My 4 year old son has been going to pre-k since September of last year. He goes to the afternoon class Monday through Thursday and he seems to like school a lot. There has been times where he would enter the classroom, take off his coat and not even look back at me to say bye. Now all of a sudden, a couple days before winter break, he's been crying and clinging on to me the minute we enter the classroom. He had his first day back yesterday and his Father took him. He called me saying that my son was crying so bad that he could hear him half way down the hallway. He started to go back to get him, but I told him to let him stay and that he'll be fine. About thirty minutes later I called the school to see how he was doing and the teacher said that he was doing fine. He was playing with the other children. His father said when he went to picked him up that he was fine. Now today he had to go to school, but I don't bother to take him. It hasn't been that long but it frustrating already. I've tried the talk to my son about the problem, but he doesn't give an answer. His teacher says that he's active, he doesn't give her any problems and is a joy to have in class. All the children like him. I just don't understand what's going on with him. It is a constant worry when you don't know how to solve your child's problem. Should I just home school him until kindergarten or let him get over this?
What you are seeing here is separation anxiety. I might suggest googling terms as "easing school jitters" or "school anxiety" or "separation anxiety in young children" or similar phrases to get an idea of how to better help your daughter. I, too, think this will pass - but anxiety can be a difficult issue - sometimes it takes days to overcome, sometimes it takes week or months to overcome, and sometimes it takes years to overcome. By the way, I do not think it will take "years" for your daughter to learn how to cope and manage her fears. From your description, this does not appear to be a very serious case. Anxiety is often the most noticeable after a holiday - summer vacation, Christmas, Easter, long week-ends and even ordinary week-ends. Hope this helps ...