What would you do? (DD crying at kindy)

[StrawberryMumma]

Boy am I in need of some advice from other mummas who have BTDT..

My heart is breaking atm...Our DD who turns 4 next week started Kindy this year. In WA, kindy is like proper school but with lots of playing and making things! Because she's a May baby she's pretty much the youngest in her class. Some kids are almost a year older than her, and if her birthday was a month and a bit later (like in July) she would have started kindy next year.

Now, she started school ok at the start of the year but over the last few weeks she now SCREAMS and kicks etc when being held by others, and cries that she doesn't want to be a school and wants her mum She puts on a huge show everytime I take her (which is 2 full days..tues and thurs). None of the other kids act this way and I'm sick to death of all the parents there staring and commenting to me.
She's a completely different girl at home, pretty smart, very good at speaking, writing, playful, outgoing, 'mothers' her brothers but at school she's shy, cries..won't even say boo.

Soooo my heart is breaking seeing her cry so much and stressing herself out about going to school....What should I do? Perservere? Give up for now and try preschool next year when she's more emotionally mature? 'm at my wits end and sick of the other mums seeing her behaviour as naughty, when really isn't she fairly normal (bonded with her mum)?

arrrggghhhh

[Nai]

How heartbreaking for you and your DD! I would talk to the kindy teacher and explain the situation. Ask them what they have done in the past as I would be sure that this wouldn't be the first time they have seen a child have this response. If you feel that she is too young and not coping then by all means take her out and try again next year but before doing that I would want to be looking at all the options with the help of the teachers.

[nothing2lose]

Good advice from Nai.

Also, does your kinder have mum/dad helpers? Like milk and fruit duty?

You might like to volunteer a few times until DD settles a bit more??

Why not invite a couple of the kids from kinder for playdates? Once she makes friends she will likely feel better about the whole thing.

Another thing, if the kinder has an animal (bird, fish, turtle, etc) perhaps the teacher can ask her to be the "special helper" that needs to come to kinder to look after it. That way you can build up her confidence and make it something to encourage her to want to go.

Good luck!!