DS exhausted by preschool- advice please

[madmarriedNika]

We are very fortunate here to get fully-funded 5 morning sessions a week at the local school's preschool unit, where DS started in Sept (he's now 3.6yo). There was very gradual settling in and the full 8.45-1.15 session only started at the beginning of Nov. Trouble is, DS is just exhausted by it. We try to let him flop about at home for a few hrs afterwards (while his sister naps) but by the weekends he really is soooo tired. Most weeks I've decided to not put him on at least 1 day of the week because he seems so tired (which some parents think is quite odd!) but I only work 2.5 days a week so can do this on the mornings I'm at home.

How long should it take before he adjusts to it without being so exhausted? He is enjoying preschool and wants to go, although some days does ask to stay home with me. He's normally very active so it's strange to see him so tired in the afternoons!

Thanks for reading

What time is he going to bed/getting up? That may be the issue. At your ds's age my ds was doing 4 days of 9.30am to 3pm and one day of 9.30am to 12.30pm. I made sure that he went to bed as early as I could despite working full time. I have heard of friends keeping their dc up until 9pm or 10pm so they could have some time with them when they got home from work. Mad imo as little ones need their rest. If late nights aren't the reason then an afternoon nap should help or limiting after nursery or weekend activities until he gets used to it.

Sorry just to confuse issues I've name changed from madmarriedNika to JumpingJellyfish (long story!)- DS goes to bed at 7.30pm, usually asleep by 7.45pm latest and is up around 7am (I don't have to wake him). He refuses to nap at all in the day even though sometimes I really think he needs to!!

I agree with MollieO - I'd be tempted to get him in bed sooner (but apologies in advance if you try this and then he's up at 5am ). My almost 4 y.o DS is in bed at 6.45pm on preschool days and flakes out straight away.

I think providing he's enjoying it, I'd persevere.... try to prevent afternoons & weekends from being too hectic, and as he gets a bit older I bet he'll cope with the tiredness a bit better.

He'll have loads of stamina by the time he starts school! And how lucky are you getting 5 sessions, wish we could!

I'd just follow his lead tbh. When he asks to stay at home, keep him at home; when he asks to go, send him

Children in my country all have a day nap between approx 13:00 (1pm) to 15:00 (3pm).
They need it for healthy development of their central nervous system and growth. It is biological clock for a child untill they're 6 years old.

It doesn't matter what time your child gets up or goes to bed in the evening. Normal time to go to bed is after 8-9pm (20:00 to 21:00) in Europe and if child gets up at 7am or 8am then they need DAY TIME SLEEP.

It is only in the UK children do not sleep during the day. Everywhere else they are at kindergardens full day where they have cooked warm meals, day sleep and play.

School starts in most countries at 6 or 7 years of age.

Try giving him an earlier bedtime. When DD1 was in her first term of Reception (half days) she was completely exhausted until we brought bedtime forward to 6:30pm. I thought it was ridiculously early, but she still slept through and it made the world of difference.

I know they don't like it, because it messes up their places and funding, but I would talk to them about wanting to drop the number of days he goes to three or four, perhaps with a staged build up back to five days, which he may be more able to do around easter/summer when we all feel more energetic anyway. This is his individual need and they may be able to advise anyway. It would be ashame for him to start to feel negatively about the experience at his age. A friend had to ask for this for other reasons (they work weekends, so can only have family days off in the week) and the pre-school didn't like it, but agreed.