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4 year old and nursery - what would you do?

10 replies

Escapetab · 17/03/2020 02:55

Not sure what decision to make, though I know it could eventually be decided for me by settings closing. DS goes to nursery 5 afternoons a week. I'm not working at the moment -(have been applying for jobs as money is tight but not got anything yet.)

DH is able to work from home, he's been going in but following announcements today it's pretty much certain that his employer will make home working compulsory. Social distancing etc we're already doing. (Moved to this town not long ago and don't know many people, so used to our own company as a family recently.) No-one in the house is in the extra risks category. It would be fine having my son home, we're lucky enough to have a garden.

The only con is DS won't see his friends, and obviously with social distancing we won't be able to meet up with people outside nursery. I'm just not sure what to do - it's not school, it's totally optional, and in some ways is non-essential social contact for us because we're in the very fortunate position of not currently needing the childcare, so maybe the responsible thing to do is pull him out, just on the basis that we can and therefore it's the same as not going to his activities etc, but is it premature/ unnecessary? Anyone else in this position? DH is tending to keeping him home but says we can send him if I want.

OP posts:
HathorX · 17/03/2020 03:29

I would pull him out personally, I am not a panicky person but it is not essential social contact. There will be plenty of time to see friends in the summer.

Act like it's Christmas and make Easter Sunday a huge thing at home - do a big countdown every day and it will feel like holidays.

You could also grow seeds at home so your child has something to look forward to rather than drifting through the weeks ahead.

Best wishes, hope you stay well x

Undecided91 · 17/03/2020 03:32

I wouldnt take him out. Children are least likely to get it and if we do close schools down it will be a very long and boring 16weeks at home anyway! I am personally still taking my 3y old to nursery (he actually drags me out of the house in the morning rushing to see his little friends) and because I have work to go to. Social isolation can cause depression so I wouldnt do it just yet

AlexaT · 17/03/2020 03:44

My little one has a sniffle so it made it easier for me to make the decision to keep him home. It’s not a statutory nursery so technically he doesn’t “have to” attend. It is hard entertaining him all day tbf and admittedly I have had to rely on the tv and increased screen time at times - but I would rather that then dc catching anything worse

RhymingRabbit3 · 17/03/2020 05:26

I've taken my 3yo out of preschool. I don't need her there for childcare, it's just for socialization. I would rather not yale the risk. She was sad about it though, which made it tough ;(

HouseElfy · 17/03/2020 05:29

Following as same situation except that I also work (from home, not just now but always).

ScrumptiousBears · 17/03/2020 05:49

They'll be closed soon soon let them go now as you'll have no choice soon.

ElizabethMainwaring · 17/03/2020 05:51

Keep him at home. Schools are a hot bed of germs at the best of times. You are in a very fortunate situation so make the most of it.

Selfsettling3 · 17/03/2020 05:57

I have a nearly 4 year old in school nursery and baby and we are on day 5 of self isolating. I’m dreading making it to 14 days it very hard work and DD is rally struggling with not seeing people and not being out and about.

Knocksomesense · 17/03/2020 05:57

We're sort of in this position although the decision is made for us as we have coughs. If we weren't self isolating I would pull my boys out, wfh and only go out for essentials

FoxEars · 17/03/2020 05:59

Pull him out

As part of my job in Education I visit loads of Nursery settings

Each one varies greatly in terms of how serious they are taking this. For example, there are some who are doing absolutely the right thing and implementing strict measures: refusing to take unwell children, ensuring thorough handwashing for all staff visitors and children , asking gpatents for children to self isolate as well as staff, cleaning absolutely everything etc from the door bell you
touch when you arrive to all of the children's toys multiple times etc etc

Then there are others who blatantly aren't giving a shit. Extremely worrying they aren't being careful, aren't washing hands and frankly will allow sick kids ( many returned from
Lock down countries ) into the setting without even so much as asking them to self isolate.

It really is a tale of two halves. Please take him out. Seriously .

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