Should I worry about dd's nursery?

[handlemecarefully]

Dd is 2.4 and has been attending her Day Nursery since 6 months old. She goes 3 days per week whilst I am at work.

Just recently she has been asking not to go to Nursery - conversation in car today:

DD: dont wanna go Nursery, dont like it
Me: Really, but why
DD: don't like it
Me:But you've got friends there like Marcus haven't you
DD: (silence)
Me: Do the ladies play with you at Nursery?
DD: yes
Me: Are they mean to you?
DD: (silence)

that's a typical example. I can't get many specifics from her.

When I drop her off she is a wee bit clingy but doesn't rage and cry....

Do you think there is something the matter with her Nursery, or is she merely just expressing a preference to be at home?

I have exactly the same situation - my 2.5 yr old goes 3 days to nursery and has been going there for over a year now and since going to bigger group aged 2 sobbed every time I left him. Would always say 'don't want to go to nursery. I don't like it. Want to stay home'. The sobbing got worse and I think he just got into the habit of doing it. It was awful...considered taking him out of nursery, but persevered and the last 3 times he's been - no tears. I know that he has a great time there and is fine after a couple of minutes of my having gone. I always make sure we talk about nursery a lot at home and what he does there - just to keep it in his mind, also tell him in advance that he's going to nursery so it's not a shock to him. Stick with it if your gut tells you it's a good nursery...?!

Bigbanana,

Are our children mirror images of each other???

I have literally just posted on your thread in which you say that your 2.5 year old won't try new foods, because my dd is exactly the same !

Perhaps we should set up a mutual support group

HMC - difficult to say isn't it?

What about speaking to the staff - it might be a new child has joined who's disruptive or maybe they've changed DD's routine and she's not coping with it.

Just to add - my gut tells me that its an 'Okay' Nursery, probably not fantastic but nothing really wrong with it either... Just sometimes wonder if 'okay' is good enough...

Just seen the same too! I'm new to this whole chat type thing - not sure if I'm doing it right! But how extraordinary we are having same experiences. Is yours a July baby? Mine was. Very frustrating time isn't it? Although so much easier in many other ways. We're potty training at the moment and I have to say I'm exhausted!!

Bigbanana,

She was born on 19th July 2004. Potty training? - you're a braver woman than me! (DD isn't really ready yet...or am I just being lazy I wonder)

Mum2girls - perhaps it is a change in routine. I've just returned from mat leave (2 weeks ago) and whilst I was on mat leave dd was attending Day Nursery on reduced hours (14 hours per week), but is now going for 3 days (24 hours per week). I suppose she could be reacting to this...

Durrrr,

I meant 2002!

handlemecarefully, mine was born 8th July! Where are you based? (I'm in Brighton.) I did out of interest, speak to nursery about his crying and they said it's nothing unusual and didn't really have any advice - but I'm glad I stuck with it, becuase he suddenly seems to have turned a corner and is happier to go now. I think it was just one of his phases (life is a constant battle with the phases isn't it?!)

Bigb,

I'm near Southampton. About an hours drive away from Brighton - we do visit occasionally, but Bournemouth is nearer.

How are you doing with the 'tantrum' phase currently?

HMC,
Hmmm...tantrums...don't get too many of the screaming, banging fists on floor...but do get a lot (several a day sometimes) of "I want...I want..." or "I don't want to do that..." and doesn't want to go in buggy anymore, doesn't want to get dressed in the morning, doesn't want to have a bath/go in highchair etc etc...terribly wearing! I have a 'naughty corner' and a scary ability (unknown to me prior to having a child) to shout incredibly loudly and lost my temper very quickly with him. Not that it makes a blind jot of difference to him! The naughty corner does work though - as 'time out'. He is very defiant at the moment for one so little!

my ds is 2.2 and sounds the same about going to his childminder, who he has been going to since he was about 7months and has a great time with. I wonder if they are just trying it on, a bit like 'I want squash/sweets/whatever' to see how far the bounderies can be pushed? No clue really, but that is what I keep telling myself! This morning he wouldn't get out of his buggy, but I know that within 2 mins he will have been at the table, eating his second breakfast, chatting away!

Yes I was wondering and hoping the same catgirl. Particularly since dd often says she feels sick when she doesn't in all sorts of contexts just to get attention. Maybe (hopefully) this is attention seeking too...

I definately agree about it being an attention seeking thing - they really understand about manipulating situations now - and know just how to tug on those heart strings...little tinkers!

I can cope with the whining and whinging 'I don't want to go to xxx' as we get that with wash/teeth/dressing but the other morning, it was a very calm and logical 'daddy go to work today, mummy stay at home and I stay at home'.... I barely made it out the door - more to feel guilty about! Does not bother dh at all

tinkers is not the word I would use ! And despite whatever he says in the morning, all evening I get reports of what he has done and the fun he has had!