Sending DC back to nursery

[Howdidido]

Lots of conversations around return to schools. But I havent seen a lot about nurseries.
My DD1s pre-school will be opening on the 1st. We've decided to hold fire for June as I'm on mat leave at the moment anyway so it's not essential. But DD1 does want to go back. I'm not sure if we should or not. Only a few months until school starts but are there advantages to waiting a month? Or even waiting until school starts? There won't be a vaccine by then so what difference does June or September make?
Nursery seem pretty organised- lots of outdoor times, kids staying in key worker groups (so of 8 kids) and her best friends are in those 8 so she will be happy .

Dd2 will be starting nursery in September too (assuming I still have a job to go back to). And I'm very nervous of that as well. Though I guess it's probably even safer as the key worker groups are only 3 babies.

I guess I just want to know what others see as the advantages or disadvantages of sending kids back to nursery as opposed to school. Social distancing definitely won't happen!

Sorry if this has been done before and I've missed it

There have been a few threads about it. Mostly mixed responses though.

My 2 never left nursery so I don't have the decision to make but I haven't had any concerns about them being there. Pick up and drop off is now in the lobby rather than in the actual rooms and there are notices about keeping to 3 people max in the lobby.

We've had to start making packed lunches as they've had issues with their food delivery slots bit other than that it's all normal. I didnt consider for a moment taking them out when we knew we could keep our place and I'd definitely send them back now if they had had to come out.

DD is going back to nursery on Monday.

I am satisfied that the benefits of DD returning to nursery outweigh the risk.

Both mine are returning next week. I’m happy with the nursery’s proposals and on balance I think the risk to them is low.

I have been on mat leave up until now but I’m due to start work the week after next, realistically I think the risk of my 12 month old injuring himself whilst DH and I try to do everything badly is greater than the risk of him going to the childminder.

I don’t think there is a right answer though, it’s very individual.

For me it's more about the transitions. I am not sending my two preschoolers because I don't want to transition them now just for the sake of a few weeks to then do it again after summer holidays

I don't think there is any right answer and it really depends on your children and your circumstances. My DD has just turned 3 and has really missed nursery. I'm worried about the effect of her living in a home bubble, losing confidence and eventually being afraid to leave that or interact with other people outside of our unit. When we've been out and about she's looked at other children so longingly, it's heart breaking. I am working from home, which is stressful but doable if it had to continue. She will be going back on Monday, because that's what right for us, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing for everyone else.

My preschooler is going back on Monday. She has been asking when she can go back. I am going back to work soon so want to get her back into her routine.

DD is going back, risk to children is low and neither DP nor I are vulnerable. I think she really needs it socially, the day the window cleaners came was the highlight of her week 😂

What do people see as the benefits?
Is it just social?
I guess I also wonder about the risk wider- is adding DD to the mix increasing the rate its going to go back up?

My son is going back. His father and I work from home and have been working from early morning to late evening to combine care and work.

He will get the benefit of a small group in nursery and development. He hasn't mixed with other children since March.

His father and I will get time back and be better parents when we can stop working at 9pm at night

I'll be sending my DD in when her nursery reopens, assuming they're won't be attempting to make the kids socially distance. We were uhhming and ahhing over this until I read the welsh traffic light document which states that contact with friends and family will only be allowed once there's a vaccine or effective treatment, so going to nursery is the only way she's going to be able to play with other children for the foreseeable future.

Ds is at childminders so slightly different but the main reason I want him to go back is for socialisation, he’s an only child so has spent all his time with me. If we had another child for him to play with it might be slightly different. Another reason is kids are low risk, neither me or ds, or dp have health issues, ultimately ds will need to be released back into society eventually, a vaccine is a long way of.

If your concerned, maybe do a few days a week and work from there.

Ds is initially going back for 4 hours x2 days a week. I’m (at the moment) still furloughed, but I want him to get used to not having me around all the time. I can’t imagine I’ll be back to work till July/august. When he goes to school in September it will be a huge change for him.

What do people see as the benefits?
Is it just social?

First me social is very important. No "just" about it! Also so I can work, so they have a continued sense of normal life, the learning that DS does at pre-school. It's obviously all informal and play based but he's recognising letters and numbers and while I could try to do that I haven't the training.

For us we have no reason not to send them.

My 3 year old is going back.

Lockdown was put in place to slow the spread. We are likely going to have to live with this for an extended period of time. I've gone back and forth with it constantly, but we feel the benefits outweigh the risk.

I've loved having my daughter home, and she has coped very well so far. But she is a very sociable little girl. Everytime we leave the house she likes to say hello to people and ask their name and what they're doing. She just wants to talk to people. If people don't stop to talk to her she asks me why they don't want to talk to her. I have to explain that not everyone wants to talk or they may be busy or not heard her. But she always goes quiet after and I can see she is sad. Don't get me wrong, she does need to understand that not everyone wants to talk, and there's nothing wrong with people not wanting to talk. But she does need her friends to talk to.

I’m planning on sending my four year old back in June. I have a baby too like you and to be honest I’m worn out. Two months of non-stop playing, running around playing hide and seek and monsters while lugging a baby too. I need help!

Socialisation is very important for children. It's not as if we have the opportunity to take them to other places and do other activities with them at the moment.

We are both trying to work from home which means our DD is disadvantaged by the amount and type of attention we can give her. Over a short period of time it's not an issue, but the longer this goes on the more of a problem it will cause her.

I only ever saw nursery as childcare, and expensive at that. Mine are in from next week as I have a job to do, otherwise I'd keep them with me.

For me the benefits are social (DS is an only) and economical as so far no employer will touch me without childcare, without them saying so in so many words. That said we are waiting until July as I thought it fair to let the limited June places to go to working parents.

It sounds silly but he also eats a wide range of food on the 2 days he goes in. He's refusing all sorts of food at home that he used to eat before lockdown (beans, scrambled egg, rice).

My 4 year old DS is starting back on Monday. My DH is furloughed from his job so we don’t technically need the childcare at the moment but I think it’s important that DS gets some interaction with other children (he’s an only) and gets used to a routine again before he starts school in September. He will be doing 2 days a week only instead of his usual 4 while DH remains furloughed.

DD's going back, thank goodness. We've done our best but her nursery is great. Agree both that socialisation isn't a 'just' issue, and that they do more than that.

Plus, I was going totally spare trying to work with her around and the lack of any alone time has been really getting me down. Much as I love her.

Yep going back Tuesday. Nursery have made sensible adjustments and we are low risk at home. No elderly relatives either.

Thanks. Seems fairly unanimous!

I dont really have any friends with kids the same age so just wanted to get some other views. I'm not sure why I'm reluctant. I dont feel its logical but maybe 1 day a week would be a good start.

Although today's news worries me again