Toddler different at nursery

[loui92]

I have just been called in for a meeting at my LBs nursery. He is 28months and has a stop start introduction to nursery (3 days a week) due to covid and me keeping him at home.
The nursery manager said she had observed him playing alongside but not with other children, showing little emotion and not following instructions. This is completely different to the child I have at home. He is sociable, imaginative plays and is able to put a name to the emotion he’s feeling. His key workers have never stated any concerns and the nursery manager said at the moment she wasn’t concerned. I don’t see any reason for her pulling me for this meeting apart from causing me huge anxiety and confusion.
This probably makes no sense but what would you do in my situation?
Thank you.

Go in with an open mind and have a chat with them. Remember, they are trained to look for this sort of thing and sometimes you need an external perspective to see things.

Let them tell you their concerns and you can discuss what his behaviour is like at home and see whether another meeting in the future will be beneficial or not.

Firstly at 2 they do play alongside each other, that’s really normal. Secondly, my dd was entirely different at nursery. For one she actually ate and slept!

She was probably trying to work out if she should be worried. If you have said he can do XYZ at home, then it is more linked to his settling in and she doesn't need to be referring him for more support.

I remember a similar conversation when my son was a little younger than yours. He's 17 now and fine..He's not an extrovert, but neither are we - he's reserved with his emotions, but so are we, unless we're with close family and friends. Don't be alarmed - it's possible that your son might just find nursery a bit overwhelming at first and take a while to settle.