2 year old missing out if not going to nursery?

[Eatentoomanyroses]

My youngest is just turned two. She doesn’t go to nursery as I work evenings. My other Dc all went to nursery from
1 year. Do you think she‘s missing out by not going? Will she find it hard if we wait until she’s three and get the free hours. I take her to play groups two/ three times a week in term time but obviously it’s only an hour or two . Paying for nursery would be a bit of a financial stretch for us but on the other hand some days I feel quite stressed trying to occupy her and get housework done.

No, I don’t think she’s missing out. She’s got siblings and you take her to play group, so she’s having interaction with other children, learning how to take turns etc….
To some extent it depends on what activities you do with her at home. If you do things like messy play, songs, stories at home (even if it’s not every day) and giving her a rich and stimulating environment, she’ll benefit just as much, and arguably more so, than at nursery.

My eldest only started nursery when she turned three and got the childcare hours (this September). She was with me or her dad prior to this (due to shift work).

We found she's adjusted well to interacting with other children and being at home having 1:1 time meant she is more advanced with things like her speech (because she loves having books read to her), and we did numbers, counting and colours etc. She didn't do too much craft stuff like drawing and using scissors before nursery so I was worried about that, but she's picked it up really quickly there.

I think they adjust pretty quick and she enjoys it

I don't think she will be 'missing out' by not going to nursery particularly at that age (I say that as a parent and a former nursery worker) the 3yos invariably settled in like a duck to water, wheras the 2yos often struggled alot (especially those at the younger end of 2) needed alot of emotional reassurance, and often seemed 'lost' within the larger group or overwhelmed.

My own DD1 was home 24/7 with me until she started at a preschool at 2yrs9mths.She didn't settle very well (unsure if it was definitely age though or the setting, as the manager was a *itch and we took her out after afew wks)

Covid happened but then sent her to 2x preschools at 3yrs 5mths, she settled great at both.I think she was definitely ready to go by 3.

My youngest is 1 and goes to a childminder whilst I work, and she enjoys it, could it be an option for you to book your little one for afew hours a week in with a CM if you want abit of time to get more done?

I think if you are doing lots at home with her and going out and about to groups/places of interest though she will be fine, especially as she has siblings.

No she absolutely will not be missing out! Please remember OP that nurseries for this age only came about when women started going back to work after having kids. Biologically speaking, children are meant to be with their mothers and not nurseries, so if anything she will be better off!

you attend groups and she isn’t a hermit cooped up indoors 24/7. You sound like a wonderful parent and I think she’s a very lucky little girl - she gets to still be with her mum yet still socialises

@EJRB aww thank you. I do feel lucky I’ve had this time with this one. It’s funny isn’t it? You worry and question things whatever decisions you make

Absolutely! I think regardless of what we do we always wonder is it enough, mum guilt is very real 😆

She's not missing out unless you're leaving her in front to the TV for hours each day or similar. If she's getting a good amount of socialisation, change of scenery and adult input she's best off at home.