3 1/2 Yr Old Wants to Stay Home

Maybe he doesn't like his teacher. It sounds like to me that maybe something happen there that upset him and he doesn't trust them. However, you say he's doing better at PDO, it maybe because he has to do better there or he will get the same results from the teacher that upsets him. Maybe the teacher yelled at him or another child. I would listen to your son & his actions. They don't yet have the ablity to explain what is going on, but you could ask him detail questions like "does anyone ever get in trouble there, what happens when they do." Or something to get him talking about his day there. I really do try to listen to my children bc I have made mistakes of listening to the daycare provider and not my child, and my childs behavior didn't match up to what they were telling me. What was going on was she was screaming until she went to sleep and she wouldn't eat there at all(which for an ifant that is a trust issue). They weren't picking her up bc she was screaming; they wanted to teach her a lesson. They didn't even know she could walk! The only way I found about it was that her uncle's children were attending there too & he saw her. The daycare provider didn't know we were related. I felt so bad, I was a new mother back then and everyone told me that as soon as you leave then she will be fine. She wasn't. I thought she was really tired bc she had been playing all day with the other kids, it was bc she had been crying the whole time. To this day I feel bad about that so when I put my 2nd child in daycare, after she got bit the 3rd time by the same child I was done. She didn't want to go either. I do agree that he does need some play time with the other children and they do try to teach them things like standing inline and those things are important. I would find another PDO and maybe you have to stay there for the whole time until he feels safe and really talk it up about how much fun it is. With my 2nd child at the next daycare she went to we started a routine, a kiss, a hug and bye-bye. I worked out well most times.

I agree that it's very hard when they go such a short time. There are so many things at work. They get so used to being with mom. That's all they want. There could be another child that has scared or been mean towards your son. Maybe the day is too long for him. Maybe he doesn't like the food. There could be too many kids or something about the place smells funny to him. I could go on all day! I suggest you try and find another place for him. Some places just work better for some kids.

Suzi

That's a pretty big reaction to the PDO. It may not be anything wrong with the place but there is something your son is just handling very well.

Personally I would find another place that is better suited for you child. Maybe a home daycare that still has some structure,more flexible and more home like. There are some great home daycares that mimic a preschool enviroment but still have the comfort of home to them. It may be more inviting for your son and a nice transition to regular Preschool.

I think it is hard when it is only one day a week. I have heard of a few kids like that. Maybe try a fun calendar so he can see what day it is and mark which day is PDO. Then he will know what to expect. Not that he will like it any better. He will probably do better with preschool.

well I would think that keeping him in the program would be best. after all once he starts preschool he will be gone more than one day a week and you don't want to give in to his demands about staying home from preschool once that starts. He has to get used to being away from you. But the behavior can be changed if it is unacceptable acting out type just simply correct it and enforcing your own house rules.