Starts crying as soon as I say "quiet time"

[KellyP]

I have a 3.5 yo dcg that also did this. She also pulled some extremely dramatic manipulation of Mom and Dad at my front door during pick up a few times, too. I also have very little tolerance for this kind of behaviour. Taking away attention from this behaviour is a great thing to do, because that's obviously what they want. At 3, 40 minutes of screaming is absolutely unacceptable.

I put my foot down with this girl. It only took a few days with mine to snap her out of that behaviour. Once she realized that she wasn't getting away with it... and had a couple of time outs... she decided to behave appropriately.

That is exactly the kind of emotional manipulation I was referring to in the thread about what kind of provider you are. I am very no nonsense and don't tolerate that kind of thing well either. It doesn't take the kids long to figure out that they cannot manipulate me the way they can their parents.

What I would do OP in your shoes, is not give her any kind of clue or sign that it is rest time. Don't announce that its rest time at all. Don't allow her the opportunity to follow you around and build up to being sad and screaming/crying.

Put her down first before everyone else. Swiftly and quickly. If she fusses. Let her. Don't give her any attention for it.

I am guessing she will figure out really fast that you aren't bothered by her antics and that nap time will come any ways no matter how much she protests.