5 year old cried at gym childcare today

[Anonymous]

This makes me a little apprehensive about kindergarten starting in August. He will be taking the bus, separating from me for 7 hours, and bussing back home.

We have moved twice in the past two years so he has been in different preschools, which may be part of this. But I was really surprised to see him cry today. Maybe because there weren’t any other kids when he got there, just the childcare staff and toys? Any advice? Is this abnormally clingy/anxious behavior for a kid who is almost 5 and a half? I’ve done what I can as a SAHP to separate from me - art classes, park district day camp, and 5 morning a week preschool and he has been good with all those except he cried once at art camp because « it felt really long » and he was worried I wasn’t coming.

[Anonymous]

You're overthinking this. It was an unfamiliar place, and he might have just been feeling especially sensitive today.

[Anonymous]

Give it a week. If he still is crying and is usually fine with going alone to programs, I would find something else.

[Anonymous]

It's important to acknowledge his feelings and quickly move on. Don't dwell on it or allow him to.

Kindergarten will be fine. He may take a couple days to adjust as many children do but he'll be with a group of kids who are all in the same boat as him which really helps.

[Anonymous]

Children at that age need schedules and routines. They don't adjust to changes very easily. If the gym was something that was not normal or usual, it's going to be scary and overwhelming for a lot of kids.

Kindergarten on the other hand, may be difficult the first week, but once he learns his schedule and routine, he'll adjust and be okay. Then he will probably have problems when you do something off-schedule or outside of the normal routine. But all of this is a part of the maturation process. Each time, he'll adapt and as time passes, he'll have fewer issues with changes and adjustments.

You can't use a one-off situation that is new and different to set your expectations.

[Anonymous]

My SAH mom says I cried for almost 2 weeks when I started kindergarten and then loved it. I wouldn’t worry.

[Anonymous]

My super adaptable, chill toddler cried every day at daycare dropoff for like a week - 10 days. It's normal, especially if he's not used to other people. Remember, he follows your cues. If you say a breezy, "Have fun with [Ms. Soandso] today! I bet you'll have a great time! Love you, bye!" you will signal that he should not be nervous.