How to help a child settle (EYFS).

[PinotAndPlaydough]

I have a little boy in my setting who gets so upset every day. He just wants his mum, it’s distressing for everyone and is impacting on the time I can spend with my other key children.
I’ve tried all the usual techniques, distraction, lots of cuddles, brining in things from home, going through a visual timetable of the day etc.
Mum is lovely and feels it’s best to drop off and not hang around which I agree with as it just prolongs the separation. Any brilliant ideas on how I can help this lovely little lad feel happy at pre-school?

[minisoksmakehardwork]

I suspect the child cannot imagine what his mum is doing without him being there. Have you tried photos of mum doing whatever she does when he is at preschool? Eg working, shopping etc.

[PinotAndPlaydough]

No I haven’t, that’s a really good idea though. Will suggest it to mum tomorrow.

[INeedNewShoes]

DD struggles at first but is fine now. She is 2.8. I talk her through some of the things I’ll be doing (making sure I omit anything she would feel she is missing out on) but most importantly I think, I talk to her about the fun activities she might be doing at nursery and always finish with ‘then after dinner I’ll pick you up’.

Could you suggest the parents do this?

With my DD, the no. 1 best distraction is to get her outside into the garden playing, or if inside, doing a particular activity.

She really benefits from doing organised activities in the morning. Her previous setting did a LOT of free play which just wasn’t engaging enough for her in the morning.

[drspouse]

Are there additional issues, attachment, adopted, family split?
My DC are adopted and DD has been through spells of this. When younger I actually found sometimes me getting get stuck into an activity with a key worker and then slipping off helped.