adjusting to preschool. first time away from mom. tips?

[ashleey2012]

we recently moved to london from the states, and since our move, our 2.5 year old has had a harder time sleeping alone at night. he wakes up at least once a night crying, wanting us to tuck him in again... he also tells me that he is scared of other kids and random things like a smoke detector outside of his room! i'm concerned because we are hoping to have him start nursery in september, and he will be there 4 times a week. any tips on helping him adjust? this would be the first time away from me... yikes.

Would it be possible to meet people who have kids at the nursery/starting there? Meeting up at the playground may ease things.

Also, just go to places where there are lots of kids so he is used to them being around.

When he says he is scared of something what do you say? I think it is natural at this age

He has just experieced a big change in his life - its stressful.

Its quite normal for small children to be afraid of randomn things. DD (3) had a couple of weeks where she was afraid of her wardrobe and wanted me to stay with her. She said it was the ghosts that live behind the wardrobe that scared her. But then she said they were quite nice really, they bring her presents, such as sweets and ice creams which she then keeps under her bed for the morning.

It's their phantasy and their limited kowledge of the world.

Could you arrange a settling in period with ther nursery? E.g. stay there with him until he knows the staff and the other children, and then leave for short periods ... That worked well with my DD as she wouldn't talk to anyone she didn't know very well.

thanks moms. yes, i've been thinking about asking the school if it's possible to get in touch with some of the moms and kids who attend the nursery, so that we can have some playgroups beforehand (if not beforehand, definitely after we have started and get to know the moms). and there is a settling in period where i will make sure he know swho everyone is so that he can start building connections with caretakers and new friends.

i'm glad to hear it's natural...hopefully time and routine will help. we have not been on a set routine with set activities, which might help later. it's just sad seeing him scared of the slide and other kids now. he used to be so happy going down huge slides on his own...

when my son is scared, i tend to tell him he has nothing to worry about, and laugh it off, but i also try and help him understand why it's nothing to be afraid about. i.e. yesterday he was afraid that the lawn mower would mow us up (maybe after reading disney cars books about tracker tipping and frank, the giant tractor combine). i had to explain that lawn mowers do not mow people, they only cut grass short, etc., etc. i also try to explain things over and over in detail for him, because that's what he asks me to do so that he can understand.

we are now enrolled in two classes during the week, and attend library rhyme times and drop in sessions in our neighborhood, so that he has more exposure to other kids. but i suppose the test will come in september when he starts school. guess we just gotta try our best and reevaluate when the time comes... :P

I had left my DS before he started preschool and he reacted really badly, even though I only left h with his Dad. After that I couldn't be bothered with leaving him again and then started to panic as preschool start approached.

We read maisy goes to preschool A LOT and I told him how much his cousin loved school A LOT.

His key worker took him by the hand when the day came, he looked back very briefly and off he went. To this day he is the only one of his intake NOT to have cried on going to school.

I didnt discuss what I would do while he was gone or anything like that. In my opinion they don't really care if it isn't about them! As far as they know you could just be waiting outside.

I don't even kiss him goodbye so as not to make a big thing of it.

Try not to worry and keep cool and I'm sure all will be well.