Gina's Top Tips for going to nursery or playgroup

Tips for making a happy start at nursery

• Children aged three still have no concept of time, so avoid talking about nursery too far in advance. When the time gets closer it is worth investing in some of the many storybooks that describe what happens when a child starts nursery.
• Try to accustom your child to being looked after by someone other than yourself before nursery starts so that separation does not come as too much of a shock.
• Arranging regular play dates with one or two other children who will be attending the same nursery school can make things easier for your child. If you do not already know any parents in the area, ask the nursery teacher if she can put you in touch with other parents who will be sending their child in the next term.
• Taking a child to nursery for the first time can be very emotional for some parents. Try not to let your child sense your anxiety when it comes to leaving him. The first few partings can often be made easier if you arrange with another mother to drop your children off together. Some nurseries encourage parents to stay with their children for a short period during the first week. This works for some children but not for others, and is worth discussing in advance with the nursery teacher.
• Children who start by attending nursery only one or two mornings a week, gradually building up the number of days, are less likely to experience nursery fatigue. A child who has cut his afternoon nap and begins to display signs of becoming very overtired by the evening may need to have a short nap introduced again on the days he attends nursery.
• A child who has learnt practical skills, such as dressing, undressing and self-feeding, and is completely potty trained will have a greater sense of independence and more confidence, making it easier to adapt to nursery, than a toddler who still relies on his mother to help him with these things.
• The first term at nursery can be both physically and mentally exhausting for a child. To ensure that your child does not suffer from nursery fatigue or become overtired at bedtime, make sure his bedtime routine starts early enough. A child between two and three years who is still having a nap in the afternoon would need to be in bed by 7.30pm, but a child who has dropped his nap altogether may need to be in bed by 7pm if he is to avoid becoming overtired. Remember, overtiredness is the main cause if bedtime battles and middle-of-the-night waking.
• Make sure you spend a short time on his return from nursery discussing what has happened during the morning, and which activities he has most enjoyed. Express how proud you are of his efforts to try new activities that he doesn't seem to enjoy. It would be advisable to discuss with his teacher what you can do at home to make these activities more pleasurable.