My Child Doesn't Want to Go to Daycare

When the time comes for children to start going to daycare, they may have many different reactions. How should parents respond?

There are some children who practically jump with joy when they find out they’ll soon begin daycare. Others, however, try to hide or wrap themselves in blankets stronger than ever. How should you react if your child doesn’t want to go to daycare?

This denial can be exasperating, but it’s essential to arm yourself with patience. Knowledge of the subject is always helpful.

Your children may already be adapted to going to daycare but, for some reason, they suddenly don’t want to attend anymore. Sometimes there is no apparent reason as to why they act this way.

Some children have a lot of trouble adapting to daycare and it’s difficult to understand why and how to act.

My child doesn’t want to go to daycare: guidelines for talking with the family

In some homes, there is the possibility of waiting for children to show interest in going to school. In other cases, daycare plays a vital role in caring for children while parents are at work.

Some children may accept their fate with resignation, joy, or rejection. The latter is a bit more logical: early schooling rarely meets a child’s needs. 

Considering the fact that children don’t choose to go to daycare on their own, it’s easier to understand why they don’t want to go. They’d surely prefer to stay with their parents at all times, or with grandparents or other people of affection and trust.

In this sense, your children may adapt better to daycare if you explain to them what will happen through games, words they understand, and various recreational resources, such as songs.

Tips to help children adapt to the idea of daycare

• Transmit self-confidence and tranquility
• Give them enough time to wake up and eat a good breakfast
• Avoid arriving late
• Don’t send them in case of physical discomfort
• Don’t overload the weight of their backpacks
• Make sure they get a good night’s sleep
• Ask them and encourage them to talk about teachers and classmates
• Give them time to play at home: spending quality time with them will prevent them from feeling down

Other options if your child doesn’t want to go to daycare

If your child has difficulties adapting, he may be experiencing an unpleasant situation at daycare. Before choosing a daycare for your children, especially if they’re very small, you must take precautions.

If, after the first month, the child continues resisting going to daycare, factors that play into this issue will need to be considered.

Among frequent reactions in children who don’t want to go to daycare include: the insistence on wanting to bring their own toys, clinging to one of the educators, becoming more demanding in the house or crying at the entrance and exit.

Patience is crucial to overcoming this first stage. When feeling that frustration of “my child doesn’t want to go to daycare,” it’s not necessary to be alarmed if your little one remains energetic and affectionate within the family.

In conclusion, only the person who spends the most time with your children and knows them best will be able to analyze their reasons for rejecting daycare. Don’t hesitate to speak with their teachers and caregivers, in addition to talking with your children of course.