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Niece doesn’t like kindergarten, what should we do?

About two weeks ago, my niece began throwing tantrums that she doesn’t want to go to school. She has stated many things, like she’s just really bored, her throat and stomach hurt, the teacher is mean to other kids sometimes, it’s cold, I’m scared, and that she wants her mommy to be there. We’ve talked to her teacher and she says that my niece only tells her that she wants her mom. We feel like she is just tired and bored and is looking for any excuse to stay home and watch TV. We don’t know how to get her out of this state of mind. It’s her first year, and we know it is a big change, but she can’t skip school forever. How do we get her to enjoy it and accept it as part of her routine now?

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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

It would appear that her parents need some education in the "Do as I tell you" department. She has obviously been watching too much TV, where the four year olds run the world.

Benarro · 31-35, M

@whowasthatmaskedman just out of curiosity do you think it's out of the realm of possibility that a teacher could be being cruel to her? Or even abusing the kids? I'm not saying it proves anything, but if this wouldn't be the first evidence of it what would be?

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Benarro One assumes that before releasing a child into anothers care for the first time, some checks have been made. Other parents of attendees spoken to etc. Kids are pretty basic in how they react. If the child it throwing up different roadblocks, it sounds like she is looking for the one that works for her.

Benarro · 31-35, M

@whowasthatmaskedman come on - if you follow this through logically it would imply that no one who's ever been employed in a school would be cruel (which is horrible but not a crime) or actually a criminal. It's good to double check if one is getting complaints. This allows you to isolate the problem and if it is the girl they can be firm and make her attend school like you suggest. But I wouldn't ignore warning signs just by assuming everything is ok.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Benarro Having only pushed two children and three grandchildren through kindergarten and supported them through continuing education while spending three decades in higher Ed myself I bow to your experience in the matter. But sounds to me like your cousin is a brat in training who needs to be steered off the path of not getting her own way.

Benarro · 31-35, M

@whowasthatmaskedman it's not about experience it's logic. It may be the latter, but the former is not logically excluded.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Benarro Thats where you went wrong four year olds dont do logic. They do "I want."

Benarro · 31-35, M

@whowasthatmaskedman what does her logical ability have to do with it? The point is that if you get complaints by kids about the place you ought to do some investigating to see if there's any truth to the comments. How is that not the only responsible course of action? What's the alternative, ignore it completely. You make no sense, sir. Sorry.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Benarro Sadly it is you who is making no sense. The majority of the complaints from her you note are about HER, not the place, Stomach hurts, sore throat, bored.. etc. If there was a constant theme against the building or the staff, I would certainly investigate. What you have there is attention seeking or a grab for sympathy. I recommend a little googling on child psychology.

Benarro · 31-35, M

@whowasthatmaskedman and "the teacher is mean to other kids sometimes, it’s cold, I’m scared" but ok you're the expert, nothing to read into there (and bear in mind I'm talking purely potentially).