Sending my DD 2.4 to Pre-school is she too young?

[runninglady1]

I feel guilty, I've enrolled my DD (who will be 2 yrs 4 months when she starts in January) to a small pre-school - which is basically a church hall with toys and books etc.
I've been for a couple of vistis, observed how they run the group & checked their ofsted report (which was very good) and it seems to be a lovely well run place with friendly staff and my DD seemed to go off and play nicely even if she did come back to me every now and then.
All seems good & I was quite excited for her but now something inside me is saying, hang on isn't she a bit young? What if she hates it? Am i being mean leaving her when she's still quite young?
She's my only DD and she is tiny for her age i feel like i'm forcing her into growing up too quick. I know its only for 3 hours 2 mornings a week but i know i'll miss her & now i'm starting to regret it... i thought it was a good idea to get her used to being away from me so when she starts nursery it won't be too big a shock.
Please can you tell me if and when you enrolled your babies to a pre/play school and you both found it?

Thanks for reading x

Hi, my first daughter went to nursery 3 full days a week from 9 months, second daughter did the same until I gave up work when she was about 3. Third daughter was 2 in October, I am now a SAHM so no need for her to go anywhere but she started one day per week at nursery in July and I have put her name down for one morning per week at pre-school from January. I think you will get a mixed response on here, i think i depends on the child and how confident they are, all mine are quite confident and my two year absolutely loves nursery and the company hence applying for pre school. If she didnt enjoy it or I struggled leaving her i would not be adding to it with pre-school. If you were working you would be leaving her anyway so if you think she will enjoy it go for it. My theory is I'd rather she was there whilst I get my housework and chores done rather than being bored at home. If you are worried then perhaps start of with one morning per week.

Thanks, my post seems a bit trivial now thinking of all the babies that go to nurseries several full days a week .
I work 3 days (my mum has her the other days) so the 2 off I have with her are sort of "our" time together, but she is a confident little girl, I think it'll take some getting used to for her but i do think she'll enjoy it, its just me being all PFB with her.
You are right about the being somewhere interesting for her while i do housework then bored at home though. x

You not being trivial.

Pre schools and nurseries are different. I think nurseries have a higher staff to pupil ratio and are more set up to actively care for their children. In preschools I think the children are encouraged to be more independent.

My son went to preschool at 2yrs 10 months and loved it.
My daughter will be 2 yrs 5 months when next September hits and I have her name down but I am not sure I will send her then. If she seems independent and she can communicate her needs then I'll probably send her - even a hint of a problem and I'll put it off.

Try it. If she thrives, great. If not, try again in 6 months or so.

I think most children of over two do very well at a playgroup such as you describe for a few hours a week. My two certainly went from age about 2 and a half, two morning sessions a week, which I increased to three from age 3 onwards (in preparation for school nursery which was five mornings a week). Neither of them had problems settling and it was a lovely break for me!

I think that your dd will really benefit from pre school. It will build her confidence, help develop her language skills and social skills.

Pre schools have the same ratios as day nurseries which is set down by law. Ie. 1 to 4 for 2 to 3 year olds and 1 to 8 for over threes. If there is a mixture of two and three year olds then the room might have 8 three year olds and 4 two year olds with two members of staff. The only difference is that in a day nursery two to three year olds would be in a seperate room to the four year olds.

Thank you all for your comments, it makes me feel more at ease knowing your children went & thrived and your right, if she doesn't get on there I can try again in a few months x