4 Year Old Grandson Behavior

My 4 year old grandson is having difficulty adjusting to daycare.  His family moved to another state recently. Until the move he and his brother were taken care of by family everyday while their parents were at work.  Now that they are in another state without family the boys are in a daycare.

They have been in daycare for 5 weeks and my grandson cries the night before saying he doesn't want to go to daycare; he cries each morning when he gets up until they drop him off and cries in the evening when they pick him up.  The daycare provider said he doesn't cry during the day when he is engaged in an activity but the minute he has down time he starts crying again.

His 3 year old brother is adjusting fine; they are allowed to see each other throughout the day if the 4 year old is having a particularly hard time.

I'm concerned that if this continues it will adversely affect him over time...  Help?!?!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is to be expected that such a big transition will cause a bit of instability. It's the situation that is stressful and he is reacting to it. It would not be useful to change his arrangement. His parents should stick with it and he will eventually be OK. This immediate reaction will not harm him.