There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to children and their development. Being ready for nursery differs from child to child and social readiness can bloom at different rates. Some children can be ready from 18 months whilst other children need to be closer to the age of 4 before they pick up a backpack. The main question floating around is, is my child ready for nursery? Read on to get all of your queries answered.
1. Can your child work on their own?
Your child should be at a stage where they can focus on colouring, playing with building blocks or completing a puzzle independently without the need for adult supervision. If you feel your child isn’t at that stage yet, don’t worry. Focus on developing these skills with them at home and set goals for your child of completing short activities alone without you in the room with them.
2. Are they able to do basic self-care?
Most nurseries will expect your child to be potty trained or show strong signs of being ready to do so. Sometimes the presence of other children in the same position can be motivation enough to push them to confidently use the toilet well. Washing hands after using the toilet as well as sitting in one place whilst eating are also other skills required for students who attend nursery.
3. Are they able to participate in group activities?
Whilst this is a skill that they’ll develop in the nursery, your child must be at a place to start. They should be able to sit in a circle and engage in singing and story time with their peers and teachers. If you are unsure if your child is ready in this aspect, enrol on a mother and toddler group and see how they get on there.
4. Are they able to be separated from you for short periods of time?
If your child is already comfortable spending time with a babysitter or already goes to day-care then this is a no-brainer even though they’ll naturally need some time to adjust. However, if your child still clings to you and screams when separated, you may need to get them used to being apart from you for a couple of hours a day until they are ready to slowly extend that time.
The bottom line is that every child is different. There is no set time for when children need to attend nursery which is why it is completely fine if your child doesn’t seem ready when their friends may be. Wait until they are confident and have developed the skills for a positive nursery experience.
