I think you've made the right choice. If something is upsetting him that much then that's pretty real. I don't believe that children at 3 can manipulate in this way. It's like saying an adult who gets upset and refuses to go to a party is being manipulative. No they aren't, they are taking control of a situation. Now yes it's inconvenient for you, but perhaps another centre would suit him better. Sometimes things go on without our knowing, and this is especially prevalent at CC & Kinder because the ratio of adult to child is not perfect to see all KWIM? And even at our Kinder they believe if a child is that upset they will give them a term to settle and if they don't it is advised they try again Term 4 and redo it next year. Just like every child isn't school ready not every child is Kinder/CC ready. My DD was going to after school care about 18 months ago as I was working and whilst she never really complained when she went when I decided to look into work again she burst into tears. She hated afterschool care, why? Because she missed her brother. Next year DS is in school and I will be working again but she is ecstatic to know that her brother will be with her. Now I do realise not everyone's situation can be flexible to a child's distress, but in my case (and in yours) if you have the flexibility then I say listen to your child.