Super needy dcg suggestions?

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

I have a dcg (almost 4) who just started a couple weeks ago. She is super needy. I've never had a child so extremely needy, especially at her age. At first I figured it was because she was still new and trying to get used to things and feeling insecure, but she's actually getting worse... I have to be at her side the whole time. No matter what she's doing or playing, if I so much as walk across the room, she's scrambling after me, "hey hey, what are you doing, what are you doing?" Or if I have to walk out of the playroom to grab something real quick, she's right on my heels, "hey hey! Where are you going, where are you going?" And if I dare go to the bathroom, she's in there with me before I can get the door shut, so I guide her back out and tell her, "I'm going potty. Go play now". But she stands outside the door asking, "What are you doing?" The whole time! I'll repeat that I'm going potty, and she'll just keep asking anyway, as if I never said anything. If I tell her to go play she says, "okay!" and then continues to ask me what I'm doing. If I just ignore the question after her asking so many times and already being told several times what I'm doing, or for her to go play, she just gets more insistent that I answer. If I sit down on the floor she's all over me, in my lap, hanging on my arm, up in my face, etc. Even if she does start playing something without me, she's bringing it to me pushing it into my hands "needing help" when she knows how to do it already. If I do try to help, she grabs it away, saying, "hey hey! I do it!" So I let her have it, show her how, and she pushes it back into my hand again. "You do it". And then grabs it right back again... So any suggestions on teaching her how to be more independent and not needing me at her side the ENTIRE day? She's wearing me out!

[mamamanda]

I would spend a little independent time each day with a designated space for dcg to play. Either use a hula hoop, or a rug, or a blanket, etc...something visual to give her a designated area where she is to stay. Then let her choose an activity and keep it in her area. No calling for you, no getting out of her area, definitely not putting her hands on you. Maybe start with 10 minutes a day and gradually increase it. I do this with mine that struggle to play independently and it is slow going, but I have seen improvement. I definitely wouldn't let her hang all over me though. That would drive me crazy. I'm pretty sociable, but I thrive on my "me" space. Not a lot of that in child care, but a kid hanging on me all day would put me over the edge.::