My DS1 is almost 5 and it is still a battle to get him to kinder 2 days a week. He will continually say he doesn't want to go. He is a worrier and gets so upset at the mention of kinder days. On his day off (wed) he is already thinking about thursday and saying he doesn't want to go. Im not sure how to best approach it. He seems to enjoy himself once he settles in, but I have to stay for a little bit and he doesn't cry when I leave but he is sad.
I don't really know what to do. I hate seeing him worrying and becoming upset about it.
If you have been through this I would like to know how you both coped.

DD was like that still is unfortunely She's 6 and in grade 1 and still hates school alot, I kept telling her that she was going to have fun when she gets there trying to focus on the postivies of going about friends and the fun things they do.

Might be worth a try talking to his teacher - she/he may have some ideas on how to tackle this.

My DS actually told us he wanted to go to a different school where one of his friends went. Anyway, I told him that sometimes we have to do things we don't always enjoy and that we need to give these things a chance and that it takes time.

Now he seems to be enjoying it more and has even made some friends. Perhaps you can arrange some play dates with some kids from his class? This might also help him develop those relationships.

Hope this helps.

Hey there,

My 4yo DD is the same. She seems to enjoy kinda once she has settled in, but when I drop her off, she starts crying and doesn't want me to leave.

When she first started kinda, she absolutly loved it. Even when it came to leaving her, it was never a drama. She would just walk off and play.

THEN..... I had baby no.3 in March and since then, everything changed.

She now cries when I leave her at kinda and daycare. I'm told she doesn't cry for very long, (as soon as I drive out the driveway, she's stopped), but still, I too am struggling with how to deal with it.

It's not easy leaving her when she's crying and screaming out "MUMMY". But they say prolonging the "goodbye" process or staying any longer than I have too can make it worse.

I know it's a separation issue, but I still dont know what to do. I have even stayed with her for a little while at kinda and played with her, but as soon as it comes for me to leave, all the drama starts.

I'm gonna keep an eye on this post, as I too, am interested to hear how other people have handled this situation.

Good luck!!

I agree with bluesky that having a friend/couple of friends at kinder or day care makes a difference. If you can organise a couple of play dates and try to get your ds into a friendship group he may look forward to going to kinder to play with those children. I am having problems with my second dd (nearly 4yo) and day care, she is always so despondant about going there, whereas she is always really excited to go to kinder on the days she goes there. I think it's because she has a couple of friends at kinder that she knows well, but she has only been at day care a little while and hasn't really clicked with anyone there yet. Day care is a bit tricky though, because you don't really see the parents so I've enlisted the day care teachers to pair her up with some friends. Maybe you could ask the kinder teacher to encourage a friendship they think would work for your ds? All the best, it's really difficult and sometimes heartbreaking isn't it?

I agree with the others about trying to organise a playdate to make friends. My DS just wanders around kinder and doesn't seem to want to do anything they have on offer and isn't really clicking with the kids. He's not a typical 'boy' and cars and things don't interest him at all.

I have kind of encouraged him to play with someone I think he will have a little in common with, and he has actually been invited to his b'day which I am excited about!! He is looking forward to it, so I hope if he can create some friends in a smaller social setting he may like kinder a bit more.

He never wants to go and is always super excited to go home. He goes but he's not really overjoyed about it and always says he wants to come home. It's only 3yo kinder, but I tell him that's what happens when you're 3!

I hope things improve for you!