Toddler doesn't want to do activities

[Shanikad]

Hi, my toddler is 4, she goes to nursery. She loves going there and she has friends. But she doesn't want to do any pictures or paintings in the nursery, worried that she wont be able to bring it home or someone else will take it. I tried explaining to her. But gets very upset about it and say i don't want to do any activities in the nursery. Should I be worried?

My boy spent almost the entirety of nursery outside on the trikes. Never brought anything home except a heavily encouraged Mother's Day gift 😂

He's still not really one for drawing and craft, but he's doing well at school and super sporty.

Different children are into different things.

Does she like painting and drawing at home? It’s good to get the control and motor skills going ready for writing a bit later on (quite soon if she’s 4).

Is she anxious or just resistant, and upset when you ask her?

She likes painting and drawing at home. Or craft work, she loves all that to do at home. I think shes anxious and also upset when i ask her about it. She will start reception in September. My only worry is whether she will want to avoid writing when shes in primary school.

If she liikes nursery generally, has friends, joins in and does ‘mark making’ at home then I wouldn’t be too concerned.

I wouldn't be too concerned either. And I don't not think pushing it will be helpful. But I wonder if something has happened at nursery....like has someone ruined one of her favourite pictures once. Maybe it's worth talking to nursery and see if they know the reason for her feeling like that.

Thank you everyone for your comments. They were very helpful. I'll ask the nursery tomorrow whether anything happened to her pictures...

She’s not really a toddler though
She is a preschooler and probably one if the oldest in the nursery and she should be able to attempt to write her name on her pictures

@insancerre that’s what I thought. A toddler to me is a baby that’s just started walking, so one. And at four they’re usually in school?

Don't worry OP, if she's spending her time playing then that's what she needs. It's also worth noting that she doesn't need to be writing yet, at her nursery she'll be doing activities to develop gross motor skills and build muscles needed to write in the future. This could be climbing, hanging, building etc... Plus Fine motor activities such as playdough, threading, playing with tongs etc which will lead to the muscles and control developing ready for writing.

Also, she might be developing great social skills by playing with her friends, taking turns and learning through play which is what she could be doing.

Or be spending hours playing outside in the mud kitchen and learning cause and effect, building, talking, pouring, stirring, and using her senses.

And there are about a zillion other things she could be learning. Relax.

There is so much to do at nursery that she is probably doing activities she doesn’t have access to at home. They tend to love role play with friends at that age so her imagination will be developing ready for her to write her stories when she’s that bit older.

Sorry to be pedantic but I agree with isancerre, she is not a toddler, she's a preschooler.

Have you discussed it with the nursery staff? That seems the obvious first step.

Yes, thank you all for your comments, the nursery teachers tried several steps. Finally, last Friday, she brought 2 pictures home. The nursery teacher told her we can put the pictures straight away in her bag which she agreed to.