Looking for advice from other parents! My 2-year-old’s nursery has raised some concerns about how often he gets upset. They say it's normal for toddlers to struggle with transitions and sharing, but they feel the frequency of his emotional reactions is more than usual.
At nursery, he cries over things like:
- Coming in from the garden
- Not having access to a toy he wants (even if he wasn’t playing with it)
- Another child touching something near him
- Routine things like washing hands before meals
At home, he can get upset too, but it's more manageable because it’s just us, and we have established routines. He does well on playdates and with a childminder (especially with older kids who tend to accommodate him more).
One possible factor is sleep – he naps for 2–2.5 hours at home but only gets about an hour at nursery, and they say he struggles more in the afternoons.
Another factor is that we're about to move house and change nurseries, which could be adding to his emotions. The nursery is helping with this transition by making a book with photos of the new place to help him adjust.
They’ve suggested not over-comforting him when he gets upset but instead calmly acknowledging his feelings and moving on.
Does this sound within the range of normal for a two-year-old? Has anyone had a child who was very emotional at this age but grew out of it? Any tips on how to support him through this?
Thank you so much in advance for any help.