Transitioning to Preschool

I don't completely understand why you think she needs preschool. At 2.5, either gender (or age) play does not matter. She is so young yet. You have a great social setting for her right now, even though she is the oldest. She can interact with children and infants of various ages younger than she but can become momma's little helper. Give it some time. Sure you think she may get used to the preschool in a while but I just think 2.5 is too young for your reasoning. Also, aren't you adding a bit more stress to your life with the running her back and forth? Slow down, girl, and enjoy the precious moments with your kids. I have SEVEN ages 13 to 2.5, 5 boys and 2 girls. My 5 year old girl and my 2.5 boy are best of buddies since they get to spend all their time home. Both are very social and make friends easily when we are out. It is amazing to me how fast my oldest grew to be 13. I did daycare for awhile myself so I could stay home with them, not send them off elsewhere. I have recently returned to my medical profession 20 hours a week due to finances, but my husband works out of the house so I still get to keep them at home and have even held my 5 year old out of preschool this year to minimize the stress of running her back and forth and to save on finances. She is very bright, social, and is completely excited and ready for Kindergarten next year. I am sure I will have no separation anxiety for her since she was privileged to stay home her first 5 formative years with me and now Dad. Make a wise choice on behalf of your child and fleeting time. Good Luck!

At 2.5, you would be better off doing an ECFE program in your community where you stay in the classroom with her for most of the time. Otherwise just wait until she is a year older. Playing with kids her own age isn't terribly necessary at this age since most kids are still just doing parallel play rather than playing directly with another child.

Practice and experience will probably be what works best for her in the end -she'll learn that you always come back, that she always gets to go home, and that she can have a lot of fun while she's at school. I'm sure you've seen this with the little ones you care for. It's just so hard when it's -your- child who is having a hard time. Has she had any practice being away from you before now? If so, perhaps you can compare school to that experience. "It's just like when you're in the nursery at church. You have fun and mommy always comes back."

Hi B.! Haven't seen you in ages!

Anyway, we had my oldest go to preschool after my baby was born...Jacob was 3 1/2 though, but there were several mornings he was stuck to my legs like glue! Actually most of them for about a year, on and off. Then last year, he skipped into preschool without even saying goodbye, and now he's in kindergarten and LOVES it!! (Though his first week was REALLY rough and he didn't want to go back!) We talked it over with him and eventually he got things figured out and like I said, loves it now! Good luck!!

I found a mini photo album that could clip to my daughter's belt loop. We picked out pictures together of dad, mom, both of our cats, and she wanted pictures of her cousin and my parents and our house. She was 4 when she went to pre-school though, so that alone may have made it a little easier.

I've taught preschool before and for some children 2.5 yrs. old is too early for them to understand why they are being left. Especially if she has never been away from you for long periods of time. Children's sense of time is way different than ours. 5 minutes seems like forever to them. Here is something that I have seen work very well for most children who have a hard time transitioning. This usually takes a week or so to complete. Have her go to school for 1/2 hour on day 1, then 45 minutes on day 2, then 1 hour on day 3. Then on then next week (of your 3 day schedule), work up to her staying the whole time. This may be difficult on you since you have other children to care for and probably haul around, but it usually does work. Good luck!

When my daughter started to go to preschool I would put a smiley face on the inside of her hand with a washable marker. I told her to look at it when she missed mommy and then she would know that I am thinking about her and smiling at her. It worked for us.

SAHM: My daughter will be 4 next month and we have an 8 month old baby boy.