To not know what to do with dd's Nursery project

[franbella5]

Sometimes I feel sorry for dd; Dp and I are clueless about this parenting malarkey. We have been sent home from nursery an a4 piece of paper with an egg shape on it for "her to design". Dd is 18m.o. What do you do: let her "design" it entirely herself; or make a project of it with her and "help" her make it look like a thing? We'll probably do both anyway, but which do nursery want to see?

Sorry, this is a minor question really. I feel silly not knowing the etiquette on these things!

get out some crayons. either he will scribble a bit or not.
tbh I would bin it.
at that age anything should be entirely voluntary, really.

Get the crayons out and let her scribble on it. Or some glue and collage things to decorate it with.

That is all they will be expecting.

I work in a nursery and we have done similar things in the past. Its part of the eyfs to get parents involved in their childs learning

Homework project for an 18 month-old - now I have heard everything! I thought from your OP, you were referrring to a nursery school but it is actually a daycare nursery. You are not clueless about parenting; there is no etiquette; this is one of the craziest things I have ever heard. I would give her a thick black marker pen and the sheet of paper and just let what happens, heppen.

At that ages I agree with MousyMouse - crayons to scribble or not.

My mum suggested (and it has been brilliant) keeping a little box/bag of bits and pieces ends of that silver stuff you put on presents, odd bits of wrapping paper, cards that were colourful or had people on the front (or other objects). Anything vaguely colourful or shiny - the very end of the foil roll etc. These are mostly cut up into small ish pieces and shoved in a bag. For a little while now DD has spent hours and hours sticking them onto other bits of paper to make pictures. Now she is three she also likes cutting them up or tearing them up first to make the pieces to stick. I never in a million years would have thought of that myself. 18 months possibly a little young for that (although I can't honestly remember!), but maybe from 2 ish that always buys me time to have a cup of tea!!!

I don't think you should worry about what the nursery "expect" - if you are parenting to suit their expectations, then the balance of power has gone entirely too much the wrong direction.

What does your DD like doing to bits of paper? Does she enjoy crayoning them? Sticking things randomly onto them? Tearing them into pieces and chewing them? Crunching them up and using them to knock down skittles/ornaments?

Go with what she enjoys. Plenty of time to fit in with other people's expectations of her when she reaches school age.

Go with what she enjoy and she will have lots of fun. You will really enjoy it too and be surprised at how much fun and laughter you can have together. This is good practice for the years ahead - it's like a foundation - for the years of homework. it is a very good idea to keep a box or bag of cards - paper -scraps bit of material. I know you will come to love it! :)

It dosn't matter what the finished products looks like - it's the doing that counts.

as others have said get the crayons out and let her loose with it she can put whatever she wants on it

dont do it for her so its all neat the nursery will know and think you are a pushy parent

I work with pre schoolers and last easter a 3 yr old made an 'amazing' easter card the daffidols were stuck on beautifully and it even had some grass and little chicks on it funny how he managed it as he was tearing about with a firemans helmet on wearing a tutu meanwhile mummy was covered in glue

Am surprised at a day nursery sending something like that home to be honest. I work in one and we wouldnt or if we did it would be optional.

I would personally, if you feel you have to, give your child the crayons and just let him do what they want to it.

Well, with an 18 month old it is either going to be parent-made or it is going to be scribble (or torn up or chewed) unless 18 month olds have changed a lot in recent years.

Bin it and go to the park.

Homework for nursery? Ye gods!

The thing is that things are given names - like homework- :( . This might strike the fear of God into some parents of tiny tots but actually it's only a bit of paper for the tiny tot to scribble on - a bit of fun.

Oh lord. I've just started dd (2) in nursery. I am going to be expected to do homework?

Let her do it herself. Giving crayons or pens for a scribble is fine, or you can give her some glue and glitter or coloured tissue paper to stick on. Whatever you do, it should be done by your dd.

Ohmygod I would love this. I'd cut up some of ds's (14m) crayon landscapes (we do one every day I'm at home) to make flower shapes and hearts and stick them the egg in a ridiculously complex pattern. But I am mad. I went completely over the top when we had the nursery toy (you know, the one where you write a diary of what the toy has been doing...) and did little drawings, paw prints, 'posed'/humorous shots of the toy in various situations. I bet the staff/other parents at ds's nursery thought I was completely weird/irritating to be so enthusiastic. I think I just have too much untapped creative energy :-) I'm sure I'll be jaded by the time he starts school and we'll be doing homework in the backseat of the car/on the bus every morning :-) :-)

Thank you for all the advice. I suppose it's knowing when to keep the inner tiger mother in check. I think it needs to stay caged for a good few years still. I just didn't want her to turn up with the only unfancy one and look like no one at home cares. Peer pressure again!

Thanks

Nursery don't really care what you do or if you do it (though they will probably have a giggle if it comes back all perfectly done!).

Ofsted are very keen on nurseries getting parents involved at the moment, which is why lots of nurseries are under pressure to send home books and activities and get parental contributions to learning diaries etc.

Stickers are your friend. Peel them off backing and hand them to dd. Point to egg shape and she will stick then. Put some glue in spaces and hand her a tub of glitter let her sprinkle it-lots of newspaper underneath. Shake off surplus-job done.