Joanna Fortune: My child still gets upset at school drop-off time, what can I do?

It's heartbreaking hearing crying — is just walking away when school starts the best option or can we find another way to fix this?

'The advice to walk away from a crying child who is begging you to stay is counter-intuitive and can be very distressing for a parent.'

My four-year-old son started school recently and gets very upset when I drop him off in the morning. It's heartbreaking to hear him cry and ask me not to leave. His teacher says he'll get used to the new routine and that walking away is best. He has always been a sensitive child and also found it difficult at the start of playschool. What can I do?

The start of school is a big adjustment for children and their parents. The advice to walk away from a crying child who is begging you to stay is counter-intuitive and can be very distressing for a parent.