How To Overcome Separation Anxiety For Children Starting School Or Child Care?

Posted on Thu, 1 Oct 2015

Question: My 3 year old has recently started a halfday preschool. We are in the 3rd week & he still cries & screams every morning begging me to stay home. He has stayed home with either me or my mother since he was born. The school tells me to keep bringing him every morning & it will get better but that doesnt seem to be working. He doesnt seem to be enjoying the experience & doesnt ever talk positively about school. He is very vocal in not wanting to go back. Should I continue to force him to go to preschool or follow his lead & let him stay home?

Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Continue sending , may stay for some time in school also

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
It is usually hard for a child to be away from his caregiver mother and relatives.
It may take some more time to get adjusted with the preschool environment.
You should enquire about the number of kids , environment of school any physical misbehave to your child.
Also get detail about his food requirement while in school.
Try to get exposure to kids of his age group in your locality also .
Make some visits to friends with small kids so that he enjoys there company.
Some kid adjust early and some late.
There is no option of putting your kid in home away from the school.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj