DD turned 2 the end of June, very bright and speaks incredibly well. Has her older siblings wrapped around her finger, she’s such a character! Will randomly talk to people in shops etc.
Started preschool the beginning of September, only put her down for 2 days per week as she’s not been in childcare previously. We also haven’t attended baby groups so feel like this might all be my fault! I don’t feel like she’s missed out particularly as she has older siblings and cousins and we’ve done lots of soft play, swimming, park trips etc.
First day they said they will phone to update, I naively thought she’ll be fine as initially she took a workers hand and walked straight in. Her older brother and sister also had no major issues, a few tears but were easily distracted. How wrong I was, she wouldn’t stop screaming and they gave me the option to collect her early - so I did.
Each session she’s attended is the same, she’s working herself up before we even get to the gate and cries from start to finish 😩 she won’t speak to anyone, play with anything, eat or drink 😩 each day I’ve been phoned and asked to collect her as they can’t console/distract her at all. I’m going in once per week to stay and play with her to try and get her a little more used to the setting.
Her brother attends primary school on the same site and each day she’s getting upset when we get near the building and she says to me “I don’t want to go to preschool!”
Today was school photos so I took her in for the sibling photos and just standing in the primary school hall she starts winding herself up and by the time our turn came the photographer said we won’t be getting a photo today and that she didn’t want her being sick on the floor. So I sent her brother off to his class without a photo.
I came home and just broke down in tears, I feel I’m really letting her down! Have I failed her by not attending play groups? Naturally she’s back to her happy, cheeky little self now 😂 she came over and gave me a big cuddle, asked what was wrong and told me it’s okay - bless her!
Preschool say we just need to persevere and that she needs to learn that I’m coming back for her and she’s not been abandoned. Any tips on what I can do to help her? Should I start taking her to a play group?
Sounds so silly but I’m gutted about the photos - we only get them once per year and it was already missing her big sister as she’s just started high school 🥺 to cheer myself up I’ve decided to take them to a photographer to have their photo taken all together! 😂😊