Friend not ready to send almost 3 year old to nursery?

[windolean]

I just wondered what the general feeling is towards nursery. I was talking to a friend recently. She mentioned she was not ready to send her DS to nursery. She will be 3 in May. She then said ' some children never go to nursery, it's not necessary '. She's a stay at home mum. I am no where near this stage with my DD. I haven't really thought about it, but I thought I would send her from around 2. What do people generally do ? I thought most people send their kids to nursery ? Is it meant to be good for them ? Or are there benefits to not going ? My questions are all genuine and without judgement. I'm really just curious and want to understand the pros and cons. I just always assumed nursery is ' what you do '.

My 2 year old was supposed to start right before first lockdown but got stopped obviously. We haven't sent her still as we don't see the point in risking sending her when we don't a huge have a need as I work from home.
I would like her to go as I do think, often you can tell in reception that a child has been to nursery or not (Previously a teacher)
Simply down to the child settling better because they are used to being in that routine/ that kind of environment. I do think they tend to have better social skills too but it all depends on how much social they get at home

Most of the nursery attached to primary schools here only run for couple hours in the morning or afternoon

@SnooperTrooper12345

My 2 year old was supposed to start right before first lockdown but got stopped obviously. We haven't sent her still as we don't see the point in risking sending her when we don't a huge have a need as I work from home. I would like her to go as I do think, often you can tell in reception that a child has been to nursery or not (Previously a teacher) Simply down to the child settling better because they are used to being in that routine/ that kind of environment. I do think they tend to have better social skills too but it all depends on how much social they get at home

How do you work from home with a 2 year old? I found it impossible in lockdown and now it looks like I might be doing it again soon 😔

@Waveysnail

Most of the nursery attached to primary schools here only run for couple hours in the morning or afternoon

Yes, mine went for 3 hours.

DS started at 18 months - it was supposed to be 12 months but covid put paid to that. I worked at home for 6 months with him there and it was basically hideous. I was delighted when he finally went.
He goes 3 days on the days I work (part time), it’s the perfect balance for us. I would say nursery has brought him on leaps and bounds but I don’t know if that would have happened anyway if I’d been a sahm. I think I’d be super nervous about packing him off to school full time without him already experiencing that environment.
Also they paint and do messy play with him which I hate with all my heart so it’s worth it just for that 🤣

My two went at 9 months - both short days (e.g. 10-3.30 ish) 5 days a week and loved it. Both are still friends with some of the kids they met there. When they went to school they already had a social circle and were ‘school ready’ so there were no issues with the transition. It depends on the child, but both of mine have benefited greatly from the opportunities provided by a great nursery (lots of outdoor space, sensory garden, chef, really engaged and well trained staff, etc.).

I don't like children enough to be a SAHM, I would have had to send them for my own sanity if there is a nice local preschool that tends to feed into the school so they can start reception with some familiar faces I think it's definitely worth doing a couple of days in the year before starting school. Just means that's one less thing to worry about!

I work, so it is not an option, the only difference is that if I didnt work she would have been a little older, at least 1 and not for so many hours. She is an only child so I want her socialized, not like me who was with my mum at all times, spoke like an old woman and found other kids weird creatures I didnt understand. Mine is very social, good for her.