In January my oldest child (DD, 3) is going to start attending the local play school, attached to the bigger school, going every morning. It's a good school but I feel worried about it, not knowing what she'll come into contact with. Another friend at the school said her daughter came home much more worried about what she wears, and has learnt ideas about being pretty and other competitive and personal things the children say to each other. Some of the parents waiting at the gates are nice but some are really frightening bad parents (I know them from locally). It's a real mix. She hasn't been in childcare before so it's a big deal and I want to make sure it's ok. Does anyone have a positive story of their child starting play school? It also now strikes me as a long time to be going to play school, over a year before 'big' school starts. Basically I'm having doubts about it.