Is she too young for nursery school?
My daughter is 2 years and 8 months old. She started nursery school a couple of weeks ago and has just started to get really unsettled. night time routine up the creek and is very clingy which is unlike her. she became very upset today on dropping her off and I had to take her home with me. Anyone been through this? I am thinking of taking her out of nursery until she is older - any advice would be greatfully received. What is the correct age for a child to start nursery?
Depends on what your motives are. Are you doing this for work or for her social interaction. If it is for work, and you really need to work outside of the home, then other possible options are an in home daycare that might have fewer kids or a personal nanny. If this is for other reasons, such as learning, then studies have shown that a child learns all they need at that age from home. If it is for social reasons, then inviting one mom over with their child would be better.
June 14th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
No don’t take her out. I went through this EXACT same thing with my daughter when I put her in daycare at 2. I wanted to take her out as well and I am so glad I didn’t. She was so clingy to me, didn’t want anything to do with anyone else and he sleep patterns were crazy. I gave it 2 weeks and she was fine after that. She LOVES school now and I can see a BIG difference in her. Just give it some time, trust me it will get better.
References :
June 14th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Does she go everyday, for how long? We started out putting my son in for halfdays at 3 days a week, then increased to full days. he was about your daughters age. THey have to get used to the idea of going it will take some time. She will eventually warm up to it and start to enjoy going and seeing her friends. Also the staff is a major issue, if you don’t feel they are showing enough compassion and love towards the kids she may not feel loved like at home!
References :
June 14th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Depends on what your motives are. Are you doing this for work or for her social interaction. If it is for work, and you really need to work outside of the home, then other possible options are an in home daycare that might have fewer kids or a personal nanny. If this is for other reasons, such as learning, then studies have shown that a child learns all they need at that age from home. If it is for social reasons, then inviting one mom over with their child would be better.
References :
June 14th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
I just went through this about 4 weeks ago! I posted the same question & everyone helped me a great deal!
My daughter is 4 yrs old but I don’t think it has to do with age. I think it’s if you think your daughter is capable of handling what happens all day at school. Is she okay with the activities, teacher, children? If yes, then it’s just the seperation in the mornings that is hard. THATS what was wrong with my daughter.. because the teacher said that she cried for a few minutes then she’d be happy again and through out the day she’d whine here and there but she always went back to being happy cause they’d put her yet another activity to preoccupy her mind.
Anyways.. it took her a total of 3 weeks to be happy with the seperation in the morning.. sometimes she’s still a little uneasy but no more tantrums when I drop her off!!!!!
If you have the confidence in the school & your daughter…. then it will get better.
IF you don’t feel she’s ready because she’s not ready to be in a school setting and she’s miserable after a few weeks then maybe it is too soon.. but don’t judge it just by her tears in the morning.. OMG it’s terribly hard.. I know.. but be strong mama!!!
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 12:14 am
I think that’s a bit young…I kept my daughter out till just this week…she is 3 and a half but could have started in September…she is finding it hard to settle and she’s a year older than yours.
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:02 am
Its a tricky one. If you don’t have to have her at nursery then why do it. If you don’t have to have her there then if I were you I would take her for 2 sessions a week and go and stay with her until she’s comfortable. This isn’t being too protective - she’s only 2 and she needs some reassurance (don’t we all!!). Now you’ve started though I don’t think I would stop. Have a word with the nursery and explain this is what your doing, if they are any good then they will agree. So get your play stuff on and go and have some fun with her until she feels up to going it alone for half an hour and give it a go. It’ll help her to get little friends.
I don’t think there’s a ‘correct age’. She’s your child and only you know best when she’s ready for these things.
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:14 am
i think you should wait till she was three,then that way she can tell you if she is happy,but if you have no choice but take her just take her favorite toy or blanket
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:23 am
My daughter started at 18 months just going one day a week, then i had a second child so decied to try her at a different nursery 5 days a week for 2.5 hour a day and i have never looked back because i got her in earlie she took to it well, most of the time they do tend to get clinging when you try to leave for about the first month, but even though you see the tears and tantrums the moment you go they forget all about that have a WONDERFUL TIME and when you pick them up you start to wonder if it’s the same child!!!!!!!!!
Give it a bit more time and be patient if after 2 months she is still unsettled and un happy then go with your hearts decision.
Maybe you should cut down her hours a bit,just another idea?
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:31 am
IT depends really-nursery schools can be a bit overwhelming as they are often big, loud and have minimal staff. Thats why a lot of under 3’s go to preschools instead as the ratios are higher, the layout is a bit different etc (The education is pretty much the same as she will be on Birth To Three if in England).
However, if she has only been at the setting for a couple of weeks then she probably will have her routine all shaken up because she is trying to adjust to a new one. Stick to the routine at home so she has normality and she should settle pretty quick.
Problem 2 now is that once you’ve taken her home she knows that all she has to do is become very upset! She may well try this again and again to push the boundaries.
In answer of your age question-where I am children go to preschool or playgroup 2-3(sometimes 3 and a bit) and then Nursery about 3-3half to school.
Good Luck-starting a settling is always heart wrenching!
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:42 am
HI, my daughter is 2 years and 3 months and she’s been going to nursery for the past 3 weeks. She’s got very clingy and is always thinking I’m going to leave her where ever we go.
My daughter cries when I drop her off to but now you’ve started it don’t back down or it’ll be harder the next time. I expect it’s the initial parting that is traumatic for her, i know this is the case with me and after her teachers tell me she was fine!
I would persevere with this x
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 1:55 am
the worst thing you could do is take her out of there,she is just settleing into a new routine, its all abit strange with differnt people, think how you felt on your first day at a new job?? bloody terrified (well i always did)
all my kids went to a playgroup for 2hr a day from the age of 2 so by the time they got to nursery they were all ok with being left there
its the same for kids really exept they are not old enough to understand that your not leaving them and you will be back later, try having a chat with her before you go in and offer her a little treat if she is a good girl, bribry i know but it works for me
good luck
References :
mum of 3girls
June 15th, 2010 at 2:17 am
My daughter started and she settled well with a little time and patience and my son will be in in April and I think he will be the same. Don’t take her out unless she is making herself ill with it, she will settle in time, good luck
References :
June 15th, 2010 at 2:39 am
in the uk 3 is the normal age for nursery unless u are privately paying.
dont take her out. they do settle after a while.
good luck
References :