To ask for help with separation anxiety in a 5 year old?

[Thehop]

My dd was 5 a week after starting full time primary earlier this month.

She was so confident and outgoing before and now is the opposite.

She now screams going into school in the morning and he to be pulled off me. She gets changed for her swimming lesson then refuses to get in the water, just clings onto me. She now won’t go through the door to gymnastics classes, just clings onto me and we end up having to go home.

Is this normal? What can I do to support her/get through it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

It’s completely normal OP but that doesn’t make it any less traumatic for you or your little one.
I would have a chat with her teacher, they will have been there before with other children struggling with separation anxiety. Maybe also ask if she can take a transitional comfort object with her to school. (a teddy, doll or something else that reminds her of home) she can keep this with her when she’s missing you or home and it reminds her that you’ll be there at the end of the day.
Discuss and plan a fun activity for after school. Even if it’s just 15 minutes of whatever she wants to do. She can look forward to this and you can write it in her planner so the teachers can talk to her about it if she has a wobble in school.
I’m not sure how much routine you have, especially in a morning before school and at bedtime but the more structure and consistency you can have at these times the better. It will help her relax.
Hopefully she will settle very soon, I’m sure she’s exhausted. It’s such a huge thing starting school.
Hope these suggestions help

Thank you that’s really useful. I’ve been trying to make her happier with relaxing routine 🙈 so will firm that back up and speak to school about a Teddy. Thanks so much

With the extra circular activities, don’t worry about them too much at the moment. Get her settled in school and she will settle with the rest. If she’s exhausted, she won’t feel like doing anything. The anxiety will make her feel even more tired. It may be worth parking any after school stuff until after she settles maybe even after half term?

Good luck 💗

That’s actually a really good suggestion. I wonder if I’m expecting way too much too soon in a bid to cover covid “not go anywhere” mum guilt?

Thank you that’s really helpful