confused

[mummyzoe2012]

My dd 21 months old has been going to nursery now since jan. They dont do art work with her unless I ask them to they claim she wont eat her lunch when she is a really good eater at home. They never tell us what her meals were and what shes been playing with. There is no art work in her development folder and very few photos.. she only goes one morning a week but I expect more from them with her. They dont do any flash cards or anything with her and I actually had to tell them that she holds a crayon in the correct grip as they were telling me she holds pens wrong when she gets hold of theirs, she is also made to take her shoes off at the nursery door when the hospital have said she has to leave them on all the time as she has a foot that turns inwards. Wwud

Change nurseries.

They should be telling you what she's been doing and they should be following instructions from the hospital. Though I can't see how a shoe on its own will train her muscles to point her foot correctly (probably more back stroy there mind you! )

You sound like you don't trust them and there's little you can do to correct that tbh. Once the trust is lost, it's lost.

The rest. Pen holding etc... don't worry about that. She's 21m. Let her play and explore the way she wants to, in the setting she's in. Kids will do things differently in other situations. As for flashcards.... yeah. I wouldn't be expecting them to do that. They should be encouraging her to learn through play and socialisation.

As for art... these things are often scheduled in. So maybe, as she is only there one morning, it's just not that time?

As for the lunch. Some kids just don't eat in different situations (Snufflix isn't a huge social eater.) Does she seem overly hungry when you get her home on those days?

The only thing you can do really is talk to them about your concerns and expectations. See what they say!

Thank god they don't do flash cards with her - that would be completely inappropriate at her age.

She is there for 1 morning a week - that really isn't long enough for them to get to know her very well. I'm not surprised there are very few photos. I think you are being unrealistic in your expectations.

Artwork - she may not choose to do any, she may be busy doing other things.

Whether she holds a pencil correctly at home is immaterial. If they've seen her hold it incorrectly at nursery, then that is what they've seen.

Re. Her feet - they should be following medical advice on this one, but you may need to get a letter from your GP or consultant if they have a "shoes off" policy throughout the nursery.

They should be able to tell you what she's eaten and roughly what she's done. Is it the same staff when you drop off and pick up?

I think you might be better off with a childminder.

They have told me in her review that they are going to do flash cards with her. That was 6 months ago and they still havent.. ive asked to move her up a room as they do it in the next room and they said she wont be moving up till she is2 and a half as they have no room for her till then. She sshoukd ve in the next room at 2y/o.

:(
I'd move her chicken. If they're not don't stuff they should be and have written in her plan to do so then I'd be moving Snufflix!

I think I remember the for thing now. World a structured slipper (harder rubber soul) help in that situation? Might be a compromise.

I wouldn't be impressed either. I'd maybe chat to them about it; tell them what you want, and if they can't or won't deliver I'd look into moving nursery.
Nothing wrong with flash cards IMO. I use them with my 20 month old, she loves it and its really helped increase her vocabulary.

I would remove a child of mine from any nursery that did flash cards with 21 month olds. It is completely unnecessary and inappropriate. The best way to develop a child's vocabulary is to talk and sing with them and read to them.

I agree. Flashcards is totally inappropriate at 21 months old - whether they said they would do them or not, it is totally unnecessary. Children learn through play, practical and real life situations. Flashcards will not be used until she is in a pre-school setting - after the age of 3 and even then, used as a consolidation tool from what has previously been taught and learnt.
Whether she is there 1 morning, 1 day or 5 days a week, she should be experiencing all aspects of 'learning through play' and that includes art work. There are ways and means of encouraging a child to do an activity, even at that age and using the excuse 'she doesn't want to' is really just an excuse - not a reason. Does she participate in lots of creative play at home? It could be the way in which the nursery nurses/assistants are asking/telling/encouraging her that could be a turn off or maybe there are too many activities going on at once and too many distractions.
Photos - I can understand if there aren't many if she's only there one morning a week - not a lot of time to be able to evidence her play and learning experiences. A child who is there 5 days a week WILL have more evidence in his/her folder.
Shoes - you need to provide medical evidence (a letter) to show them that she needs her shoes on. In our setting (school) we will not give special treatment unless we have proof. unfortunately, there are some parents who will make up stories just to get their own way - hence the policies most childcare/educational establishments have.
The next room - she isn't 2 yet so they don't actually HAVE to move her. Are you sure you haven't misheard or misinterpreted what was said?
Pencils - she's learning and experimenting. She will go back and forth with her grip. She isn't even two yet - don't be rushing for her to advance or grow up. Accept her learning path for what it is. Encourage but don't criticise. My DS (21 months) holds a pencil correctly MOST of the time but sometimes he will revert back to a solid hand grip - usually depending on the writing implement.

It sounds like you aren't happy. You have plenty options.

1. Stick it out. Give them medical evidence about the foot and accept that she won't have much photographical evidence in her folder. Do art work at home and don't stress about the pencil.
2. Move nurseries - but accept that you will find the same problems regarding pencils, photos and room changes.
3. Increase her time at nursery to 2 or 3 mornings if you can afford it. My DS goes to a childminder twice a week during school holidays so he has regular contact with his peers (aged

Leave.

Not being able to tell you what she's eaten or what she's done at pick up is rubbish. They should be following her medical needs re: shoes. Flashcards in a nursery sounds bizarre to me.

If she doesn't want to do art stuff while she's there, then why should they try to make her? If she's only there one morning a week then she probably wants to do other stuff. Some children just don't enjoy painting or drawing especially when they are so young.

If she only does one morning a week, then her key person probably hasn't had to opportunity to take loads of photos of her.

They have spoke with the hospital and know she has to keep her shoes on and that she has to cross her legs when sitting on the floor. They have defo said that she will not be moving up till she is 2 and a half.. in her room now there is 6weeks to 2 years. But a few months ago they moved her up rooms due to been over ratio in her room but now they have put her back down again due to taking on a new member of staf. She did do 2 mornings a week up untill the end of last month but i dropped her down due to this situation. She loves crafts at home and also role play but they say she hates both at her last review. When i last picked up it looked like she had done nothing all day and was bored. Think im going to give notice and find a new nursery or just take her to groups... not sure still

They have spoke with the hospital and know she has to keep her shoes on and that she has to cross her legs when sitting on the floor. They have defo said that she will not be moving up till she is 2 and a half.. in her room now there is 6weeks to 2 years. But a few months ago they moved her up rooms due to been over ratio in her room but now they have put her back down again due to taking on a new member of staf. She did do 2 mornings a week up untill the end of last month but i dropped her down due to this situation. She loves crafts at home and also role play but they say she hates both at her last review. When i last picked up it looked like she had done nothing all day and was bored. Think im going to give notice and find a new nursery or just take her to groups... not sure still