Ds doesnt want to come home after preschool

[Tenochtitlan]

My ds started preschool a few weeks ago (33 months) and he loves it. The problem is he doesn't want to come home after. I shouldn't be surprised because he's always been like this after various toddler groups and classes and it was because he was enjoying himself too much, and didn't want to leave the toys. The thing is I can't help but feel a little dejected, my child doesn't want to come home to me! None of the other kids there seem to act this way. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you deal with it?

I work in a nursery and loads of kids are like this - there are at least as many crying because they don't want to leave as crying because they don't want to be left

My DS1 was like that with nursery! He went 3 full days a week from when he was one, often wailed when I or DH dropped him off, staff told us he was happy soon after, and by pick up time we would have to chase him around the nursery to get him! He would battle being put in the buggy too. Often he'd love seeing us at pick up time, would show us what he was doing/keep playing but with us too.
Don't worry that he loves pre school more than you! Just be glad he enjoys it that much, it is just a wrench for him leaving when he is having fun (and probably tired so changes such as going home make him a bit more emotional!)

Oh forgot to say how we dealt with it...took gathered coats, bags etc (sometimes he'd be happy to help), chased around, tried not to get impatient as the minutes ticked by, often had to manhandle him octopus style out and into buggy, try to engage in chat with him while he wailed about not wanting to leave, by half way home he was fine! Fun times. Quite a few other parents seemed to have the same thing happening so we/you are not alone!

My DS hides when he realises someone has come to pick him up!! I'm trying to tell myself it's a good sign as it means he is happy and settled and I'm not a bad mummy for sending him on days I don't NEED to!! (I work shifts, DS does set days)

This most likely isn't about wanting to be at pre-school more than home. Children this age find transitions unsettling and often resist them.

Lots of children cry on arrival then don't want to leave. It's the change they are resisting.

How good is the preparation for home time? Does everyone collect at once or do you just pick them up at a time that suits you?

If there isn't a good recognisable routine leading up to collection time maybe the staff could introduce some warnings for your son. They can say "OK miniteno, next we are going to do xxx, then we will do yyy and then it will be time for Mummy to collect you".

That short lead up to the transition might be enough to prepare him and help him feel calmer about it.