Or are toddler groups a vital step before preschool ?

[onarollSloth]

I feel the toddler groups are the step between home and preschool at 3. As it's where your parent plays a bit with you, but also steps back and has a tea with one eye on you. They can step in on any issues like the inevitable wanting the same thing fight, hitting and occasional biting rather than trying to get preschool to sort it when it's 1 to 8 kids.

Depends on the child in my experience.
Some children are desperate for the independence and social interaction. Others are happy enough without it.

Vital? No. Many many many children, globally and throughout history have grown up perfectly well without toddler groups.

Is it useful socialisation? Sometimes, but it can also be achieved through play dates, park visits, soft play trips, general day to day life…. And sometimes socialisation is not achieved at all, the kid goes to preschool/school anyway and it’s fine in the end. It’s like people who insist preschool is essential before reception class - it’s often useful but it’s hardly “vital”.

I think socialisation and the opportunity to play with others your own age is very important. I’ve never seen a fight or even biting at a toddler group.

I tend to agree, unless there are additional needs.

@Duracellbunnywannabe

I think socialisation and the opportunity to play with others your own age is very important. I’ve never seen a fight or even biting at a toddler group.

Fight is a poor choice of word, I mean a pulling of a toy between two children ? As in I want that, no I want that.

They’re not vital, no.

None of my kids went to any toddler groups. So I disagree.

They are more important for the parent imo.

Children are interested in other kids before pre-school age but the social lessons needed like sharing or taking turns are fine to nail during pre-school where kids start to play with others rather than alongside them.

I took mine for the change in scenery. They didn't get anything out of going apart from using a "public loo" every week once they were potty trained.

Helpful, probably yes, for lots of kids.

Vital, obviously not.

Ds never went to any although he learnt socialisation skills from childminders where he started from 9 months.

I think it's helpful for a child to have some experience playing alongside others prior to preschool, and this is one way of doing it, along with playing with siblings or cousins, meeting up with friends, going to the playground etc.

I think it depends on the child and their circumstances.

Toddler groups were absolutely brilliant for my ds who is an only child but his cousins (who live far away) did just fine without them as they played together.

Vital, no. DS has been attending nursery since he was one, we make sure in group and social settings with adults and other children he knows how to behave and he does both swimming and gymnastics. I'm not sure there would be any added value in toddler groups for this purpose.