Crying all day

[Liz]

Yeah, I'm thinking trying a shorter day. Because he's ok with lunch & sleeptime (good thing too coz lunch is included in the fees LOL) I'm inclined to leave him there til after the sleep at least. but yeah.. maybe if I take him a bit later. It might help him too that there aren't then other kids still crying for their mums. There's another little boy there that cries a lot at drop off time which doesn't help.

Actually now I think about it.. I think it'd be easier to extend the day backwards. As in take him earlier each time, rather than making his day seem longer iykwim. So his day still always ends the same, just he gets there earlier each time.

[Pandora]

Is preschool the same as Kinder in Vic?
Is it common for the day to be so long for them?
Our local ones start off with at least the first two sessions being orientation, and half the normal hours, so between 1-2 hours to start with. Most of the kinders in my area are 3-4 hours, 3-4 days a week which works out at 10 or 12 hours a week.

Anyway, I think the plan of taking him later and gradually easing him in to it sounds good. Once he gets used to it and realises your always coming back he should get better. Just wait til the day you go to pick him up, and he doesnt want to leave to come home

[Liz]

There weren't official orientation sessions, but we were welcome to come in for an hour or so for a couple of days to just hang out, which we did, and he seemed fine. Only one of the preschools we've looked at offered official 1/2 days. Most were school hours.

It'd be hard for me to stay with him there because Kayla would get in the way LOL. And I kind of feel if I stay longer it'd make it worse somehow. I dunno.

Am definitely going to talk to them about him coming in later for a couple of weeks tho. I'll ring a bit later today. Probably still have to fork out the full fee tho. bah. Oh well.. anything to help him settle in I guess.

[Floweryfields]

I would persist, as hard as it sounds, in a few months you will look back on this and think, I'm glad I did hang it out - because in my experience the vast majority of children do eventually 'get there'.

I remember one little boy who used to curl up in one spot and cry all day, then it progessed to eating on that spot, then sitting up paying attention to what was going on around him in that spot. After a number of weeks, (with mum and staff working together closely), he eventually decided it would seem that joining in the fun out weighed the sadness. Now if you look at that little boy, you would never know what he was like to begin with.

[Janie]

Liz, I would definitely try a shorter day, and try to include the things he seems to cope well with. IMO 6 hours is a long day for a little one if he just wants his mummy to come back IYKWIM? 6 hours feels like an eternity to them! (Not to us though hehe). If it's a shorter day, at least for a bit, he mightn't feel that it's so long without mummy, and be more reassured that you're coming back for him.

It sounds as though he will adjust fairly soon, as he really does want to like it. Let us know how it goes! Lots for me to learn in here

[Visitor8]

Is preschool the same as Kinder in Vic?
Is it common for the day to be so long for them?

Preschool is before Kinda.

I would be taking him in later too but keep persevering. He should get better. He is still so little. I think the declaring that he cried today is to make you feel bad Hope he gets better soon for you hun!

[Liz]

Oh man... the preschool I really want him to go to just offered a position.. but it's 2 days a week.

ARGH. What do I do? This is a much better preschool IMO because it's not a long day care. It's purely a preschool. They have nicer outdoor equipment etc etc and it's just around the corner. I'm inclined to take the spot, but it's 2 days.. that could be either really good or really bad. Also, it doesn't qualify for CCB coz I'm not working. argh.

He can't start til he's actually 3, so that's not until a couple of weeks.. and I have to give 2 weeks notice to where he is at the moment.

Oh man... dilemma!!

[*Nikki*]

Liz - When my DD turned 3 i put her into daycare for one day a week.... she hated it... she cried and screamed and it was so dreadful we pulled her out after only going there twice..... At the start of this year we decided to try and put her in a new pre-school (9am -2:45)... the problem was they only do 2 days aweek for kids.... i didnt want to send her 2 days as i only wanted her to go for one day like daycare... anyway we decided to give it a go as they say children really do settle in better with 2 days a week... and in all honestly it was the best decision we have made.... Cody hasnt cried once since she has been to this new pre-school... even tho most mornings she is clingy to me but she doesnt get upset when i leave her at the preschool
I would say for sure give this other pre-school ago... 2 days aweek was really scarey for me... but it worked out the best for us...

Goodluck with it..... i truely know how hard it is for us mummy's

[AnyDream]

Liz, definitely go for the nicer preschool.

I have vivid recollections of being VERY upset as a child at the first preschool I went to - it was horrible, I was overwhelmed by all the kids sharing a huge space.

After my mum moved me, I was much happier. The new preschool had fewer children there, it was better set up with small spaces for each activity, the outside play area was *much* nicer and the teacher ladies seemed to have more time and attention for me.

Not sure how the CCB comes in to it...aren't you still entitled to 22 hours of care per week to be subsidised if only one parent is working/studying?

[Liz]

argh guys... DH & I had just decided to keep him where he is and only change him if they offer us 1 day a week. We'd still be top of the waiting list for 1 day.

And now reading your replies I'm flipping back and forth not really knowing what to do.

As for the CCB.. she was saying something about the preschool being state funded where as the day cares are federally funded, and that affects the CCB. She said unless I'm working or studying we're not entitled. Could double check with centrelink I guess, but she would know what other mums have been able to claim or not.