4 yr old cries and screams when dropped off at school

[rilbrianne]

My 4 yr old daughter has been in preschool for about 5 months now.  She goes M-Th for 2 hours/day. The problem is that she cries and even cries when it's time to go into class (whether or not there are any other kids inside already).  She is great in the morning, runs up to the doors happily and takes off her coat but when it's time to go to class, she refuses to go.  She clings to me, cries, and sometimes screams.  I have stayed with her a few moments lately to see if it helps.  It seems to help a lot, she gets occupied with toys or a friend and I say goodbye (to which she may or may not notice) and out I go.  

I don't know if this is normal behavior, she's the only child in her class that does it.   All the other kids are independent, walking straight into class, getting a book and sitting on their mat.  Is this normal? Will it pass? Should I have her checked to see if she's even ready for kindergarten?  She has always been a little ahead, I spent a lot of time teaching her before school but now I don't know where (academically/socially) she is.  

(Background info that may be helpful: she is fine at home, sometimes doesn't want to pick up her toys.  She gets a lot of love from myself and my husband, she adores her little sister.   I think my husband spoils her but that's another post all together :).  She has been sleeping with us for the last 6 months or so because the room she used is being occupied by my sister.  We plan on putting her back in her own room in the next month.  I know it won't be easy for her, we have tried to make her stay in there before but she throws a fit unless someone stays with her until she's asleep. She's recently been scared of the dark and of the sound of a toilet flushing (??).  

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

[rilbrianne]

well, she does scream most of the time after I leave.  I have to get her occupied to be able to slip out unnoticed but if she notices, she'll run back to me and won't let go.  I can't stay there all morning, every day, waiting for her to let go of me.  She said she is scared but doesn't really give a reason, she said she is scared of the kids seeing her.  Maybe she is shy? I hope she outgrows it by next year.  

[LRM1021]

If you are able to leave without her continuing to scream, then she will be fine in kindergarten.
You mention that she had to give up her room about 6 months ago to someone else. She started at this time sleeping with her parents.

Soon after this, she started preschool.

Sounds to me like she has been through a lot of changes that have made her a bit insecure, and one of her ways of gaining some extra security is to cling and cry when you are dropping her off. You probably want to consult a parenting book abut a good way to get her to stop this, but overall she sounds like shes doing pretty good to me.