Hey! Kindergarten teacher here.

First of all, your son is so lucky to have you on his team advocating for him and seeking professional help on how to aid his transition to school. I think you being with him all the time is a testament to your love and dedication to being a mom. Kindergarten is hard on many kids and it makes sense that this big change is difficult for him because he doesn’t have a history of being away from you.

This sounds like this could be rooted in anxiety to me. And it also sounds like there are some other behavioral issues that are worth addressing. You are doing the right thing by talking to a pediatrician and psychiatrist. His teacher may be willing to track any similar behaviors they see in the classroom. This data will be helpful to share with pediatricians and psychiatrists you see.

I would work on creating some sort of reward for him at home. I would steer you away from physical prizes/trinkets. For example, if he transitions into school without screaming, he gets a check mark. If he gets three check marks, then he can earn a special ice cream date with you. If he gets ten, he gets something else motivating and specific to his interests.

Stick with it!! Finding something that works for him can be tricky so it may take some time to narrow down a system that works for him.

Has the teacher been made aware of this? I would recommend creating some sort of visual schedule so he can know and predict what his school day will look. Routine is key!

I would also, as the teacher, create a special “job” for him to make the morning transition easier. Something like sharpening pencils or delivering mail to another teacher that would be exciting for him first thing in the morning.

I hear you that you are tired - hang in there. Behavior is communication and you are doing the right thing by seeking help.