To any SAHM with 3/4 year old?

[caroline29woohooo]

My daughter attends a nursery (that is attached to a school) two mornings a week (for social development). Her nursery teachers have informed me that by September she should be attending at least 5 mornings a week, so that when she starts school next year it does not come as a shock. Can anyone tell me how often your child at 4 attends nursery? I don't want to send her that often tbh, but i equally don't want her to be shocked when she does start in reception next year. I'm slightly conflicted on this. Anyone agree with the Nursery Teachers?

My 3 year old does 2.5 days a week. She goes because she absolutely loves it, and because I have an 18 month old at home too, and it's nice to have some one on one time with her. I'm actually thinking of increasing it to 3.5 days as she is so happy there.
They don't need it though, of course they don't. Do whatever is best for you and your child.

My 3.5 yr old goes to nursery 5 days a week for 3 hrs.

I'm a SAHM and my elder son started school in September. In the last year of pre school he did 4 days, Monday 9-1, Tuesday 9-12, Thursday 9-3 and Friday 9-1. It worked brilliantly for us and he's settled into school really well. To be honest the summer holiday between him finishing preschool and starting school was so long that any sort of routine was forgotten anyway. His school started them on two weeks of half days too so if he hadn't done any 9-3 days it wouldn't have mattered.

Not a full time SAHP but my daughter went to nursery 3 full days but stayed at home the other two, she has a very late August Birthday so started school a week after she turned 4, she is now 8 and in yr 4, she was not remotely shocked and loved school. My son is doing the same and he is an august Birthday too and I not imagining he is likely to be shocked come September!

My three year old started full time (9am -3pm five days a week) at a school nursery in January. She is four in November. She loves it and is absolutely thriving. I work three days a week so she was used to going to a private day nursery 8am - 6pm on those days anyway.

Full time 9-3 would have been too much for all of my kids at age 3, if avoidable.

All kids are different of course, and although I do think some preschool helps prepare them for school (a good one will help them learn routines like in school, for example) I agree wholeheartedly with the poster who recommended keeping some full days free to spend with your child when parks, soft play etc aren't full of big kids and also to chill and take things easy, enjoying their company etc. My 3 yo does her 2.5 days and I love having her to myself for the other two days (I have two other kids so 1:1 time is valuable).

So in short, no, your dd doesn't have to do all her hours of preschool if you don't want her to! I'm sure you're giving her lots of experiences at home with you/at groups etc

My soon-to-be four year old goes to nursery three mornings a week. I'm considering having her do one full day per week in the summer term so she has some experience of a full school day and having lunch in a school type environment. I don't want to send her any more than this, however. I enjoy my time with her at home and I'm all too aware that once she starts school in September I'll have far less of it and our evenings will be taken up with homework and after-school activities (for her and her older siblings).

Make the most of your time together! You won't have these unstructured days for much longer, except for the school holidays.

My daughter is 4 now but has been going to nursery 5 days a week for 3hrs since she was 3 years 3 months. I wasn't going to send her 5 days (I enjoyed having her at home) but the teachers suggested I give it a go & she loves it & I actually enjoy the break.

Sahm here. Ds2 will have been at pre school 2 years and a term before primary. The first term he was 2 mornings then the next 2 terms he was 3 mornings and now he is 5 mornings. It is only 3 hours a day - comes home for lunch. Done us both the world of good. But it is very personal decision.

My 4 year old was at nursery every day 8-4 when she was younger, then just before she was 3 I had had enough i needed more time with her so left work and reduced her hours. My husband now has Mondays and Tuesdays off of work so daughter goes to work the other three mornings.