Need help with transition class!

How can I help my 2yo be comfy with going to pre-k? Today was our 3rd day yet worst day. Horrific tantrum was thrown when getting dropped off, screaming and crying so loud the director came down to see what was going on. She didn't want to go in the classroom at all. I went in for a few to see if she would warm up but she was just clinging to me. The teacher took her and said lets try for 5 min. So I waited in my car. The windows were open and I could hear my dd screaming for me on and off for about 40 min. The teacher called me about 40 min later and said she had pooped (they don't change diapers, they call you to come and change them) and shes still crying so might as well bring her home now. Will this get better? I know she is only 2 and doesn't "need" to be in pre-k yet, but it would have been nice. Any help on things that I can say to dd to gear her up for school or things I can do to help her be comfy with leaving me for 2 hours? It hurts me more because my dd is the only kid in the class acting this way


ETA: She will be 26 months this week. I'm not making excuses for her but I do think she in young compared to a January baby for instance. However other people didn't think so

Message edited 9/23/2014 3:41:36 PM.

Re: Need help with transition class!

This was why we didnt sign our now 3.5yo up last year for nursery. I knew he wasnt ready and knew we would have episodes like this. So we waited another year. my oldest could have gone at 1yo but my second is super attached and much more nervous in new surroundings with unfamiliar people etc.

Honestly she may not be ready yet, I would give her more time to figure it out before making the decision but I do know at least one 2yo who just wasnt ready and after a month of battles and screaming, they took her out and re enrolled her the following year and she was like the mayor of the 3yo class, happy, greeting everyone by name etc.

as far as tips, my 3yo still isnt keen on me leaving him, he doesnt throw fits but he just didnt want me to leave, tried to follow me out etc. So I now tell him, that he stays in his room with his friends and mommy goes to the mommy room down the hall with her friends, the mommy & daddies. He is now much more content to go because he doesnt think I am leaving!

GL! I hope once she gets used to it, she loves it!

Need help with transition class!

Aww Every child is different. How old is she exactly- did she JUST turn 2?

This MAY NOT be the right answer but I basically bribed my son to get on the school bus the first day of nursery school (he's 2 years 9 months old). I handed him a Thomas toy that he had been wanting and he got on. He screamed like crazy day one and day 2....he goes twice a week. On day 3 he was FINE. We talked alot about school and teacher, songs, backpacks, children, playground. I showed him photos of these things in a book and we talked about how mommy wasn't allowed on the schoolbus and how he would say "bye bye mommy see you soon". I think it helped.

If she doesn't seem ready after another couple of weeks try again in January, it's amazing what a few months can do. Hugs to you! I know how much it sucks to hear them scream and how it feels when your DC is the only one.

Need help with transition class!

IMO most kids will have a tough time the first week or even the first few weeks.

My DS has been in daycare since 8 weeks (now almost 3YO) and still has bad days and weeks. We actually just got through a bad 2 weeks where he screamed every morning.

I would give it time but I also think that you may want to pick a different place that will change diapers if your DD is not potty trained as sitting in a dirty diaper for hours.

As for her being too young.....I don't think there is such a thing as too young for pre school. Kids are in daycare from very early and they do fine. Your DD has been home so she is having a tough time with the transition. But give it time.

Re: Need help with transition class!

There are transition classes at gymboree.
2 is really young.

Need help with transition class!

I'd be more concerned with the dirty diaper not being changed, that's just gross. My dd has been in daycare since 12 weeks so its quite different but your kid screaming for 40 minutes would not be ok with me. Mine sometimes cries for 2 then gets distracted and I'm forgotten about. As pp said maybe try the Gymboree transition class. Poor kid.

Re: Need help with transition class!

Where are you located? I know that Kiddie Junction in Levittown as a separation class that you could look into

Re: Need help with transition class!

Re: Need help with transition class!

Re: Need help with transition class!

Give it 2 weeks. I bet after that she'll be fine. 3 days is still really early.

Re: Need help with transition class!

Need help with transition class!

No offense to you or the program you chose, but I would not be sending my child to a place that takes non-potty trained kids, but will not change them. Seems kind of pointless. When I drop my daughter (3) off at school, I do shopping or whatever. I don't sit there by the phone in case she needs to be changed. That, imo, is crazy.

As far as the separation, is it a "slow" separation class or was it just drop off from day one? I think 26 months is a bit too young to be doing straight drop off if they have never been in a class setting before. My DD is very independent, always has been, but even she needed to do slow separation to feel comfortable with me leaving her. And she was 2.5 when we did that. We did the slow separation class at kiddie junction that 3girls1dog was referring to. They are great.

Re: Need help with transition class!