my dd 2.9 is having trouble settling in at pre-school...any advice please...

[natsnix]

dd1 attends preschool two afternoons a week, but so far has only been able to attend an hour per session due to the fact that she does not want to participate in registration or story time...infact anything that requires sitting down within a group. she is fine with 'free play' but when its time to move on to structured play she starts to make a complete fuss. she is quite prone to tantrums, although has improved the last few weeks or so. whenever we go to a group that involves sitting down with all other children she has no interest and is quite vocal and (hate to say it but) disruptive. has anyone had anything similar?? any advice?? also, just got the invoice from the preschool and they have charged me for full sessions despite the fact that she has only had hourly sessions?? is this right?

My son hated formal sit down sessions, I took him to Monkey Music which he coped with at first but when he was old enough to assert an opinion, 2 1/2. yes he became disruptive, hated joining in. didn't want to be there. Hated tumble tots, hated story telling sessions at the library. Perhaps it was something about 'being seen' in a group like that. I felt anxious at the time but now i realised it's just his character. My husband hates the more formal type of thing. prefers to do things himself, I'd say it's certainly normal behaviour, perhaps the preschool is not the right one. Perhaps she is too young, perhaps this is just going to be her hate and how do you feel about that. Being the mother of a similar child who is now 5 1/2, it felt awkward because"all the other kids were doing it why won't he" I now feel proud of his individuality. He's easy going BUT he knows what he doesn't want.

We had this, my child got terribly upset when told to sit down in storytelling/group sessions at her new pre-school, in fact we only lasted 3 sessions there. I moved her to another nursery, who were happy if children didn't want to join in, but found them jobs to do to keep them occupied so they did not disrupt the others, and she loved it there, and is now happy to sit and listen.

I am so glad I listened to my child and my heart and moved her pronto.

To be honest I think they are generally too young at 3 and under for sit-down storytime and other too structured activities. It should be about fun and play.