To be worried about five days a week with 3 year old? And what’s your 3 year old like?

[Whatimconsidering]

I am considering changing from a private day nursery (3 days a week) to a preschool for my nearly 3 yo, but the preschool isn’t open in school holidays. For the shorter ones I think I could manage but the long six week one without a break scares me a bit I must admit.

However by the time it rolls round he’ll be 3 and a half. I’m wondering if by then he might be a bit easier. What are your 3 and a half year olds like?

5 days a week with a 3 year old is a challenge.

5 days a week for 6 weeks with a 3 year old is a challenge with an end in sight.

You really can't see hanging out with your kid for 6 weeks?

Mine is pretty lovely..
But she does require a lot of input mentally from me. She constantly wants to play. She can entertain herself for short periods like 20 minutes if i set up an activity for her.such as playdough or blocks. I'm sure you will be fine if you have a planned routine that includes taking him out for some of the day and possibly arranging play dates /going out with friends so you can get a bit of a mental break.

There may be holiday clubs that he can join in the summer?

Other than that I would plan the weeks out in the holidays. When mine were about that age I used to do things in the morning, then have chill afternoons with tv and movies. But neither of them were particularly active and boisterous - one has additional needs and needs loads of downtime.

@thistimelastweek honestly, I’m exhausted after six hours. There are probably all sorts of reasons for this but the thought of six weeks with no respite does make me a bit anxious! But of course that’s now … I’m hoping he may be easier in a few months. Not that he’s exactly difficult but just very gruelling and relentless.

Can you break up the 6 weeks a bit with say a family holiday or trip to visit grandparents etc? I think it is fine especially in the summer when you can be outside a lot but it does depend on your personality and that of your child. My 3.5 year old loves long walks in the countryside so we spent a lot of the summer exploring. If you have a 3.5 year old who loves to engage you in pretend play and you find this boring you may struggle.

He's just turned four, so it's recent memory.

What's he like?

So helpful. So many questions. An adoring big brother. Doesn't eat vegetables. Bright. Articulate and chatty. Still naps sometimes. Occasional epic tantrums when tired. SO MUCH ENERGY

In the summer we did a lot of day trips to wear him out - I get cabin fever constantly clearing up, cooking, washing so picnic made night before, change of clothes in a bag in case of puddles, off out to the park/woods/beach. Something like a scooter or balance bike or pedal bike to learn to ride over the holidays and go different places to practice could be good

Others will have advice on holiday clubs, childminders, grandparents etc to get more of a break for yourself or while you work but I happened to have this whole summer holiday off (between two contracts) and genuinely loved it and am looking for how to do it again next year. It's full on, but it was fun too.

That sounds lovely @TheScientists

Will you be trying to juggle work with minding your three year old during those six weeks?

I would just stick with the day nursery. At that age it's very tricky to find activities - a lot of classes and groups shut for the summer, yet it's too young for summer camps. Ours was open all year except a few weeks at Christmas.

Mine is nearly 4 and is active.

She does play on her own, but wants to be near me and narrates her activity. She needs regular exercise like a dog, and so we spend a lot (a lot) of time in the local parks.

I love her deeply, but would find 6 weeks on the trot hard, especially if DH wasn’t sharing some of it.

I apologise.

I'm hearing a different story

Do you have help? Support?

Just plain relief?

@Chicci1 seriously?

I may do a split then between nursery and preschool, perhaps two days at each. I do really feel it when I get no time to myself.

@thistimelastweek - I am really sorry but I don’t think I’m fully understanding. I’m fine - just not sure I would be after six solid weeks with no break! As it is, I have my son for two days a week and I find those days hard (I have a baby too.) I know some people are amazing and just breeze through but I don’t, i get very tired and run down and the thought of doing that back to back is horrific!

Our nursery had kids who used the free hours in term time, then didn't go in the holidays. So my two went to preschool in term time and then back to private nursery in the holidays, filling the space left from one of the term time kids.

Depends on your nursery obviously but with the ratio going up for the preschool room, they sometimes have more spaces than they do in the younger rooms.

I have my newly 3 year old (plus his 1 year old sister) at home full time with me at the moment. It is rough and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone! Some days he'll play for 20 mins solo, other days he needs sooooo much input from me my brain is melting out through my eyeballs by 9am. We do two trips out a day come rain or shine otherwise I just want to curl up in an overstimulated touched out ball by lunch time.

Unless I miss-understood, you will be looking after your very own flesh and blood 3 year old child, without any siblings, full time during school holidays, without any mention of fitting in work commitments at the same time.
You are worried because it will be an exhausting time? That may be true but, at the same time, you must remember there wouldn't be the added pressure of timing to be places at certain times. So just relax and go with the flow.
Encourage your child to join in and 'help' with your household tasks and use as much time as possible for playing, reading doing child stuff together. Painting, anything really.
Spend as much time out of the house as possible. If the weather is good just go places.
There are lots of organised activities for little ones like drop in sessions so try and book those as early as possible at local centres or in a place further away.
Go away on a family holiday for a week.
If possible, try and meet friends/family with children of a similar age.
Go to the local gym or sports centre and use the swimming pool.
Hundreds of things you could do! Embrace this time you will be spending together with your child. You will miss it in 10-15 years time.

If he's happy at the nursery and you prefer the hours then why is the preschool being considered? Just keep him where he is.

So we wouldn’t be having a holiday snd he does have a sibling. I do realise that some people do it and so it so well and I probably am being a complete idiot about it but I know the exhaustion I feel after a whole day with them both isn’t sustainable over six weeks. But that’s now and I know things can change. I don’t want to assume it will be harder than it is but also don’t want to think it will be so easy either.

Sorry I've just noticed you also have a baby!
Gosh, that changes things. A lot!
You need a relative to take the 3 year old out for a few hours in random days then otherwise go away for a 2weeks holiday with at least one other adult helper.

What about work? Would you be able to take 6 weeks off in summer?

@NuffSaidSam it is because I may not be going back to work after my maternity leave, still not fully decided. And also because it will be nice for him to meet kids he will be at school with. (The nursery is near my workplace.)

Right so neither of those things are an option - so we’re thinking stay with nursery? 😅

Children are really hard work? It is and gruelling task looking after them.
Maybe the 6 weeks will strangely do you good because you will be forced to find a way to manage and cope with him. Sen excepted of course

Yes. Leave the kid at the current nursery if possible.
Sounds like a sensible option for your own sanity.
You can always look to change later if you find it's not as hard as you envisaged.

That reads as it life should be as hard as possible in order to teach me a thorough lesson (about?) and I am sure that’s not what you meant but I have to admit I don’t really know what you do mean.