Nursery at 2 years old

[d0nkeyk0ng]

Hi all - please could I seek your advice.
We have an 18 month old and always hoped to send her to nursery 3 days a week when she reaches 2 years. However we are hoping to move house and the new area's nurseries are oversubscribed and she would have to go on a waiting list. I don't know whether to give up the idea of nursery for now and look for childminders or whether this should influence our decision on where to live.
How important is it for children to have that interaction with other children and structured activity that nursery provides from 2 years old?
Thanks

chill, you've got time. Move to where you like, put him/her on the waiting lists of the nurseries you like and but them in at 21/2 or 3. It's not that critical i don't think. Use a childminder in the meantime if you need to. many have lots of other similar aged kids as well.

Far, far, far more important is make sure you move to somewhere when you can get them into a school you like.

My ds started going for 2 mornings a week when he turned 2 just as i had a baby and split up with my dh so that i could have a little quality time with the baby. He enjoyed it straight away but they don't really play with each other until they turn 3, they just play along side each other.

They aren't really tought anything at that age either, just sort of encouraging with colours, numbers, shapes, reading, drawing and singing etc, probably like you would at home.

I don't think there's any advantage to being in a nursery at 2 but he has always enjoyed it and now he's turned 3 he has lots of friends.

Hope this helps.

Just going to lots of toddler groups with you will be fine

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful!

Totally agree with forago. Focus on scrutiny of the schools and primary admissions. That can be a minefield and yet us far far more important