Super Clingy Son!

Have you looked into any free pre-k programs? I live in Fla and we have a VPK program. It is run by the public school system and it is for 3hrs a day. If you have anything like that, even over the summer, get him into it or the first few weeks of kinder are going to be really tough on both of you. He needs to learn that even if mommy goes away for a little bit she will be back. Not like daddy that goes away for a long time.

On a separate note, THANK YOU to you and your husband for the sacrifices you make for our country. You are as much a hero as he is.

Do you live on base? Surely there is a group of women with kiddos around. Now is a great time to get out and make some friends and DS, too. With the impending deployment you are going to need someone to help pass the time. This will also give your little one a chance to make some friends, as well. Maybe having a few play dates will help him to loosen up a bit and feel more comfortable. Maybe you can get to know some folks and transition to a few sleep overs (or attempts) before the start of the new school year.

... my son is that age.
When he was a tad younger, he was real CLINGY too.
It was a phase.
It is normal though.

My son, was always home with me. He is 'supposed' to go to Kindergarten in the fall.
He was not in a Preschool. Until just a couple of months ago, for some reason, he matured a bit and I felt in my gut, that he'd be ready for a Preschool type environment. Until that point, he did NOT want to go, anywhere or to anything. AT ALL. He would not even get out of the car and refused to enter any building... that was for any play-group or "class" for him.

As I said, until a couple of months ago, he was like that. I took him to various places, play venues/classes. But I finally found one that HE liked. And so now, he goes to Preschool for half-days twice a week.
He is HAPPY. He has gotten "separated" from me, and it was fine. He didn't even cry on his first day there. I was surprised.

So my hope is, this will help him "Transition" to Kindergarten. Because it is right around the corner. My kids school, they begin the next school year at the end of July, beginning of August for the Kinder kids.

My son, all along, was and is a social child and interacts well. But, he was just REAL attached, to me.

But now, 'he' was ready... for going to Preschool. I went by my gut-instinct about it. He is now, asking me if he can go everyday. But we can't afford it.

Hawaii, has something called "Head Start", which is a Federally funded Preschool. It is free or at reduced cost.
Here is the link:
http://www.hcapweb.org/headstart.html

I don't live on that side of the island. So I don't know what schools are out there where you live.

Also, there is Patch Hawaii, which is good main resource for parents about childcare etc.
http://www.patchhawaii.org/

ALSO check out "Preschool Open Doors", which is a State program which will fund your child's Preschool costs.
http://www.patchhawaii.org/families/paying/preschool
But, I think this is only for 3 or 4 year olds.
BUT, the open-enrollment period is from THIS March 1 to April 30th.

ALSO, if your son is really not ready for Kinder... then you can opt to send him later. But, sure entry-age for Kindergarten is 5 years old. IF a child is entered into Kinder at 5 turning 6 years old, you need to Request that to the School/Principal. Otherwise, they will enter the child into 1st Grade. Kindergarten in Hawaii as well as many States, is not "mandatory."
ALSO, some of the public schools here, have a "Jr.K" class. So check with your school on that.
Here is the Hawaii State DOE (Dept. of Education) website:
http://doe.k12.hi.us/kindergartenjunior.htm

This is ALSO a VERY good resource for Info. & on Kindergarten "Readiness":
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jul/07/ln/...

Although I have home schooled my son and he's been home with me, per HIS cues... I have entered him into Preschool. Which is only recently, as I said. BUT... it has REALLY helped him... and it will also 'prepare' him for 'school' when Kinder does happen.

So, it was a good thing, for him.

If/when you do send your son to Kindergarten... you can always be a "Volunteer Room Mom" for the classroom. Lots of Moms do that... for that very same reason.

Are there any play groups that you can attend so that he can get used to being around other children? Maybe he will surprise you and all of a sudden become excited with the company of other children around to play with and maybe he wont want/need you as much. This might help with the transition of school. As for at home Im not sure what you could do to help with this.

Good Luck