Son weeps on way to school

My six-year-old son was fine at school but has recently become very tearful when I take him there each day. He clings to me and does not want to let me go. All his classmates think he is a crybaby. Every morning is a nightmare. What should I do? Poor little chap. What’s changed? Scary new teacher? Playground bully?

Or is there something else that’s happened in his life – not necessarily anything to do with school? Has anything changed at home?

Try to find out what’s wrong - find a quiet moment when both of you are relaxed to bring the subject up. Don’t discuss it when he is tired or emotional – you’re unlikely to get a true picture. And instead of asking leading questions like: “Is anyone being nasty to you?” ask: “What was the best thing you did today?” to get him talking. Ask to meet his teacher or head teacher because it is wrong if his classmates are already calling him a crybaby. If you get nowhere, try someone else taking him into school, maybe a relative or another mum he knows. Then when you come to collect him, that will reinforce the message that he can be away from you because you will always come back. Give it time. Children do go through phases, and they pass. But if it doesn’t improve, see your GP about perhaps seeing a child psychologist. Hopefully this phase will pass well before it comes to that.

anne.diamond@sundaymirror.co.uk