DS started preschool one day a week. He's been twice now. It's 9am-3pm, so a fairly long day for first time I guess.

But he's crying all day. He sort of participates in things if he's convinced enough, but he's just sad all day He eats his lunch tho and is calm through rest time, even sleeps!

He excitedly talks about going to preschool, and if you talk about all the fun things he will be doing he seems really excited. When we arrive he wants to play outside, happily puts his bag etc in his locker, runs off and plays with blocks and toys and things.. but as soon as I say I've got to go, he gets upset and stays sad the whole day.

If you ask him how preschool is, he matter of factly tells you that he "cried again". If you ask why he says he "want to huggle mummy". So I'm saying to him that it's ok to cry and to miss mummy, but mummy always come to pick him up after sleep time (well, a bit after that) and he needn't worry, and that he should have fun playing at preschool.

The teachers have said they can see that he wants to play, but he's sort of stubbornly sad and wanting me. Saying 'no, mummy do it' or things like that.

Any suggestions on what I can do? I'm inclined to persist because I know he takes time to get used to things, and I can also tell that he wants to enjoy preschool, he just can't get over me leaving him. He's been like this lately too with swimming, and even leaving him with Nana or friends for an hour. He needs reassurance that I'm coming back all the time. This started before preschool, but I'm not sure preschool isn't making it worse iykwim. I'm hoping it's an age thing!

So any experience, suggestions etc would be much appreciated. As well as opinions on how long to stick it out for too. He doesn't HAVE to go to preschool, but I'm pretty sure he's getting bored at home and I think it'd be good for him. I could handle it if he was just initially upset and then got over it, but he's crying all day. Not freaking out crying, just sad