5 year old daughter who is having trouble socialising at kindergarten?

Question

My five year old daughter has always been a fairly well behaved little girl apart from the normal here and there, however since she has started kindy she has become quite mean (verbally) to the kids in her class, and for some reason has lost all sense of manners and her ability to socialise with the other kids. She seemed to have had no problem at pre-school and i only received positive remarks about her. I am hoping to get some advise on how to turn this around as i wanted her first year of kindy to be a positive one. Thanks

Answer 1

She could be acting out do to the differences in kindy compared to pre-k.  She also could be having probs with her teacher.  My son start acting out and crying like a little bitty baby over the summer.  He was in a summer school program and I found out it was the bus driver.  She did noe like my son and treated him bad.  I took him out of the program.  It was only a 4 week thing but I was not going to let him be miss treated.  

It could also be a bully.  She could be acting out because someone is picking on her.  Or she might not like the growing up thing.  Try talking to her one on one.  No noise to distract her and ask her what is wrong and why she feels like she has to act this way.  Good luck.  I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

Consult with the teacher on strategies to improve her behavior.  I would ask the teacher for a daily report on behavior.  If she has a day were she misbehaves, make sure there is a consequence at home.  For example, she can't watch TV for the night or play with her favorite doll.

I assume the teacher also has a form of discipline in the classroom.  If not,  I would say; "You know Mrs. X.  If Emma miss behaves, please take her out of the situation.    If she can't play nice, she can't play at all."

Most teachers would be happy to allow such permission from parent.  

However, you need to talk with her at home about her behavior.  You also need to check regularly with the teacher about her progress.   Make sure their is a consequence at home.  She needs to learn school is serious and if she can't behave, she'll be punished.

Answer 3

Most kids do have a personality change when they first start school.  The have finally made to a point at home when they arent the smallest in a group of playmates and now the are lowered to the youngest again when they begin school.  By sixth grade she will have another personality change because she is once again at the oldest stage in that school.  And she will be knocked down again in seventh.  

I told one of my daycare parents this and he laughed at me then came back years later and told me I was right.  

Just reinforce the rules and be consistant.

Answer 4

She might be nervous in this new school environment.  Kindergarten today is all about learning and pre-school was all about play.  

She might be finding it hard to not play and socialize as much as before.  

I suggest a reward system.  Provide the teacher with a paper and some stickers.  Have her put a sticker on there for each positive thing she did.  X number of stickers equals a specific reward.

Answer 5

She has probably realised she is the smarter/more assertive one.  Let her adapt.  Also get books from the library about how to make friends.