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My 3 year old has suddenly become clingy and less independent

1 reply

2point4kids · 10/11/2008 17:08

My DS1 who has just turned 3 last month has always been very confident.
He's off like a shot at toddler groups without a backwards glance at me.
He's always on the highest, most adventurous piece of equipment at the park.
He's been going to nursery one day a week since 10 months old and settled in straight away and enjoyed it.

In the last month though he's started getting upset at going. It got to the point that I thought it must be the nursery and I pulled him out as I hated seeing him so upset.

He's just started at a pre-school instead. Just 2 sessions a week of 2 hours each.
He was fine for the first one, but the next 2 sessions he has cried and thrown a tantrum on me leaving him. He says he only wants to stay if I stay too.
I've left him (on the condition that if he is upset for longer than 5 mins the staff will call me and I will come back for him) and he's been fine once I've gone and enjoyed himself.

He's started insisting on me playing with him at soft play places too where he used to be off on his own the second we were in the door.

Is this usual at his age?
What should I do to help him over it?
I'm nt sure whether to keep up the pre-school sessions or not at the moment... not sure what will be best in the long run!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lg08 · 10/11/2008 17:17

This sounds exactly like my son, who has also just turned 3. He used to be very confident and now seems clingy. I had blamed on his new baby sister and all the jealousy. I'm thinking now that is probably just a phase of clinginess and they will most likely grow out of it. I'm just trying to give lots of praise when he gives things a try.

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