My toddler Sophia turned two at the end of May and I kept hearing of children her age going to pre-school or nurseries between 2-5 times per week. At first, I had no intention of sending her to pre-school, we don't need to send her as I am a stay at home mum now, and I will be at home looking after her younger brother even if she was at nursery. I just did not see the point in sending her when we did not need too.
Also, she is only two to me that still seems so young, she does not fully understand everything that you say to her and she has no concept of danger. I was also rather nervous at the idea of leaving her with people she does not know, she has never been left with anyone other than her grandparents and aunt and uncle which is very rare. I did not know how she would react being apart from us, what if she missed us or got hurt and just wanted her mammy and daddy.
I know a lot of people get free childcare for two-year-olds but we are not entitled to that as her daddy works full time. I was just going to keep her at home with me until she started proper nursery school next year when she is three. However recently I have had a change of heart, a new pre-school opened up not far from where we live. We went for a visit and Sophia seemed to love it and went off painting with the other children straight away.
Also after thinking about things I realised that pre-school would do her good, before we had Jacob last year I use to take her to so many baby classes she went to massage, yoga, toddlers, baby music and soft play every week. We were out every single day and she got to interact with other children which she loved. Since her brother came along it is too much of a struggle taken them anywhere on my own so I stopped going to all the baby groups, we often stay at home and she gets bored.
We are also a little bit worried about her speech as she refuses to say her own name and has been referred for speech therapy as they think she may have delayed speech. I am hoping pre-school and being around other children will encourage her to talk more. We also thought that going to pre-school a few hours a week would help prepare her for going to proper nursery next year. It will also give me a little one on one time with Jacob which I know he craves.
So today my little girl will be starting pre-school just for a couple of afternoons a week, she had an induction last week which her daddy took her too as I had to take her big sister for her tooth removed. I am feeling rather nervous about her going off to pre-school. I am worried she will run off if she is taken anywhere, I am worried how her potty training will go away from home and I am also worried if she will miss us and make friends.
In my heart I know she will love it, she needs it she needs the chance to socialise with other children and make friends as whenever she goes to soft play she toddles off and befriends anyone she sees as she is so full of confidence. I know she will love playing with the toys and adore messy play, I can not wait for her to bring her first picture home so I can hang it on the fridge.
But I'm going to miss her, it will be so strange not having her around for a few hours and I know her brother will miss her too. There will be no crazy whirlwind running around the room making a mess, no little girl curled up on my lap watching TV while her brother naps and I just know I am going to be worrying and clock watching the whole two hours she is there. But I know I will soon get over my fears and she will soon settle in and I know that I am doing what is best for her. It is the start of a new adventure for my little girl and I can't wait to see her grow.
If your little one goes to pre-school how did you know they were ready ? And please tell me it is normal to be worried even though I know she will be safe and well looked after.
Aw I imagine it must be very hard, T will be going to nursery full time in January when he turns 1 and I'm dreading it. But I'm sure they benefit from it so much with all of the interaction and activities! Xx
ReplyDeleteAw bless you, it is not so bad and I am sure that he will love it and has lots of fun making friends xx
DeleteAwww bless her :) I am sure her speech will be fine and like you say being around children her age may help and in no time she will be chatting away :)
ReplyDeleteGemma xxx
Thank you Gemma, I really hope it helps with her speech as her one year old brother can say more then she does xx
DeleteI love her coat - polka dots are the best! I agree that pre-school will be good for her. It definitely helps form early social skills and will let her learn so much more about the world. x
ReplyDeleteThank you I love it too as I adore her in navy colours. xx
DeleteStarting out is always hard I think mainly for lovely mammies who want their little ones to thrive but also will miss them terriblyxx When hailey started I missed her so much but could see how happy she was so that helped me cope alittle betterxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comment, you are so right seeing how happy she is certainly makes everything much easier xx
DeleteMy little girl is 3 and started going a couple of mornings this year, she loves it. You know your own child, if you think she's ready, she is and it will be lovely for you to have that one on one time with her little brother. I'm sure it will help her speech immensely too :)
ReplyDeleteNicola
I am glad your little one loves it, my daughter seems to really be enjoying it so far but it has only been one week. I can not wait for time with her brother as I feel bad as I never have any time with him on his own as his sisters are always around xx
DeleteI always think it very much depends on the child. Harrison started nursery (at school) just two months after his 3rd birthday and was more than ready. Alex won't be able to start until the month before his 4th birthday, and I think that is perfect for timing for him, as he isn't quite as ready as Harrison. Hope she enjoys it ! x
ReplyDeleteI agree that every child is different my eldest went to nursery at a school a week after her third birthday and she hated it and took months to settle. However Sophia is 2 years 3 months and she just seems ready and is so confident and has never been clingy and seems to love playing with other children xx
DeleteI had no idea people got 30 hours free for 2 year olds! That is a lot! But I guess it helps if people work. Sienna started pre-school ins March when she was 2 years 4 months and she was SO ready for it! She loves it and goes 12 hours a week now. I hope Sophia enjoys it! :) x
ReplyDeleteI think the 30 hours may be for less fortunate families as the few I have heard of have came from not very nice homes. Thank you Sophia has only been twice so far but she loves it and is only going for six hours a week, I am glad that Sienna loves it xx
DeleteAw bless you. You have to do what feels right for you after all each child is different, and a couple of afternoons a week sounds lovely. My daughter Sophia started preschool at two years and 3 months and she enjoyed it. Good luck to you little one... and you xx
ReplyDeleteMy Sophia is 2 years three months and she has just started too, how spooky. xx
DeleteAw bless! I can only imagine how you feel. My wee one is one, and I dread the thought of her heading off for her own pre-school time, whenever that will be. But sounds like you have really thought about it, and I've no doubt it will do wonders, including for her speech etc :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, I have a one year old too and I worry about him starting too as he is my baby and I don't want him to grow up. xx
DeleteI'm sure every parent has a worry about something or other.
