DD crying again at nursery after being fine for one term- any advice ?

[monaco]

My daughter (who is nearly 2.5 years old) has been going to a pre-school nursery since September. She cried the first two weeks but then was fine. She was even happy to go to school each time.

Since the beginning of this term (so after the Xmas holiday), she cries every time I leave her. She is happy to go there, smiles and runs to the school door but once I start leaving the room, she cries and clings to me. The teacher tells me that 2 minutes after I'm gone, she is fine and plays happily and never asks for me until I pick her up.

The teacher asked me if there had been some chnages in the household. I was made redundant in November but spent the whole of November and December working from home and she was going to the nursery and being fine.
Other changes include her starting potty training (she asked for it).

I think she is going through a growing up phase and is hesitating between staying mummy's little baby and being a big girl, hence the clinging but I'm not sure.

Anybody else has been through that and has tips/advice to give me ?

This won't be helpful in terms of tips but both my DSs went through this at preschool-aged about 2 1/2.

The teachers said it was very common - particularly when new children started and were tearful, they often set the older ones off too. The only reassurance I can offer is that it didn't last long, and didn't happen again after the next holidays

Its just a phase, my ds2(3.5) has been through it many of times

Probably due to her getting used to being at home and with you again during the xmas holiday, little changes like this can make toddlers clingy as they like routine, just ride it out she will be fine again before you know it

Thanks to both of you for the reassurance. I will therefore just be patient and wait for it to end.

Ever since I've been a mom, I learned to be patient, which was definitely not my strong trait before !

Yes, I work in a Playgroup, and it's common for difficulty separating to happen after holidays.

I think your assessment is exactly right - with each developmental stage forward, there's an insecurity that goes with it.

Just feel reassured that she is not unhappy, It's just a little hard to say goodbye. Stay firm and positive when you leave her. They pick up on any guilt or ambivalence on your part.

You might want to give her something of yours (eg a hanky) to "look after" for you when you leave her.

Thanks Jamie. I like the tip about giving her something of mine, I'll do that next time.

Update: you were right, after a break (we went to my parents for a week) she is now ok when I leave her.

Now though we have the full tantrums for some other stuff. Guess the terrible twos finally hit us (she had been good so far on that front);-)