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Do Children really get bored in nursery?

43 replies

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:08

I have seen it said on here that kids will get bored at reception if they already know stuff?

Is this really true?

I have a nearly 4yo and he’s going to be young in the year (end of April birthday).

I have been trying to get him ready for school and he really enjoys it. But now worried have we taught too much - bearing in mind we still have 6 months to go? If we continue at this current pace he will be streets ahead.

What do teachers and parents think? Is it really a thing?

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 29/03/2026 17:31

Can he play with others?

Can he go to the toilet independently (including wiping)?

Can he get changed independently?

Can he put his own coat/shoes on?

mikado1 · 29/03/2026 17:31

Is this a child led thing or what started you out in covering these things outside of day to day counting, talking about time, looking at numbers on doors of houses etc?
I'm a teacher and didn't do any formal work with my dc pre-school or pre preschool. I woukd have if they'd asked but I knew this woukd be done at school and knew the benefit of all the other more important things at the preschool age. I chose a preschool that also didn't cover anything formally, no worksheets, phonics etc. School life is long enough and play is so important. Of course I read to them all the time, we did jigsaws and painting etc etc. I can promise you it never held them back and they were absolutely flying once formal learning started and they were hungry for it.
I will also say, (Ireland) not all preschools or parents will be 'teaching' these things correctly and schools then have to undo bad habits (capital letters and phonics especially!!)

AnnieMay55 · 29/03/2026 17:30

Reception is a lot about social and independence skills, getting on in a group and sharing and caring for others. Playing games where they don't always win. It is quite different from doing things 1:1 with a parent. Being independent getting changed for P.E , putting coats on, going to the toilet unaided. You say he knows his numbers up to 100 but can he count groups accurately and add them together. Can he order numbers. What are his writing skills and phonics, reading skills etc. Sometimes children particularly boys enjoy playing with numbers but maybe not so keen on other areas. This might not be true for your little boy, but try to make him rounded in all areas. All children will be assessed after a few weeks in Reception and any decent teacher will differentiate activities and work out next steps for each pupil. I very much doubt he will be bored as everything will be new to him in school.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 29/03/2026 17:29

Dd was bored she went to pre-school at 2.5 years ( the manager said she could start if toliet trained) and was ft for most of that so by the time she entered reception she had been at pre-school for over 2 years. She was devastated not to go to school the year before she could count and read. She is now 19 and says she didn't really learn anything at school until yr8 ( she did get full marks on the yr1 phonics test at the end of yr R and her yr 6 SATS so I am inclined to believe her)

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:28

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/03/2026 17:23

No I think he’ll be fine. He’ll probably just feel quite secure if it all feels familiar.

As others have said, they learn through play mostly in reception. So he’ll still enjoy the playing either way.

Thats great, thank you. That was the initial aim as didnt want him to feel behind being young in the year.

OP posts:
tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:27

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:19

So do you mean don’t worry and just crack on?

Is there a national curriculum somewhere where these things are set out.

When I was looking at the learning goals for eyf these were all behind paywalls.

Your school will tell you the topics and schemes etc and the expectations. Don't go looking for it all and trying to teach him yourself. Like I said before, school is more than just maths.

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:26

PurpleNightingale · 29/03/2026 17:21

The phonics and maths sessions are just a small part of their learning- they do sport, art, science, positional language, more than, less than, double and half- I'm sue some things will be new enough to keep it interesting. I don't think you need to worry.

Thats good, thats reassuring thankyou

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tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:25

Yes. Just crack on and just make sure he isn't pushed too hard... It will be completely new environment and he'll be learning about so much more than numbers. He'll be learning his soft skills. Learning to negotiate. Listen. Follow instructions. Sit in a group, going to whole school assemblies. Eating new foods in a new environment.

He'll play with new children in all sorts of different ways. He'll do art and science and "show and tell" and explore environments.
He'll be learning to read and write and draw and express himself.

Don't worry about his maths ability. The school will differentiate and deepen his knowledge.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/03/2026 17:23

No I think he’ll be fine. He’ll probably just feel quite secure if it all feels familiar.

As others have said, they learn through play mostly in reception. So he’ll still enjoy the playing either way.

Snorlaxo · 29/03/2026 17:21

Self care skills like wiping his bum after a poo, putting on gloves, doing up the zip on his coat and knowing which shoe goes on which foot (after they change for PE) are also important. I’d thought I’d mention this because kids ahead in some areas are sometimes behind in others.

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:21

tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:19

Does he know his numbers
Or can he just recite them?

They will ensure he has actual number knowledge and deep understanding of numbers in reception. They use things like rekenreks or numicons to get that deep understanding. They'll work on subitising etc

Edited

He can recite and does know also. He plays with number blocks, can count them out, assemble them, do scenarios with them (ie. If we have 10 apples (green number blocks) how many do we have each if we have equal amounts.

OP posts:
PurpleNightingale · 29/03/2026 17:21

The phonics and maths sessions are just a small part of their learning- they do sport, art, science, positional language, more than, less than, double and half- I'm sue some things will be new enough to keep it interesting. I don't think you need to worry.

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:19

tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:16

It's nonsense. People just think their kids are geniuses.

.u friend thinks her 4 year old knows "more maths than they can teach" in reception.... 😂 Lol, they can definitely teach him stuff he doesn't know.

And there's more to school than reading, writing and maths.

Edited

So do you mean don’t worry and just crack on?

Is there a national curriculum somewhere where these things are set out.

When I was looking at the learning goals for eyf these were all behind paywalls.

OP posts:
tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:19

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:15

Well currently he would love that. He loves doing the questions and answers even the ones he knows. Part of why he enjoys it.

But wondering if that will still be the case in 2 years time.

What level of stuff do they teach reception and yr 1?

For example he knows all his numbers to 100. Not times tables yet but we have started counting 10s and doing basic addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

Does he know his numbers
Or can he just recite them?

They will ensure he has actual number knowledge and deep understanding of numbers in reception. They use things like rekenreks or numicons to get that deep understanding. They'll work on subitising etc

tnorfotkcab · 29/03/2026 17:16

It's nonsense. People just think their kids are geniuses.

.u friend thinks her 4 year old knows "more maths than they can teach" in reception.... 😂 Lol, they can definitely teach him stuff he doesn't know.

And there's more to school than reading, writing and maths.

HolyMoly24 · 29/03/2026 17:16

Reception is still all about playing so unless he is bored of playing he’ll be fine.

Receptionprep · 29/03/2026 17:15

Snorlaxo · 29/03/2026 17:11

Depends on your child’s personality. What do you think he’ll do if asked to read/write/calculate something very easy? Some kids wouldn’t dare be rude to their teacher and do as asked politely, where as on the opposite end of the spectrum they might eye roll or sigh being asked to add 3 and1 when they know their times tables.

Well currently he would love that. He loves doing the questions and answers even the ones he knows. Part of why he enjoys it.

But wondering if that will still be the case in 2 years time.

What level of stuff do they teach reception and yr 1?

For example he knows all his numbers to 100. Not times tables yet but we have started counting 10s and doing basic addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 29/03/2026 17:11

Depends on your child’s personality. What do you think he’ll do if asked to read/write/calculate something very easy? Some kids wouldn’t dare be rude to their teacher and do as asked politely, where as on the opposite end of the spectrum they might eye roll or sigh being asked to add 3 and1 when they know their times tables.