ReplyDeleteN started day nursery 3 times a week at 11 months old when I went back to work (and 2 days a week with my sister in law). He loved it, then when my SIL's youngest went to school he did the 2 days at nursery school (from 2y 9m). He always loved both nurseries, made lots of friends, got to do french, yoga, music, ball skills, singing, forest school, cookery and more. Because he's been there, he's found it no hassle moving up to school.
I'm a great believer in letting kids loose to enjoy and grow, to experience gradually heading towards school, and nursery/preschool is a great way to get them used to that kind of environment.
Hope it goes well.
I am glad that he has had such a great experience, I am hoping that she will find it easier going to school as my eldest really struggled when she went to nursery school at three and it took months for her to settle. xx
DeleteIt is really normal to be worried. The social aspect will do her good and it is good for you to have some time to yourself as well. I had to go back to work when my son was three months and it tore me up, but he loved it and I am sure it has made him much more able to cope with life and social situations
ReplyDeleteI bet that was hard going back to work when he was so young, I bet that he did love it though and had a great time socialising and it is good to hear it has made him able to cope better now he is older. xx
DeleteOh bless you, it's totally normal to be worried about your little one being in pre-school, especially when they're so little. TL began playgroup in January (I felt he was bored at home too and wanted to help his speech, he's such a sociable little thing!) and has just moved up to junior pre-school three weeks ago. I still worry about him so much but I know he loves it x
ReplyDeleteThank you Fiona, I am glad that Tyler Lee is enjoying it and hope my daughter takes after him and enjoys it just as much as he does. My daughter was getting so bored on the days we were stuck at home as she just loves being outdoors and she seems to be enjoying socialising and having some freedom to run around and enjoy messy play at nursery xx
DeleteIt's such a hard decision, especially as you say you don't 'need' to send her, but as someone who has used nursery, due to work, since 9 mth old, I really recommend it. It really helps the development and hopefully you've notice a difference x
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly my problem, I think if I was at work I would feel less guilty about sending her to pre-school as I never use to feel bad about leaving my eldest in childcare when I was working as I knew I had too. xx
DeleteIt is so stressful when they start preschool isn't it. Baby hated it at first but now would go everyday if she could xx
ReplyDeleteIt really is stressful, although I was the one stressing out luckily Sophia took it all in her stride. Aw bless her , that must have been tough if she did not like it at first. I am glad she is enjoying it now xx
DeleteI hope pre school went well, I am sure it will have though. I used to work in a nursery and the children who attended just loved being able to play with other kids the same age, it is so sweet to watch them. I am sure you have made the right choice.
ReplyDeleteIt did thank you Rachel, she seems to really be enjoying it so far. I bet that was a lovely job being able to watch the little ones grow and develop. xx
DeleteI agree that 2 is a little young. I sent Amelia when she was 2 1/2 as you can send them from that age although I didn't get the free childcare so just sent her two days a week for 2 hours at a time. She loved it and it definitely helped with her speech. Now Amelia has started the nursery year at school and she loves it there, she'd stay there all day if she could haha! xx
ReplyDeleteThat is what we are doing she is just going a few hours a week over a few afternoons. I am glad it helped Amelia's speech , I hope it help's Sophia's. Aw bless her I am glad she loves nursery school and I bet she looks so sweet in her little uniform xx
DeleteDefinitely very normal to be worried - it is such a big milestone. Sounds like the new preschool is lovely and that Sophia enjoyed her visit. Hope that she takes the milestone in her stride and enjoys the socialising and interaction with the other children. It is harder to keep up with the groups once you add an extra child into the mix, isn't it? x
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise, it really is such a big milestone. It really is so difficult trying to keep up with all the playgroups when you have more then one child, I struggled so much I stopped going. xx
DeleteOh I totally understand this. My eldest started nursery just before she turned two and she's going an extra couple of mornings a week now. I still miss her every time she goes and I'd love to keep her at home but I also understand that she needs to socialise with children her own age and it will do her good. I'm sure your little one will come on in leaps and bounds now she's started.x
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment Natalie, I am glad that your daughter has settled well. I feel the same I would love to keep her at home with me for that little bit longer but I know that it is what is best for her socialising with others her age xx
DeleteShe will be fine she'll be in gear hands! My small lady was in creche when she was younger and now playschool and has always enjoyed both. It's great for their social skills and enjoy the little bit of time to yourself too!
ReplyDeleteShe has really enjoyed it so far , she has only been twice but has not cried once and adores painting and socialising with the other children. I wish I could have time to myself but I have her one year old brother at home with me xx
DeleteAhh its definitely normal to be worried. It sounds as though it will be really good for her. I wonderabout putting Tyne in but I have a similar situation as I`m at home anyway so we dont need him to go, but I wonder if he'd enjoy the chance to socialise. xxx
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