3yo refusing to go to playgroup and super-clingy - what do I do?

[tiokiko]

Background - DD1 was 3 last week; she has had a bad cold/cough for the past 2 weeks which she is 99% recovered from but still not completely right. We have 8wo DD2, DD1 is great with her, gentle and interested etc.

She goes to playgroup 3 mornings each week (started a month before the baby arrived) and took to it straight away, loved it and really looked forward to going, no problems settling her in at all.

They called me to collect her last week as she was really upset and wouldn't settle. At the time I thought it was just down to her cold so took her back yesterday but she was really upset again and wouldn't let me leave so I ended up taking her back home after 30 mins. She didn't want to go in again today.

So - what do I do? There are only two more sessions before xmas holidays; do I stand my ground and take her in tomorrow and just brace ourselves for tears or leave it until the new year and start from scratch?

I am happy to take a tough line but I don't want to do anything that could be more damaging esp with the new baby - am aware this is probably linked as she is being v clingy with me in general at the moment and won't let anyone else do anything for her.

Sorry - just realised how long that was!

Short version - 3yo DD1 refusing to go to playgroup which she previously loved.

Do I make her go or give some leeway as she's being clingy following birth of DD2 8 weeks ago?

I'd keep her at home and give her a break and extra cuddles over holidays. Good luck

I would keep her off until after the Christmas break, but talk about playgroup positively during this time.

Making her go then having a break due to the holidays, won't help and she probably needs more reassurance since the arrival of her sister.

Keep her home. At least until after christmas and if she is still unhappy until September.

Thanks all, my instinct was to keep her home but didn't know if I was setting a bad precedent.

We've had a lovely day today, will try to 're-set' and reassure her over the next few weeks then hopefully she'll be up for playgroup again after the holidays.