5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

My DD will be 5 in a few weeks. She is in prek 5 days a week for 2.5 hours a day. The last month she has developed major separation anxiety. I know exactly why. She knows prek is almost over and than she is going to go to Kindergarten. She has mixed emotions about it. Teacher told me academically she is bored with what they are doing. She is already reading and they are working on letters and sounds. She is drawing sad faces on all of her work and telling the teachers she doesn't like school. She also is still grieving the loss of my grandmother and our dog who died.

Problem is that taking her school now has become so hard. She holds onto me, screams, and than cries hysterically. I stay outside the door and listen today was over a 1/2 hour. Teachers are going out of their way to help her. I want to try to make these last few weeks of school happy and pleasant. I don't want these behaviors to transfer to Kindergarten.

I try to keep the good bye short, try to reassure her. It only seems to make it worse. Anyone has experience with this?
I think I need a therapist to help me talk to her. Can anyone recommend one to me who is really good with kids. We are in Suffolk.

Re: 5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

Poor kid. Is she your first?

I'd focus on the fun she has when in school. Maybe set up a play date with a friend. Acknowledge that she doesn't want to go in the morning, but tell her she has fun while she's there.

Leave quickly at drop off and don't talk to anyone about you being nervous about her starting K... or that it is a big change (or any change). Kids are always listening and are really great reflections of ourselves (this may or may not be in your case, but I see it more often than not). Your K probably has play dates prior to and phrasing school as playing with "girlA" can help.

Being that she's been ok for a long time going to preK and separating fine, I assume she's getting attention by doing this and that's probably feeding into it. I'd ignore the behavior for a bit and see if it helps...

5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

My go to is always books. When dd started camp, her dance recital, etc etc.

It opens the door for conversation and to express emotions they couldn't identify.

5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

My dd did the same thing...for a few months. She eventually got over it and I'd doing great in primary school. It was hell though while we were going through it. I went online for resources and suggestions.

5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

My DD is staring K in sept too and she's been expressing to me how she doesn't want to turn 5 because she doesn't want to go to K. I think she's scared because she doesn't know what to expect. Does your DD get to do a K orientation? Also I find if I lay in bed w my DD after a book and before bedtime I can get her to talk to me, when there aren't distractions, and we talk about her days at school. Usually I can hone in on what she's upset abt.

5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

My son just turned 5 and is in Pre-K. Since right before he turned 5, he's been fairly miserable at daycare drop off most days (unless we arrive at the same time as a friend). He's been going to the same daycare since he was 11 weeks old and had been doing fine at drop off for almost a year.

He too hates school (I think his issue though is that he's friends with a child that hits/kicks/punches and that gets him in trouble since he retaliates).

Re: 5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations

Is this her first time in school or was she in day care prior?

Re: 5 year old separation anxiety. Therapist recommendations