5 year old question?

Question

My 5 yr old daughter is very bubbly and active home. She read and writes at home. When she gets to school she completely shuts down. She is clingy and won't play or socialize with anyone. I have stayed with her at school. Given her a stuffed cat, but she still seems uncomfortable. What should I do? Could this be a sign of anxiety?

Answer 1

Was there lack of social interaction with other ppl and kids before. Since she is already 5 yrs and if she is being exposed to such environment for first time it will take time for her to adjust. The younger they are the easier it is.

Answer 2

I am a Teacher Assistant for a preschool program. We had a little girl at the beginning of this school year that did the same thing, she finally came out after about a month. All at once restart again continuing this time for approx. 3 1/2 months. After many many meetings with parents, administration her parents took her to the doctor and she did some work at school and some at home. She is doing great now. Give her time, love and lots of support. Good luck.

Answer 3

It could be. Take her to the doctor soon and find out before it excilates to being much worse.

Answer 4

umm..well shes very attached 2 u.

i think you have been nursering her too much.

talk 2 the teachers and explain to them whats happening that might help.

its fine to be shy in school and not in home, thats natural.

but if she doesnt socialize at all with other kids then thats a problem.

Answer 5

My daughter is like that also.  We worked out a deal with the teacher/prin/counc that she is to do some work at school, then bring the rest home.  We are slowly added more work to the school side and lowering what we do here.  

this has given her some breathing room and kept her from feeling so overwhelmed.  She is staying current on her work, and getting the basics learned in an enviromnet that she is comfortable in.  Then applying that easier and easier to work done at school.  That in turn is raising her confidence and she is socializing better.  

Plus we always have talk time in the evenings.  She tells me what she observes at school, and just chat about it.  Very casual.  She has a safe place to figure out why kids do the things they do.

Answer 6

My kid was like that also..very clingy and how cry. So in preschool I told him that I was going for coffee and I would be back. So I would take him to school..go get coffee..go to his school for pick up w/ a cup of coffee in my hand. It will break your heart when you see your kid say "don't go". But if you don't go she will never start socialize with the other kids when your there. This process took about 2 - 4 weeks. Sometimes I would have him bring a paper airplane to share w/ the other kids..then I go get my coffee..just worked great.

Don't forget your coffee!!!

Answer 7

Well yea take her to the doctor it could pobaly mood change or something if u need any more help contact me on my yahoo

Answer 8

It's REALLY hard to say without actually seeing her in action in the school.  I say this because you have received a lot of people saying "yes" "no" or "maybe" and it's important to note that without a really good set time of observation by someone that has a good understanding of at least child's basic psychology and developmental theories, it's impossible to know what is going on.

--Does the school have a set routine?  What rituals do they have for this child to feel comfortable?

--How is the teacher responding to the clingyness?

--How do you respond when you drop off?

--Will she do NOTHING with anyone or is she trying some things and unsure about the success, so not sure whether she can try greeting others?

--Is she as outgoing in social situations as you think she is?  I'm only really outgoing to people I know, otherwise I'm sometimes quiet and reserved.  This could just be a personality style for her.  It doesn't mean she has a problem.

--It could mean she's anxious.

--Does she know she can work with other children?  Or does she think it's time for individual work.

As a teacher, I would usually have very specific notes on children such as this.  "8:45 - started working with the red rods.  8:50- lined all the red rods up on the rug.  She stopped and looked at the broadstairs work for 2 minutes.  9:00 - lined up the red rods from longest to shortest.  Looked back at the shelf at the broad stairs."

Aha!  I have to give the child a presentation on the broad stairs to give her "permission" (which she already has anyway) to use the broadstairs.  Maybe she wants to do something else, but does not want to ask about it.

This could be a million things.  You won't get an answer any better than a guess on this forum.

Matt