transitioning

Erinmmo

I feel like our almost 3 yr old daughter has problems with this or gets overwhelmed easily.  It's not all the time but enough to make me realize it. Examples: went to the local fair tonight and when we got there she was just in awe of the rides and stuff she just sat on the ground- when we would try to get her to go to a ride or a game stand she cried and it just seemed she was lost.  She eventually went over and played a game and won the stuffed animal but when we tried to walk around she just wanted to sit on the ground- so we picked her up and left.  We went to chick filet for dinner and she was great.  

When I first started taking her to the YMCA this summer to swim she was so great in the water and it was fun.  Then we started swimming lessons and she cried and was such a disruption in the class.  The teacher was so wonderful and I was there with her, then after that she just seemed to not like it there anymore- she became so focused on what toys she could bring in the pool and it just wasn't as enjoyable.  

Took her to a new park a few weeks ago and she didn't want to get out of the car t hen she was hesitant to go on the playground part- now she does great there.  

She attends pre school full time and does well- she has days here and there that aren't so great but for the most part she is a good kid.  

She is very aware of her surroundings- case in point her class switched to a new room for the new school yr and the first day she literally walked around the room and just took it all in- that's something I would do too! 

I just never know how she's going to be to a new situation but maybe this is just her being 3? 

Any thoughts or similar stories? 

ncbelle

Callum was like this at that age - he was just very cautious about new situations.  Now at 4.5 he really isn't.  I think just letting her have the option to hang back helps - like at the fair, it's ok if she just wants to look and not participate.  We would also talk up stuff before we did it like "would you like to go check out a new park?  It has x,y, z?  What do you think?"  It will pass though!