DS refusing to leave the house and not wanting to go to school

[iwouldgoouttonight]

My mum takes DS to school on Tuesdays and this morning he refused to leave the house and we had to literally drag him out of the front door while he was screaming that he wanted to stay at home. My mum had DD in the pushchair too and DS wouldn't walk with her and just kept running back to the house. She couldn't hold him and push the pushchair so we left DS crying in the porch in the hope that he'd calm himself down.

Eventually he did, and begrudgingly walked with my mum to school, but she had to keep tight hold of his hand so he didn't try to run back home and he ended up being late for school and I was late for work.

It has happened sometimes when I take him too - last week I had to carry him and push the pushchair - it was the only way I could stop him trying to run home.

But other days he's been absolutely fine, runs to school and is fine when he's dropped off. The teachers say he's settling in well and seems fine when he's at school.

I just wondered if anyone has any advice on how to deal with the refusing to leave the house in the morning?

He started school three weeks ago by the way - he was 4 in August.

It's not PE today is it? It is here and it's like pulling teeth. I only put two and two together this morning.

:(
Sounds like the transition isn't going as well as the teachers think.
Would it be possible to stay there to observe for the first few minutes of the day?
It might be time to invite someone he likes from his class to play for an hour or two, maybe if he looks forward to seeing his friends he might be less reluctant to go?
I feel for you, and for him, poor little mite. :(

No it was PE yesterday and he was telling us about it last night - he sounded as though he enjoyed it. He also told us how he stood up in class and showed everyone some acorns and conkers he'd found in the park (with the teacher's encouragement) and he seemed really proud of himself and his teacher said he is growing in confidence.

Its just some mornings he really isn't keen. I've tried staying longer with him but he seems to get more upset the longer I stay and then the teaching assistant normally has to take him off me while he's crying.

it's early days yet and he is very young

is he sleeping well?

some children just take a while to settle

I don't think staying with him helps, tbh

sounds like a nightmare for you though, I think you need to have a chat with the school

Try and check that he is not upset about anything specific that has happened ( eg another child being nasty to him). If there is no obvious cause maybe you could start a sticker chart where he gets a sticker each evening if he left for school that morning without a fuss. When he gets so many stickers he gets a reward ( something he is into but doesn't get as a regular thing - comic? small lego model? or whatever)

It's normal! It gets to a place where they realise 'Oh I have to go everyday!' and they get stressed about it. Some days are exciting but others are just a shock to them. It's probably what it is.

yes, my dd did proclaim that she'd done enough school after about 3 weeks

Ds has got more clingy the past week (although not as bad as your DS in refusing to leave the house). This morning I decided to get let him go in on his own and leave, rather than hanging around and he was much better.

Sometimes hanging on with them can cause more problems than it solves as you're going to have to go very soon anyway.

Something to look forward to if he goes to school nicely might work - have you tried a sticker chart so that he gets a treat at the weekend for being good going to school during the week?