What do you do with pre-schoolers, are they too old for toddler groups?

[Megamum42]

My son is now 3 and we have been going to several toddler groups since he was 1, ...but I am wondering should I stop taking him? Should I be doing something different now he is older?..What do other mums do with 3-4 year olds? ..The other regular things we do during the week are usually the park-wit or without ball, him riding his bike and play-dates. Occasionally we do reading, cooking, the botanic gardens or a country park or other trip e.g. seaside. He doesnt seem to be into arts and crafts and prefers to be outside. Should I be doing something more now? He is my eldest child so is paving the way so to speak:)

I sent mine to pre-school for a couple of mornings per week from the age of 24 months. At 3 they went for three mornings until they were old enough for school nursery. This was the kind of place where you pay about £20 for a 3 hour session from 9.30 to 12.30.

That's no good in the holidays though, Mintyy.

I still take my DD1 (3.5) to toddler groups if we're at a loose end during the holidays. There are some near us which are populated more by older children, so I'd go for one of those.

Otherwise it's the beach (we live nearby, luck us!), swimming, park etc.

Didn't realise it was a thread about the holidays? I thought Megamum was speaking generally.

Not up to this stage yet as DS is only 16 months, but from the toddler groups I've attended it seems like some are more popular with pre school age children, but others are almost exclusively babies. I would try a few until you find ones which you are comfortable with. Also some soft play centres have seasonal passes eg one near me is £25 for unlimited play during the summer hols, another is free after 3pm every Wednesday, these are definitely worth taking advantage of :)

Thanks for your helpful tips :)

my ds4 is 4 and starts school in sept, he has been doing 2 days a week at pre-school and then we got to a toddlergroup/mother and baby type thing once a week as well, there are lots of other 3-4 yr olds that go as well. we have a childrens centre nearby that does activities as well tho i dont go very often.

story time and song time etc at the library, trips to the park, he has to do the school run wiht me for his elder brothers and we meet up with friends etc.

agree that passes/season tickets can be quite good as well, plus on school days they are not as busy generally :)

If you and he still enjoy going then why not. I have been going to the same one since dd1 was 8 months old. I must admit that 7yrs later and I am getting a bit fed up with it, but ds (nearly 3 is still keen). I also take ds swimming, we might go shopping (bless him, he does like a bit of retail therapy), we go to an activity, games type older toddler group too. He will be starting preschool soon, so that will bite into some of the days but I won't send him full time, as with the school run it means we don't get much time to do activities in the day.

Here 3-4 is a bit of a black hole - too old for mum n baby groups.

would agree with using the 15 free hours for pre-school - if you want to get started now you can also look at nurseries which are open all year not just term-time.

I think it depends on the group. DD1 (4.9 and not yet in school, - Oct birthday) loves arts and crafts, so there is one that she gets a lot out from going to. DD2 (20mo) is still into the ride-ons etc. so when DD1's at pre-school we'll go a different one, but I don't bother taking DD1 as there's not even so much as a colouring book with crayons and she'd be bored silly.

Second the library on lousy days. Would he like swimming? It's usually pretty cheap for under 5s. Even a trip to a local town on a bus can be exciting for a three-year-old!

I'd also say don't try to fill every second of every day. He also needs to learn about down-time and how to entertain himself, even if at this stage it's five minutes while you get the washing on.

Our local gymnastics club have a pay as you go gym session up the age of five in the holidays. Or soft play areas or swimming can be good.