4 year old emotional meltdowns - need advice!

[peachypips]

Hi all,

I need advice. DS1 was 4 in January. He has been going to his childminder since he was 9 months for two days a week. In the last month he has been crying and clinging to me and begging me not to let him go which is very upsetting as he has never done this before. He is also getting very upset about leaving me at other times and my DH is feeling bad because DS won't let him put him to bed.
He is a quiet child who has never been given to tantrums before except for the usual when he was approaching two.
Is this a developmental stage? Do I need to worry or is it normal? Do you think I should be gentle to him through it or telling him off??!!
Thank you for your help
x

Is this clinging+crying only at the CM?
What does CM do, what activities, is he bored with her?

Will he be starting school soon? Have you been talking about it with him?

No need to tell him off. All he probably asks from you is that you accept his fear and worries, stay with him and show him that you understand that he is sad and upset about something (would be great to know what about exactly, but it is even more important to just show your support). Imagine he would be upset but does not dear to show it to you, suppresses his feelings, so to speak. How would that help?
I suggest you get hold of any book by Aletha Solter, if crying/tantruming is what most irritates or troubles you, her book "TEars and tantrums" might be best. ANother I have found useful was "Helping young children flourish".
Best of luck!
M

Thank you ladies. I have wondered all of those things- my CM is amazing but a lot of his friends went to school last sept as DS is old in his year and it is now just him and some toddlers, with one girl his age. So he could well be bored as well as a bit anxious about school.
Have asked him what it is but have had no lucid answer...