acting like a baby? (hes almost 4)

my son skys, is still potty training, and he went for his evaluation for parents as teachers yesterday. so they said that he can start preschool in august. but my issue or question, is that he is starting to misbehave and acting like a baby, crying like "wah, wah" and wanting to get back into diapers, refusing to use the potty suddenly. this is all since he had his evaluation. all they did was have him catch a ball, identify colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc. i dont get it. he's really got into a phase suddenly where he wants to be a baby. anyone delt with this when their tot was about to start school? perhaps he is afraid? or feels under too much pressure? what should i do to help ease whatever is bothering him? his behavior is just horrible! he is throwing things, hitting, clinging on to me all the time, refusing to potty, doesnt want to wear his underwear anymore (he was so happy to be put in undies and liked it better than diapers). any thoughts or suggestions? thanks.

 

I think you should talk to HIM and find out what is wrong. Personally, it sounds like he just doesn't want to be a big boy. So he's going to be a baby for you. I would read him books about going to school, find a structured playgroup to attend with him and explain that this is just like school except mommy's not going to be there. Ask him questions about why he's scared, and do your best to calm his fears. Maybe if there is a special necklace/bracelet/shirt that you own/wear and he loves, you could let him take that with him in his backpack so he has some of mommy with him. Whatever you do, take it slow. Let up on the potty training in a structured way. Just let him run around naked. If he wets on the floor, he has to clean it up himself (with your help). I doubt he'll poop on the floor. But if he does, again, he has to help you clean it up. Explain as you guys are cleaning that "Gee, ya know you would have more time to play if you peed/pooed on the potty. You wouldn't need to clean it up afterward!" Use diapers/pullups only for bedtime. But otherwise, just take the pressure off.

:hug momma He won't always be clinging to you and trying to be your baby. So as frustrating as it is, lap it up. In 10 years, you'll be wishing he was this way again!

 

I don't have a ton of experience in this area, but all the time i see parents baby talking their tots and trying to cater to them when having a tantrum in public... i hate that. Hippyfreek has a good idea about the going to school reading... My 3 year old niece was terrified of the zoo until my sister read her some books about going to the zoo.

 

Sounds to me like he's afraid of going to school and thinks that by going back to his baby phase, maybe he can stay home with you like the good ol' days. My kids did similar things when they first started school, and I knew it was because they wanted things to stay as they were, they didn't want to leave mommy and go off to school to something so different from their daily lives at home. And heck, I didn't want them to go either.

It's really overwhelming to a young child to have to separate from their mama, when that's all they've known. Believe me, it was tough. On all of us!

I would talk positively about school, hype it up even if YOU'RE feeling not feeling that way because kids really do pick up on that kind of thing. Get him excited about it, talk about all of the fun things he'll get to do and all of the friends he'll make. Read books about going to school like HippyFreek suggested. And most importantly, give him that extra love he's needing right now.

Can you volunteer at the school? I'm a very active volunteer at my childrens' school. The kids really love that they get to see me in the classroom several days a week.

It'll be okay...just relish the fact that you're the center of his world right now. I realized last year that my oldest "baby" boy (he's 9) was growing up when I chaperoned a field trip and he sat with his buddies instead of me. I could tell he was torn, he looked over at me, then looked at his friends who were calling for him to sit with them. I smiled at him and told him to go ahead, I'd be just fine. And off he went. But it was at that very point that I knew he wasn't a little boy anymore wanting to be around me every second. Made me a little sad, but it's just the nature of things, you know? I knew it was coming. He's at the point where he still really wants me there, but he also wants to do his own thing. I also know that he's going to come to a point where he doesn't want me there at all. So I'm enjoying my time with him now, that's for sure. The twins, well, I'm still pretty much the center of their worlds, so it makes it a little easier too.

Anyway.

He'll be just fine Ghost. It will all work out in the end. I'm not saying it's going to be a piece of cake, because it may or may not be, but just be as patient and understanding as you can because he needs and wants it from you right now.

{{{Hugs}}}