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Parenting

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Original poster

Too many days at playschool?

24 replies

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 21:43

Hi all, my little girl is in her second year at playschool. She previously was doing 2 mornings and 1 afternoon.
She is now doing 3 full days and 2 mornings. Shes done this for 4 weeks now.
She is 4 in January, likes going but comes home shattered and has been very grumpy.
Am I sending her too much? The playschool havnt said she isnt coping but this evening has been a mare, she is just so tired and upset.
How many days do other peoples 3 year olds go?
Thanks x

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JohnLapsleyParlabane · 30/09/2019 21:46

Mine will be 4 in November and she does 5 mornings & 3 afternoons at preschool plus one long afternoon (till 6) with her childminder. She gets tired at the start of term but she loves school.

CarrotPuff · 30/09/2019 22:05

Mine will be 4 in March, and we both work full time. So she goes 9-3 5 days a week, and then afternoons till 6 with a childminder. She does get tired but she loves it, and we don't really have a choice.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 22:09

I think I feel guilty as i do have a choice, she doesnt have to go that much but as an anxious child, I felt going more would give her more stability

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InDubiousBattle · 30/09/2019 22:11

At 3 both of my dc did 12 hours a week, ds did one full day (9-3)and 2 mornings, dd did 2 full days. Dd was more settled going 2 days even though they were longer days, ds would have appreciated an extra day at home i think.

Bucatini · 30/09/2019 22:15

To me it sounds like a lot if you have the choice. When mine were that age I was a SAHM and they did 4 mornings, no afternoons.

SoyDora · 30/09/2019 22:16

As a SAHM mine did 3 days a week, 9-3 at that age. I felt like it gave us just the right balance... 3 days there and 4 days at home.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 22:30

Would the jump up from doing less to going to school every day/all day not be a huge jump if she goes less? Change of any sort is a huge deal for her x

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BarrenFieldofFucks · 30/09/2019 22:33

As an anxious child I would say more time at home would be of more benefit.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/09/2019 22:36

My 3 yo did 5 half days a week, then moved up to 5 full days when he started reception at 4.

If she's too tired and you do have a choice, I'd drop the full days to half days

CoodleMoodle · 30/09/2019 22:38

My DD started out doing 3 mornings, then after a couple of terms we added another, so she was having 4 sessions per week. And in her last year at preschool she did 1 afternoon as well, which meant a full day, and she loved it. She had 1 full day off at home with me as well on a Friday, and we used that day to go to our toddler group and the library.

I'll probably do something similar for DS when he gets to preschool age. It seemed to ease DD in to it and the transition to school was fine.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 22:42

The playschool she goes to is very popular with an outstanding Ofsted so if I drop the sessions, she wont be able to have them back as so many people on the waiting list for more sessions .
Will it hinder her doing a big jump from less time at playschool to big school?
She does mon wed fri all day (9 till 3) and tues/thurs 9 till 12. I was thinking if I drop anything it will be the all day Friday one x

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BeanBag7 · 30/09/2019 22:45

I wouldn't want my daughter to be in preschool so much. As a stay at home parent, for me the point is to spend time with them at home for the short time we have that option, before they're in full time education.

mindutopia · 30/09/2019 22:48

If you aren’t working I’d stick to 3 days maybe. I don’t think it’s too much in a general sense. Both of mine did 3-4 full days 9-5 from 9/11 months. At 3, my eldest did 5 days 9-5 and it was absolutely fine. When she started school she would come bouncing out with so much energy as the days were so short.

But if you don’t need the childcare because you’re working, then I would keep her home more. No, it won’t really make any difference when she starts school.

Digestive28 · 30/09/2019 22:50

I also wouldn’t worry about the jump up in reception. It’s a long way off yet, loads of time for them to change and you’ll have the massive gap of the summer holidays between finishing preschool and starting reception so the jump will be there anyway

leafletter · 30/09/2019 22:55

In the year before school I gave mine a day each week at home relaxing. Very quiet day at home. Sometimes a short play date at home or their friends house but no classes or big shopping days/appointments etc.

Occasionally I did need to book an extra day at nursery as I had to work that extra day and I did notice they became tireder and more difficult at the end of this full time week.

I not sure about half days though as mine only ever did full days. Are you able to make the half days very relaxed and calm at home in the afternoon? No extra activities/appointments etc that day. Just go straight home and do quiet activities.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 23:04

Yes on the half days we chill at home in the afternoon x

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memaymamo · 30/09/2019 23:08

4 weeks isn't long. I would give it more time and keep creating a calm, relaxed home space for when she's there in the evenings. You could also talk to the teacher to double check for any issues.

There's also a tendency in some children to hold everything in at school and let it all go at home.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/09/2019 23:09

if I drop the sessions, she wont be able to have them back presumably you'll be looking for a school for next September tho so she won't need them back. I'd def drop it to the kind of 15 hour mark - so 5 half sessions or 3 half sessions and 1 full day.
Lots of 3 year old transition from that to full time school hours

leafletter · 30/09/2019 23:09

But yes if you’ve got the choice then cut back. Even 3 days is plenty at that age in my opinion.

Heartofglass12345 · 30/09/2019 23:13

In my area children start school at 3, they are in the nursery class but wear the same uniform, follow the routine the same as the other children etc and my boys both went 9-3 the September after their 3rd birthdays. I was worried at first but they both settled in well and enjoy it. If you feel she needs less time there and you're able to though, drop a day. I miss my youngest since he started school in September!

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 30/09/2019 23:55

Lots to think about. Makes me feel like she comes in from playschool tired and I have to cook dinner tidy up etc bath and bed and we never spend nice quality time together anymore I have a 8 month old too x

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Bucatini · 01/10/2019 07:27

Yes, it would be nice for you to do some activities with her as you won't have the chance when she starts school full time. To me this would be more important than worrying about the jump in hours in a year's time. She'll be tired anyway when she starts reception (they all are!).

Tavannach · 01/10/2019 07:34

I think she's likely to benefit more from an extra day with you. The stability that gives her will prepare her better for school. If it's possible you could invite some of her playschool friends round for play dates at yours.

Original poster

xxxJess123xxx · 01/10/2019 09:50

I spoke to the playschool this morning, they said to leave it as it is until October half term and see how she is then/how I feel.
She thrives on routine

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