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Behaviour/development

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3.5 yr old suddenly hates nursery school and is developing separation anxiety (very late??)

1 reply

bellawilliams · 02/12/2008 18:30

My son (middle of 3 in between 2 girls) has been going to nursery school for 2.5 hours a day since September. The first 10 weeks he loved it - ran first through the door with barely a backward glance - came out beaming every day.

10 days ago he was sent home because he had a coughing fit at school. When I got there he was really upset and I assumed quite ill. Turned out he was OK but I kept him off school for another day to be sure and he did have a bit of a cough.

Since then he has decided he doesn't want to go to school and we have a massive tantrum every day when he realises we are due to go after lunch. I have to literally drag him round the corner to school while pushing DD2 in the buggy. Once I leave he is apparently fine and comes out very happy at the end.

Of course I have spoken to him about why he doesnt like school - he says 'i can't stop coughing' - referring to the day he was ill, as he's fine now - but I can't get any other reasons out of him, and the teachers - who have been wonderful - can't either. He is suddenly no longer comfortable going to his little football club either, which he used to love, and last time I just had to take him home because he refused to join in.

It's so upsetting to see him so distraught, but also massively frustrating as I know he's fine once he's there. Anyone else been through this got any advice?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
thisisyesterday · 02/12/2008 18:35

I think a lot of children do this when they suddenly realise that school is "optional".
ie, he has had a couple of days off and it has suddenly clicked that actually he doesn't HAVE to go.
I would just go with it and see how he gets on. if he is happy once you've gone I suspect it's just that.
otherwise I would wonder if maybe someone or something was upsetting him there? but you'd expect staff to have picked up on that.

I have the same thing with ds1 now and then

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