It is a pretty common stereotype that most children have a difficult time adjusting to attending daycare or even attending school. This isn’t surprising since all they have known up until then is being around familiar people, such as their mom, dad, or even a babysitter like a grandparent or another close relative.

I never attended daycare as a child, but my mother did enroll me in the pre-school at the local public school down the block from the old house we lived in when I was a little girl. I was a pretty sensitive child that did not like change very much, and my family loves to tell funny stories about how upset I was at attending pre-school.

Of course, like most children, I got over my dislike of attending pre-school once I realized that my great-aunt was going to be there to pick me up and since she also babysat for my other relatives, especially since I’d be able to spend more time playing with my cousin that I was close with at that age.

Some children aren’t so lucky and really don’t like the idea of attending daycare, although the tips in this list will help mothers recognize the signs that their child is feeling unhappy, as well as provide them with the tools to help change their mind about going.

Let's start with the 10 signs that they are unhappy at daycare...

25 Crying A Ton When They Arrive

Via: IG

Parenting Healthy Babies explains that if moms notice that their little one is consistently crying before they are dropped off at daycare or if the waterworks start the minute they walk into the daycare, then that’s a huge sign that they probably aren’t very happy when they are there.

It’s common for kids to shed some tears in the beginning, but that usually stops after a few weeks.

If it hasn’t stopped and it’s been two or three months, it might be time to re-evaluate the daycare and start researching either another daycare in the neighborhood or switch over to hiring a babysitter to come to the home.

24 Reluctant To Go In

According to Parenting Healthy Babies, another indication that a child does not want to go to daycare is if they consistently seem reluctant to leave the house and go into the car before they are dropped off or when they are at the threshold of the daycare’s door.

In the beginning of starting daycare, it can be difficult for a child to adjust to their new schedule and new environment. If this is still a huge problem even after the period of adjustment should have ended, then this could be a child’s way of trying to tell their mother that they are unhappy at the daycare for one reason or another.

23 Their Personality Does A 180

Via: IG

Parenting Healthy Babies writes that if a normally happy and exuberant child suddenly does a 180 in terms of their personality and starts acting a bit more withdrawn or starts throwing temper tantrums constantly once they start daycare, that is a red flag that you should take careful note of.

It’s perfectly normal for a child to have a temper tantrum or two and even become slightly morose once they start daycare, but this behavior usually stops after they get used to the change.

If this change has been going on for a while, then it is a good idea to see if the daycare needs to be switched.

22 Acting Clingy At Home

Via: IG

According to What To Expect, another sign of stress in young children is when they become extremely clingy towards their parent when they get home.

If your little one keeps latching themselves onto your leg the minute you pick him or her up from daycare and they don’t let go until it is time to get ready for bed, that’s a sign that things are not well with them.

If you noticed that this clinginess started after they started daycare and hasn’t subsided after a month or so, there is a good chance that your choice of daycare is the culprit for their stress.

21 Their Behavior Regresses

Most moms are thrilled when their little one finally outgrows the annoying habit of sucking their thumb in order to self-soothe or when they finally master the fine art of potty training and are now able to use the bathroom by themselves.

However, What To Expect warns mothers that if they noticed that their child has shown signs of regressive behaviors after going to daycare for a few months, such as forgetting their potty training or all of a sudden sucking their thumb long after you thought that you had nixed that habit in the bud, that is a giant sign of stress that should be taken seriously.

20 Developing Habits

When I was a little girl and I began being teased by my peers at school, I wound up developing the bad habit of picking my cuticles to bits and pieces. This bad habit stopped when I switched schools and wasn’t being surrounded by unkind classmates, but it still rears its head whenever I am feeling stressed out or upset about something.

What To Expect writes that if moms notice that their child has developed a bad habit like biting their nails, twisting their hair constantly or even scratching at their skin after they started daycare, this could be their way of letting you know that they are not feeling happy at the place that you chose for them to attend.

19 Won't Eat At Daycare

Via: Nesting Story

Parenting Healthy Babies points out that children, in general, tend to eat well and don’t show reluctance to start their meals when they are happy and in a comfortable environment surrounded by people they trust.

For moms who have noticed that their little one isn’t eating their lunch at all or they are bringing their lunchbox back with their meal half-eaten, this could be a sign that their little one isn’t comfortable at their current daycare and it is best to start looking into what is going on. Not being hungry once in a blue moon is normal, but when it starts being a habit, then there is definitely something else at play.

18 Waking Up From Frequent Bad Dreams

Via: IG

Humans, in general, can often wake up in the middle of the night from bad dreams when they are stressed out and unhappy. I know when I’m feeling stressed about one thing or another, I’ll often wake up several times in the middle of the night after dreaming about being caught in some sort of embarrassing situation or getting lost when I’m out and about walking my dog.

Parenting Healthy Babies says that if moms are worried that their little one isn’t thrilled about their current daycare, then they should be on the lookout if their child constantly wakes them up and complains that they had bad dreams.

17 You Notice Bouts Of Sleeplessness

Via: IG

I will fully admit that whenever I am seriously stressed out about something, I often can’t sleep at night. When my younger dog Zoe started to feel nervous about the fireworks outside during the summer and I called in a trainer to help me teach her that they aren’t bad, I was so worried that the trainer was going to say that Zoe’s nerves were too much to work with. Thankfully, the session went well and now she isn’t as nervous outside when fireworks are going off in the summer anymore.

Parenting Healthy Babies adds that another sign of a child that is unhappy at daycare might have bouts of being unable to sleep instead of bad dreams. If your child is having issues going to bed, it might be time to see if their daycare is the reason behind their sleeplessness.

16 Constantly Getting Sick

VIa: IG

It is pretty common for young children to come down with an illness fairly frequently. I myself used to get constant ear infections when I was a wee one and these unfortunately contributed to my current hearing loss as an adult. I also used to get sinus infections like clockwork once the seasons changed and even had to get my tonsils out at the age of eight too.

Parenting Healthy Babies adds that another red flag that your child isn’t happy at daycare is if they keep complaining about not feeling well and keep coming down with things like a cold, a sinus infection, etc.

And here are the 15 ways mom and dad can fix it...

15 Ease The Transition Of Going From Home To Daycare

Parents adds that if your child is feeling upset or nervous about their daycare, one way to help them overcome such emotions is by easing the transition from being at home all day to going to a new environment for a few hours.

One way to do that is by reading your child age-appropriate books about transitions and daycare, so they understand that they are not the only ones that are going through these feelings.

You can also set up play dates with the other students from the daycare on the weekends so that they will become more familiar and hopefully, friendships will blossom.

14 Allow Your Child To Take A Comfort Item With Them

According to Parents, one way to help children overcome their feelings of unhappiness about attending daycare is to allow them to take a special comfort item with them for the duration of the stay.

This comfort item might take the form of a beloved stuffed animal that your little one can’t fall asleep without, a special blanket that you purchased just for them, a locket with the picture of his or her parents inside of it, or even a photo album chock full of photos of you and your child.

With any luck, being allowed to take this comfort item will perk your little one up and help change their feelings about attending daycare.

13 Remind Them An Hour Before It's Time For Daycare

Motherly recommends that moms who are trying to change their child’s mind about going to daycare announce that they will be going an hour before they leave.

That way, your child will know what to expect and they will be able to prepare themselves for the day.

Try not to hype up the daycare too much by saying things like “You’re going to have a fun time playing with your classmates” or “You’re going to have a great day” if you’re still feeling anxious about how your little one is upset about going. Instead, give your child some reminders about the daily schedule, including which teachers they will see and what time they’ll be able to take a nap.

12 Mimic The Daycare's Schedule At Home

According to Motherly, another way to change your child’s mind about going to daycare is to try and sync their schedules for the daycare and at home together.

Before your child even starts daycare, see if you can request a copy of the schedule. If naptime is held precisely at noon and the daycare allows their clients to eat lunch an hour before, then you should try to mimic that schedule as much as you possibly can at home so that the transition from being at home and then going to a new place isn’t that much of a surprise for your child

11 Hold A Meeting With The Teachers

If you suspect that your child is feeling unhappy at their daycare, it is best to schedule a meeting with the providers ASAP.

Baby Center notes that instead of being angry and accusatory, a better way to approach the meeting is to think of it as a brainstorming session. Daycare providers and teachers are only human at the end of the day, and even they sometimes don’t realize that one of their clients is feeling unhappy. Prepare questions the night before and ask your child what is upsetting them about daycare so that you and the providers can figure out a game plan to fix the issues your little one is having.

10 Give Your Child An Important Age-Appropriate Job To Do At Home

Via: Teaching Every Day

What To Expect writes that if your child is showing signs of regressive behavior because they are feeling unhappy at their current daycare, one way to counteract that is by giving them an age-appropriate job to do around the house or apartment.

For example, Motherly adds that if you have a dog or a cat, you can give your toddler the task of pouring the pet’s food into their bowls at breakfast or at dinnertime. Or you can give your child the very important job of helping you to set the table before you get the meals ready for dinner.

9 Schedule An Appointment With A Child Psychologist

Via: Phys.org

What To Expect notes that if you are truly concerned because your child is feeling unhappy about going to daycare and those feelings have not subsided after an appropriate amount of time, you should discuss your concerns with your little one’s pediatrician since they will be able to refer you to a child psychologist in your area.

Visiting a child psychologist will be beneficial to your child since they’ll be able to figure out just why they are so upset about going to daycare. The experience will also teach them important life skills such as learning how to manage their feelings of stress.

8 Don't Cry At Goodbyes

Working Mom Magic urges all moms that are concerned about how their child is feeling about their current daycare to make sure that when they say goodbye, they do not let their own nervousness show or start crying.

It can be difficult for a worried mother to not let her emotions show what she is thinking on her face when she drops her child off at daycare when she knows that he or she is hesitant about going, but it will boost your child’s confidence if you also appear confident at the goodbyes and aren’t weeping or wailing as they enter the classroom.

7 Avoid Major Changes At Home

Via: YouTube

Most people have the erroneous idea that childhood is pretty much stress-free, but I can tell you from my own memories of growing up that I experienced my own worries. I didn’t worry as much as I do now that I am an adult, but I definitely had stress in my life as a kid.

What To Expect points out that transitions can be stressful for children, so it is best to try and avoid major changes at home as best as you can.

For example, don’t bring home a new dog or cat right before they are due to start attending daycare and don’t try to move from an apartment into a house during the daycare adjustment period.

6 Talk To Your Child About How They Feel

For mothers of children feeling upset about going to daycare, Parents writes that there is no better way to mitigate those feelings than by actually sitting down and talking to your child so that you can figure out why exactly they are feeling that way.

For example, What To Expect notes that your child might be hesitant about attending daycare because they felt upset when they saw that the school’s pet hamster accidentally got out of its cage and they didn’t want it to run outside.

That way, you can reassure your child about whatever made them feel upset and help them overcome their unpleasant feelings towards daycare.