Very Attached 3Yo - Work on It or Wait It Out?

I'm a daycare provider as well, but I put both of my kids in preschool at age 4. For my daughter, who has a similar personality of your son, I wish I had put her in sooner. Kindergarten was hard for her because she didn't have enough experience away from me.

I think that the more you expose him to experiences where he is successful the better. He needs to gain confidence away from you and know that he is ok without you nearby. Many people think it isn't important at this age, but when a child is so shy and anxious about being in a new place (like kindergarten) they are not as able to focus on what they are supposed to be learning. For my daughter, it took a lovely 2nd grade teacher and some maturity to bring her out of her shell.

Also, many kids go through a separation anxiety phase around age 4, so waiting might not help.

While I realize there is an educational value to preschool, I kind of viewed sending my 3 year old to preschool 2 mornings a week as teaching him to be ok without Mommy and to learn how to follow directions and listen to adults that are not Mommy and get ready for school.

I might really consider sending him to preschool, because at your preschool, the teacher is also Mommy.

Remember, you could always try it and pull him out if it isn't working after giving it a couple of weeks. It's a bit of a leap of faith. When my son started preschool and Sunday school at our church, he had a hard time. But his teacher all promised me that if it was too much for him, they would tell me. They all approached me and said that he was doing great just a couple of minutes after I left. After he got used to it, he had a fabulous time! If I had given up because he had an adjustment period, he would have missed out on all that preschool had to offer.

It's a judgement call, and only you know your son. It's great that you're asking about it. Give yourself some time to think about it. I'm sure you'll make the decision that's best for you and your son.

I would wait.. but try to get him out and about.. sunday school? library story time... mom and tot classes this year... so that he is ready for 4 year preschool when he is 4.

I'd wait until he's ready. Why push it?

My 3-year-old was the same way, for different reasons.

I enrolled her in a 3-year-old preschool for 2 days a week, 3 hours per day. She cried exactly 10 minutes the FIRST day and has been thriving ever since. She actually states that she wants to stay when I pick her up!

She knows that when she is in school, mommy is in school, too. (Yes, I actually am in school.).

I think some independence is a good thing at this age. And it will prepare him for prek.

Good luck.