Nursery Pick Up Challenges

[user1486569831]

My dd has been attending nursery full time (until 3:15) since the end of February half term. Previous to this she was attending 15 hours a week, leaving at 11:45. I have found that the drop offs are a breeze, she happily races towards the door, and is excited to see her friends. But since going full time, the pick ups are becoming a nightmare. While all the other children go off with their parents no problem she is stroppy, crying, has thrown herself to the ground, says she doesn't want to go home. It is really embarrassing as she does this in front of the other children and their parents. I don't have the patience for it, and am running out of ideas of how to handle this. It's not just with me as I've asked her father to do pick up to see if there is a difference and she acts the same way. It is exhausting and what should be a 10 minute walk home becomes a half hour battle of wills! Any suggestions would be most welcome - maybe this is a phase as well? She is on the younger side for her class (late May birthday) but it is frustrating g because she wasn't like this at all for the earlier pick up.

She's maybe just tired? Do you have a snack for her at pickup? Might give her a wee energy boost for the walk home.

Quite a lot of children will do this at pick up time. Haven’t got any solutions to this one but just wanted you to know it isn’t unusual.

She's just acting out, don't be embarrassed, kids all do weird stuff like this. My DD used to tell nursery I made her travel in the boot of the car, and that I hit her. Neither of which was true. Nursery staff (and any other sensible parents) think nothing of it. Just wait for the phase to pass, and greet her with big hugs, smiles and maybe her favourite toy or drink.

At 3.15 you might be picking up just before their snack time, or right around the time they do some fun activity, and she might be annoyed she is missing out? Just a thought.

It's often a normal reaction to the emotion of seeing you. It's not that she doesn't want to go with you. It's more that she is so overwhelmed with emotion that it comes out in this odd way. She also sounds tired. I would bring a pushchair if you have to walk and a drink and snack. My 3 year old goes 9-5, but I couldn't imagine trying to get him to do a 10 minute walk at pick up every day. Some days would be fine, but often he's grumpy and tired by that point.

She's tired, hungry and a bit overwhelmed at seeing you. Make a quick exit, and get a snack into her as soon as you get out of nursery.

Mine did this - they were involved in playing their games with their friends and collecting them ruined their fun!

I can guarantee none of the other parents will be judging or thinking anything of it op, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. Everyone’s been through it at some point.

DD will not stand still when I pick her up from nursery - she runs away, she jumps in puddles, she lies on the floor . I’d agree that it’s the emotion of seeing you mixed with tiredness. A snack and a buggy are the way to go!

What age is she?

She’s probably just exhausted and overwhelmed.

I agree with suggestions about a snack and maybe a little toy she could get interested in? I don’t mean anything new, just a little car or animal or whatever that you could have in your pocket for her.

I found that helped DD as a transitional object when we had some difficult pick ups from Reception.

You could possibly ask that the staff give her a 10 and 5 minute warning before home time to prepare her. It's all totally normal behaviour and likely down to being sad that she's leaving her friends, tired and a bit hungry

Have a snack ready and carry her or push her in a buggy. She's exhausted!! That's a long day for a 3 year old :(

Thanks everyone for the replies! She will be 4 at the end of May, so she is on the young side for her class. We are on Easter break for the next 2 weeks, so going to implement some of these ideas when we return. This past Thursday they had an inset day and she took a 3 hour nap (!!!) so I think she is probably over tired.