Daughter won't go to playschool..

[jan123]

We have a 4yo Daughter who is absolutely refusing to go to PS..I really don't know what to do...she went to PS last year and there were no problems, in fact some of the kids at her last PS are at this one...she's grand when we are heading off, but as soon as we arrive a major tantrum starts...we have tried bribing her but she is not having it....what should I do....advice needed and appreciated....

My ds just started school and he was 4 at the end of May.

At the end of last term i relented and took him home after a major hysterical fit. I wish i had kept going with it as i can see him looking at me and thinking "Any minute she will take me home". I feel like i actually made it worse

Every kid is different BUT they do all have to go to school. It is so hard. I really hope you manage to sort it with the help of the playschool.

I am of the feeling that if they don't have to go, don't make them.

They have a whole long life ahead of them of having no choice but going to places they don't like - don't see the need to start it any sooner than necessary.

I had this problem last May. In his last term at pre-school, after two and a half terms, my then not yet 4yo DS suddenly refused to go. I dragged/carried him and left him a couple of times but in the end let him stay home, much as I resented the sacrifice of my own time. It was only a question of the final few weeks, and it seemed pointless to have a distressing daily battle on a matter of minor principle. I found myself agreeing with MNers who pointed out that preschool isn't compulsory, and nor should it be at this age.
DS is now at school, it's early days but I am cautiously optimistic. He cried and clung a little on the first day but not since. It is much easier to explain even only a few months on that everybody has to go to school whether they want to or not. I've no doubt there will be days when he resists but so far (one week!) the change has done him good.

Maybe she is not ready yet for school? If she really needs to go you may need to make her go and hopefully she will settle soon. There will be kids who really aren't ready and will cry all day every day for weeks if not months. Unless directly asked teachers may not always say how bad it really is as they may not want to make the parents more anxious. Hopefully this doesn't apply to your dd, but to think that all kids will settle as soon as you leave is a myth!