Quote Originally Posted by Jen View Post
Just wondering if anyone has experience with their own children not wanting to go to school. My daughter just started JK a few weeks ago and it has been a huge struggle. She cries, and refuses to go on the bus, or even be driven. She wants to stay at home with me and the daycare kids. I try bribing her with everything! She is not shy, she went to camp no problem this summer. She is outgoing and has fun when she does go to school. I got her to go no problem last Monday-Thursday so I thought she was over it, but now she has not gone Friday, Monday or today.
Do I keep trying, or give up and let her stay home?
This might sound incredibly harsh but I don't understand why a child is making the decision about whether or not to attend school. That, IMO, is not an option.

Everyone has to do things they don't enjoy or would prefer not to do, that's part of life. Having the skills to cope with this is as vital as speaking, walking and any other basic life skill, we are parents need to give our children.

So what if she cries? She's entitled to feel however she wants to about a given situation but crying shouldn't be a reason to permit her to stay home. Surely in doing so, she is learning that making a scene and crying means she gets her own way.

I understand it's hard to force a child into a situation they don't want to be in, when they are upset but it's harder still to stand your ground with a 16 year old who has learned how to manipulate a situation than it is a KD child.

Bribing too, IMO, is not the way to go.

The fact she is outgoing and has fun when she does go should confirm to you that this is merely a means for her to express a preference of staying home. That's not unusual. Most adults would like to stay home too all day but it's not a option. Stop allowing it to be an option.