Difficulty adjusting to kindergarten

[TS123]

DS1 started kindergarten this week. He is young, as his 4th birthday isn't until November. However, he is not foreign to the school routine since he's been in a preschool program since 21 months. Like preschool, KG is only half day mornings but it is 5 days per week - which is a big change, plus he's been home with me and DS2 all summer. He cries all morning about going to school right up until the teacher leads him into the classroom. I haven't had the opportunity to discuss his classroom behaviour since school started (only 5 days ago). Since school started, he is waking very early in the morning, and gets home so geared up that he won't settle for nap. I'm quite sure that the sleep deprivation isn't making this adjustment any easier on him. Any tips on how to help him out? (and me?) How long would you wait until considering a different program eg. Montessori (small class sizes, more one-on-one). P.S. I've tried just sitting and talking about his feelings about school but he refuses to talk about anything. He knows that DS2 is at preschool so there is no concern that he is 'missing out' on stuff with the two of us. Not sure what else will help.

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Have you asked the teacher what he is like when you leave? When mine started KG, I had one crier and she was fine as soon as I'd left. She wasn't alone - there were several other kids and all were happy playing as soon as their mums had left the building. Check with the teacher. It is a big step to start going 5 mornings.

Maybe at nearly 4, it is time to drop his nap and perhaps put him to bed a little earlier in the evening - he may sleep longer then.

Also school is secret. Mine are now 9 and whenever I ask, they have always 'done nothing' at school all day. Between the ages of 3 and 9 you'd think they'd have done something but apparently not.

To clarify: he wasn't napping before but when he wakes too early, I don't see any other alternative. I cannot take him to the park to burn steam since DS2 naps at that time.

Oh, and the teacher got back to me today. Seems she thinks he's probably overwhelmed but coping fine! This is really good news. However, I really think I'll keep him resting in the afternoons if he gets up before 6am.

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Wow, dilemma456, that's a long day. My niece wakes at a similar time and has done for years (she is now 8) but is so tired that she is often in bed by 6pm.

I was a bit like your DD as I never needed much sleep, until I had kids! My DD's dropped their afternoon nap at age 2, but they went to bed at 6pm and woke around 6 am.

FernieB - that is what most kids do when they stop napping but DS1 hasn't. When he misses his nap several days in a row, he simply misses all that extra sleep. How do you get them to bed as early as 6pm when you have another child who isn't nearly tired enough to be coaxed into bedtime routine?

Dilemma456 - how does your lo get through the day on that kind of sleep? Is she not a mess by 4:30pm?

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