My 3.5 year old DS has been attending a few clubs with me or DH since he was 18 months., mini athletics and a toddler and parent swimming class. The problem is he’s now aged out of the parent and toddler style classes and should now move up to the next age bracket class which is when parents just drop the kids off and don’t stay for the class. Same teachers etc just a different set up and age bracket. All clubs in our area seem to do this about 3ish. My DS absolutely won’t tolerate this and becomes very upset when we try to leave and eventually hasn’t actually attended the class.
I know at 3.5 he doesn’t NEED these clubs and I wouldn’t want to force him if it’s making him upset but I’m sad for him because he absolutely loved the clubs and they were the highlight of his week. When at the actual classes he barely looked at me and would just run around with his friends so it’s not that he requires a lot of parental involvement at the classes.
in every other way he’s a very confident, social little boy, lots of friends and is regularly looked after by other people (nursery, grandparents etc). He is quite attached to me but no more so than most 3 year olds. At soft play for example he’s very happy running off while i watch from the table, he’s not hanging off me asking me to come in. Has anyone experienced this and found any solutions? When I ask him why he doesn’t want to go on his own he just replies “because I love you” but isn’t able to give any other reason.