Nursery World - Sense of security

Building up confidence and independence is crucial in helping a child to let go of persistently clingy behaviour. Jenny Mosley and Ross Grogan offer some pointers Q A three-year-old has been attending nursery since she was a baby. She was recently kept off for a week because she was ill. Since she has returned she clings to her mother and starts crying and screaming as she is brought through the door. We think that she has been used to having her mother's undivided attention while she has been ill. What should we do?

Q A three-year-old has been attending nursery since she was a baby. She was recently kept off for a week because she was ill. Since she has returned she clings to her mother and starts crying and screaming as she is brought through the door. We think that she has been used to having her mother's undivided attention while she has been ill. What should we do?

Q A three-year-old has recently started attending our pre-school. She is very clingy to the staff and wants to be helped with everything - putting on her coat, drawing, pouring a glass of water and so on. She is the youngest of three children by five years and we wonder whether she is spoilt at home. How can we help her to become more independent?

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