Preschool Blues
Maks graduated from the toddler room to the preschool room at his daycare a couple of weeks ago. The transition has been tough for the both of us but for very different reasons.
For Maks it is hard because when he moved he lost everything that he knew. He had the same friends from infant to toddler. Because there was only toddler room to graduate to, they all moved together. Now because there are so many more preschoolers they have been spilt up into three different classes. Maks is now dealing with older kids that he doesn’t know. He is getting very introverted and there are some days when he doesn’t want to go to school because he just isn’t having fun anymore. Also, the love is gone. In his toddler room the ratio of kids to teacher was 4:1. So there was always a lot of hugs, high fives, and one on one interaction. In his preschool room the ratio is 5:1 and there is a lot less affection. Because the kids are older the teachers focus less on one on one learning and work in a big group. Maks doesn’t like this.
For me it is hard because I have to watch this and there is nothing I can do. The teachers aren’t bad, don’t get me wrong but I can tell that Maks is lonely. In toddler he had his buddies to keep him company. From the time that we arrived they would run off and play, when I picked him up they all had to give each other hugs goodbye. He doesn’t have that now. It hurts me when I drop him off in the morning and I see him avoid the big group and go sit by himself and play. I would love to sit with him, play with him, show the other kids that he is an awesome kid to play with and that they should be playing with him.
But I can’t.
He has to do that. And I am hoping that as he gets more comfortable with his class he will. I am hoping that he will turn into the non stop bundle of energy that blabbers on a mile a minute at home. I am hoping that he doesn’t keep retreating into himself.