Clingy Behaviour

[AlexisB123]

Hi all, my little boy turned 3 this month.  He has been going to pre school since last September 2 mornings a week.  before that he went to a childminder 1 day a week.  Other than that he is at home with me and his dad and his 6 month old baby sister or his grandparents.  The question I have is over how to help him over come the clingy tearful behaviour he always exhibits when I or his dad drop him off at pre school.  He was exactly the same with his child minder and at the start like this with his grand parents though he goes with them fine now.  Every time I take him to preschool its the same tears and holding on to me so I end up having to have him prised off of me by one of the teachers.  He also says all the time that he doesn't like going and that the other kids push him over.  I have seen quite a lot of rough and tumble between the boys in the group and as a lot of them are a year or so older he does seem to be a bit of a target for them but he does hold his own and often provokes them by hitting them in the first place.  When I pick him up he is quiet but always says he has had a nice time and talks about the children he has been playing with though he doesn't seem to have made any strong bonds with any of the children in the group. He has got several friends outside of pre school that he plays really nicely with though he will sometimes get into spats with them over toys etc I have spoken to the teachers and they have assured me they see nothing untoward in his behaviour but I am wondering if I should take him out and try it again from next September when the older boys have moved on to school.  Other than this he is a pretty typical 3 year old though he can be quite a fussy / bossy child and is still having regular tantrums which have been going on since he was 18 months or so.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Angelinthemorning]

I agree with margy...If you don't have to, I would stop sending him.  His world's been thrown a little off balance anyway with the new sibling.  There really isn't any benefit to him going to preschool.  As you said he has friends he plays with outside of preschool so, I would keep him at home with you or even his grandparents if you can.

[margypops]

Perhaps he isnt ready for pr school;.there didnt used to be one, this idea of having a school before a school,he has also had a younger sibling come into the family recently with his 6month old sister ,this would make him feel vunerable,possibly left out, as he also has some roughness to contend with at this school I think it would be better for  him to stay home with you, it is better for children to be with their parents as much as they can in the formative years.I appreciate this isnt always possible when parents have to work but if you have the time why make him go somewhere at this young age when he doesnt want to and gets so upset,who does it benefit?not the child.good luck I realise you only want the best for him.