Upping my 3 year olds hours? Yes or no? Help!

[litw24]

Hi,

Just kind of a what would you do question if anyone doesn't mind helping out!

My 3 year old has been attending preschool for a year and absolutely loves it. She gets 15 free hours so 2.5 days a week. We have since topped it up to 3 days because she enjoys it so much and was getting a bit upset coming home at lunch time.

So I have her at home with me 2 days a week, and although I love having her home with me, if my husband isn't off we tend to chill on these days. The busiest it gets for her is a library trip or a trip to the park with me and her little brother. Sometimes I feel like is she bored? Would she rather be playing with her friends? If husband is off though we will go on a family day out to the zoo etc as they are much quieter in the week!

We're lucky enough to have the money to top her up to the 4 days but I'm just conflicted, she'll be in full time school in 18 months and I want to spend as much time with her as I can before that. But also I don't know if I'm being a bit selfish as like I said, she'll adores pre school!

What would you do?
A) keep it how it is, 3 days is enough.
B) top her up to the 4 days, she'll benefit from the extra learning and time with friends.
C) maybe top her up to 3.5 days (although I'm not sure if she'll just be getting upset leaving at lunch again!)

Thanks everyone!☺️

Personally I'd just leave it as it is. That's what I've done with my older two whilst I've been on mat leaves with babies for example. They just went 2 full days a week (private day nursery) with the funded hours and that's it.

That being said I don't think upping her hours would be a problem or anything. It's just personal preference.

Could you not plan to do more with her when she’s with you?

That’s what I’d do. She already goes 3 days a week. She’s not far from being at school…

It’s really personal preference though. Mine used to do 2.5 days a week but now does 2, but we have 1 “lazier” day a week where we do the library, lunch, a walk to the park and some baking; and the rest we’re out and about doing things. We do tend to save things like the zoo for the week where we can because of the quietness and cost but we’re often at a farm, forest school, stay and plays, museums, etc; or even a softplay if there’s not much else on.

I’d leave it as it is and do something more exciting one of the days in the week. It won’t be long before you only have weekends/ school holidays to visit places and they are always busy. You don’t need to wait for your husband to be off.

If she doesn’t already you could take her to an activity like swimming lessons?

Unless she says she's bored, she's probably loving spending time with you. You could do an activity though so she is doing something else. Honestly, you'll blink and she'll be starring school. If you're both enjoying it, keep doing it. You can always add another day when she turns 4

With the weather getting warmer I’d keep her at 3 days but plan outings. I have two days with my DD and I plan a morning activity each morning for the next month. Library, park, water park/swimming, zoo, shopping, petting zoo, markets, play centre, museum, train, bus, boat trip then the afternoon is reading, painting, lego , baking, kinetic sand etc .

Then assess later in the year when it starts to get cool again.

Personally I find staying home boring so we are out every morning as otherwise the days are soo long

What do you do at home when she’s off?

Thanks for all the responses! When I say chill day I don't literally mean I plonk her in the living room haha, we do painting, baking, playing in the garden, nipping to the park or library etc!

The reason I wait for my husband is baby is still small so I do struggle getting out to bigger days out with them both (I'm getting better but just trying to find my feet I guess!) his days off align with hers every other week mostly, so thankfully we can get out to 'better' places quite often!

I think a bit of the guilt is coming from obviously being limited with the baby, sometimes I feel like she would be more entertained in pre-school and literally everyone is asking when I'm going to up her hours to get her ready for school!

Still undecided but I think I might keep her off with me, I guess as time goes on and baby gets bigger i'll be able to return to bigger days out solo! Plus summer is coming and the garden time with her will be lovely ☺️ thank you!