Still crying when dropped off to school

[mommy_of_two1994]

My son already started Kindergarten when we moved to a new state.  He had been out of school for roughly 3 weeks when we enrolled him in a school.  During the first week, he did great, no crying.  I walk him to class (school rule) then when we are saying good-bye he cries, makes excuses for why he does not want to go, holds on to my leg on really bad days.  It has been close to 3 months and he is still crying.  Getting mad at him, taking away privelages has not worked.  I don't want to punish him, but I don't know what else I can do.  Is this normal?  

[jdtm]

What you have described is normal for a child suffering from separation anxiety.  You might wish to google the phrase "separation anxiety and school" or "anxiety and school" or "kindergarten and anxiety" or similar words/phrases to find out more about this issue.

As you have learned, what you have been doing does not work.  What works with anxiety is to lessen the anxiety and sometimes that just takes a long time for child to become comfortable in his new urroundings.  Try not to feed into his anxiety, be patient with his crying and try to be nonchalant about his going to school.  Perhaps the best thing to do is to say good-be at the school door, give him a kiss and a smile and say "have a happy day" or something similar.  Then leave quickly with confidence (you might have to be an actor here) and faith that he will adjust.  And he will, eventually.  Hope this helps ...

[mommy_of_two1994]

thank you for your input.  Its so hard to think clear when overwhelmed with emotion and so I thank you for your reassurance.  I will definately look up separation anxiety.