How to make the drop off smoother

[wingingit1987]

My 3 year old starts nursery tomorrow- she is my 4th child and is incredibly shy compared to her siblings (lockdown baby). We had an induction last week but she cried and wouldn’t leave my side. She doesn’t even really like interacting with most family members except a select few. How can I make it easier on her tomorrow? I’m lying awake worried sick about it all.

Oh it's so horrible! I'm an early years practitioner so I see it all the time. This sounds so mean but honestly it is the best way:

Hand her over to her key person, who will hopefully be greeting you. Say with a big smile "I'm going to work/the shops/somewhere else boring, see you soon/after lunch/after dinner!" and give her a kiss. And then leave. Have a cry in the car if you need to. And do that every single time. You need to put up that positive front, reassure her that you will be back. Please don't drag out the goodbyes, and don't let her see that you're anxious.

It will be hard, nursery will have strategies in place to help her settle and soon it will be a breeze. One 3 year old I work with found it extremely hard to come in with everyone else, so we arranged for her to arrive 15 minutes early, and since then she's had no worries. Anothe prefers to be the last one in, so his parent waits with him until everyone else is done. See how she goes - it may not be as bad as you're envisioning, and even if it is, there are ways around it. She will be fine. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I hope she went in ok and has a good day!

Totally agree with a swift handover, I found
The longer I hung round the worse he got. It then got to the point he'd run in and no give me a second look.

Thank you both. She managed it so well- we are a few days in now and no tears at drop off so far (although a few little wobbles when her key worker has went for breaks and things like that).