! They will get better on there own

[helsy]

I think a story is a nice idea and I'm not sure she "working" you - she may just not like saying goodbye to you but it's nice to know she settles down once you've gone. Ask the teacher how she is fairly regularly.
If she's 3.5 she'd probably respond to anything that sounded just like her day but with lots of happy bits in and the names of children in her group - so:

(DD)went to school and on the way she saw........ and............. and .........who waved and said hello to her.
When she got in to school she took off her hat and coat and put them on her peg, etc
Before snack she played in the sand/drew a picture, then she had juice nad a biscuit ..............
came home, told mummy all about her lovely day.

I've seen some nice books about first day at school, too.

[merrygoround]

Helsy, that is the kind of lines I am working on. I just wondered if I could somehow add in a twist or something a bit less obvious. I like the idea of putting in bits of detail about her day.

I was thinking of having a bit that said something like: the little girl wanted her mum to stay with her, but the teachers told her mum that it was their job to look after her, and that mums and dads had to go to their work.... or maybe something less blunt?

Or is it better to totally avoid the "goodbye" issue in the story and just keep reinforcing the good things?

Auntymandy I guess I am a soft touch. I know my dd is "working me" but I also know it is hard for her to adjust to me having to leave her so abruptly. Reasoning with her, bribing her, or ignoring her does not stop her from becoming upset, so I thought I'd try a more indirect tack, and think stories can be a good way of bringing out fears and allowing there to be a happy ending. But of course I will be wary of making things worse.

[cod]

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[merrygoround]

Cod I will get that, if it is still on the shelves. She is quite a Topsy and Tim fan. Still fancy penning my own though...

[cod]

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