Nursery at 3yo - what should he know before starting?

[Bumblebee112]

I’ll start by apologising in advance if this is a ridiculous question 😅
DS will be starting nursery this year at 3. We’re the first of our friends to have kids and the next youngest person in mine and DHs families is 24 🤣 so I really have absolutely no reference.

What will it be expected that DS knows/can do for himself before starting nursery?
I’m assuming it’ll be expected that he’s able to feed himself, wash his hands, follow instructions etc. And that he’ll be somewhat competent in using the toilet & doing his own coat/shoes etc?

What about when it comes to things like letters/numbers? What is a “normal” level of ability for him to be starting nursery with?
Should he be able to recognise numbers/letters? Counting competently? Recognising his name? Write letters/numbers/name?

Again, I apologise if this is ridiculous 😅 I literally have no idea at all.

Recognising his name would be handy, but really it's all social skills. Don't bite, share, toileting, putting shoes on, tidy up.

Oh jeez don’t worry about it. Just make sure he’s not mean or rude basically.

Nothing like that is needed honestly! Nursery is about learning through play, so lots of messy play and fun stuff.

Stuff you do need to know - pack a bag with loads of labelled clothes including pants and socks and a spare set of shoes because they get filthy! If you provide food overpack the snacks, even if they don’t eat them there it’s a godsend on the way home. Make sure he knows not to hit/bite when he’s frustrated (although his keyworker will help with that).

Some stuff is handy for them to have mastered like being toilet trained, pulling their own trousers up /down, putting their own shoes on etc. Saying that, these are by no means requirements and nursery staff will always help when it is needed!

@Mysterian Thank you! 😊

@PerspiringElizabeth Haha, definitely not worrying 😅 it just dawned on me that I had no idea if there was stuff he should know!

@Ostryga Thank you! He’s provided with all meals/snacks but I’ll remember about having something for the way home 😅 No hitting/biting so far 🤞🏼

@vegisaurus Thank you! 😊 he’s pretty good with those things already (when he wants to be 😅) so that’s good to know!

Nursery is about having fun. Does he know how to run about, laugh, giggle, paint, sing, dance, build things and knock them over etc. If he doesn't now he will in a week!

I guess practically just knowing where the loos are, who his keyworker is and washing hands regularly because you need to expect thar you will all be ill for 6-12 months as a family, yes every week you will be fighting another bug or cold - get the calpol in!

Ooh yes stock up on calpol and Sambucol syrup because he will catch everything going for a few months. Sambucol is either a placebo or magic but it definitely reduced the amount Dd was catching!

Knowing their name, being able to slip on their coat is good, putting on wellies even better. Using a fork much appreciated by staff. If they can use the toilet you'll have very happy carers.

The bar isn't very high and some kids will be further along than others. Both of mine could recognise their written name but not all children can.

There’s not much expectation at that age, mainly playing nicely with others no biting or hitting, following instructions and doing carpet time with a group, able to feed themselves and drink, use the toilet and tell staff if have an accident. For reference my kid is a similar age and has been at nursery since she was 1. She is a fairly average kid. She can do all the above, count to 20, recognises her name, say the alphabet and is beginning to recognise letters and numbers, and can write the first letter of her name. She can’t read or write whole words yet, or count higher than 20 and it’s not expected of her.

@Floppyfrog @Ostryga I’m already dreading the bugs 😅

@gogomoto Thanks, that’s helpful 😊 he can definitely do wellies & recognise his written name. He’s been using a knife and fork properly for about a year so no issues there at all! Coat is hit or miss depending on the mood. Some days he’s a little devil and thinks it’s hilarious to put it on backwards then but let you take it back off while he roars with laughter with his face in the hood 🙈🙈

@Overthebow Thank you 😊 He’s definitely better with numbers than letters at the moment. Can recognise his written name and certain letters. Can recognise written numbers to 10 and can reliably count to 17 - beyond that he tends to make up his own numbers🤣 I’m more concerned about how he’ll be around other kids to be honest. I try to take him to at least 2/3 groups or classes a week depending on my work. And then we go to the park etc. but aside from that he doesn’t have any other interaction with kids currently so he can he a bit upset and nervous when more confident children approach him.

I would actively avoid doing letters unless you know which phonics system they'll use at school because all that will happen is you'll get it wrong and then the primary teachers will have to get him to unlearn things.

@Floppyfrog That’s a good point actually, thanks! He’s showing a big interest in numbers and letters just now so I’d rather take the opportunity than ignore it but I’ll see if I can find out what they use 😊

There's a lot of variety in what kids can do at that age. The most important thing is to communicate with the key worker about what he can typically do and check in with them frequently about what they/you are working on.

If you want to look at academic, focus on numbers rather than letters. There are lots of different phonics systems, so it's better to wait for consistency.

Wish my nearly 3 year olds were as good at coat/wellies as it sounds like yours is! Hoping for mine to start preschool in about 3/4 months and I'm worried about their current self-care abilities.

@TinyTeacher Thank you! I’ll definitely keep that in mind about the phonics.
Mine can definitely do wellies & Velcro shoes. Coat is hit and miss. BUT - he is still a nearly 3 year old 😅 and while he absolutely can do these things, whether or not he will at any given time is a different story 🤣