I'm a bit nervous about my daughter starting StageCoach tomorrow.

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is 4 years old and will be starting Stage Coach tomorrow.
I am a bit nervous that she will show me up and not want to do it. She's always like this with anything new, especially involving other children.
She has verbal dyspraxia and recently refused to join in group speech therapy, because she was worried about the other children. We now let her go first so she is in the room already when the others arrive. This has worked very well. Now she says she likes the groups and likes the children.
I'm trying to help her gain confidence with other children before she starts school in January. She already goes to nursery, and seems to enjoy it.
Do you have any advice or tips to help her to settle? She is always better behaved when I'm not there, but I'd love to watch.

don't be nbervous, esp not about her showing you up! this is about her surely, not you?

being shy, or not wanting to join in straight away is absolutely normal regardless of verbal dyspraxia or any other problem IMO.
my son is 4 and likes to take time to observe before he'll willingly join in with things and it's really fine, honestly. his nursery said some kids are just like that. some jump in right away and get stuck in, others like to watch and make sure they know what's going on first.

so do things her way, let her take her time, and hopefully she'll really enjoy it

Thanks, When she dosn't want to do something tough, it does get extreamly embarassing for me. She crys, screams, and pulls me away.
People must think Oh my God.
Once she gets past that, she is fine and would never play up without me there.
It's just getting her in there that might be tricky.

"Show you up"?

She's 4 years old - how can a 4 year old possibly "show you up'?

And if she doesn't want to do it, it's not compulsory, you know!

don't be embarassed! lots of children are like that,.
heck i'm a bit like that myself and i'm 28 lol

let her lead, let her know you're there if she needs you. she might surprise you

Seeker- no one likes to be judged. Wouldn't it make you feel embarassed if your 4 year old was doing as I described??
Maybe it's just me.
If she goes for a session and dosn't like it, that will be fine. If she refuses to try it out though, I'll be a bit disapointed.
I'm really trying to increase her confidence around other children.

I don't want other parents to look and think There's no way my child would behave like that.

it doesn't matter what other people think.
you're doing this for a good reason, and your daughter is the only person who should matter. so forget other people, and concentrate on helping her have a fab time!

mll - if i saw a child behaving like that at an activity - being honest - i would think "why on earth is that mum forcing her dd to do this when she clearly doesn't want to"

i would not find it strange or badly behaved for a 4 y o to do this

She always goes through this phase when it's anything new at all. Even parties.
Once she's been once though she is fine. Like speech therapy, nursery, and going to see her friend. She now loves these things.
If I hadn't persavered though, she would practically be a recluse.
It would be a shame for her if I did this.

Maybe I'll go a bit early and settle her before the others come in, that might work. If she really kicks off though, I'll have to just take her home.
It would be a shame though as I think she'd love it.

If she refuses to do it, can you recommend anything else that will help with her confidence that maybe dosn't envolve other children? she loves music and dancing.

My dd has just started stagecoach and has made a fuss the 3 times she has gone. She has to be pulled off me literally. However as soon as I've gone she has a fab time and talks about it all week. Parents arent allowed to stay.

That sounds good then. That's what they have to do at nursery some mornings still, and she's been going for 2 years.
She never wants to leave though.

She's been. I was amazed!! She took to the teacher streight away, we came to watch her first session and she was fantastic. She even made a little friend. The other children really took to her and she was so well behaved. She really tried her best with everything and was clearly having a lot of fun.
I'm really pleased we went.

Good! DD went very happily today without a backward glance.

oh i'm really glad for you and her!

Thank you.