Preparing for nursery school
Our twins will soon be three and that means they’ll soon be starting nursery school. They were meant to start in April, but both of our local schools were full so this means they won’t start until September now.
In hindsight this is a good thing. They weren’t due to be born until April, which means had they have been born on time, instead of early, they wouldn’t have started nursery–school until September anyway.
I’m nervous and worried about how our twins will take to nursery. They’ve always been looked after in their own home by me, their dad or a family member and they’ve never been away from me of their dad for longer than a working day.
It took them a good six months to get used to being looked after by a family member one day a week, whilst I was at work and during those six months they would both cry every morning and ask us not to go. Thankfully they’re used to that now so they don’t cry anymore. Now they give us a kiss and cuddle bye because they know we’ll be returning.
It’s been of great comfort to me knowing that the girls have been looked after in their own home by a family member and not a stranger in an unfamiliar environment. Not to mention the fact that it’s saved us a fortune in nursery fees!
I’ve been trying to prepare the girls for the fact that they’ll be starting nursery–school soon. I’ve been talking to them about school and on one occasion when we came out of play group there were school children running around the playground in the school opposite so we stopped and watched them.
Nevertheless when I mention school our girls ask if me and their daddy will be going with them. I explain that mummy and daddy have already been to school so we won’t be with them. I then go on to explain that mummy or daddy will take them to school, say bye-bye and then pick up later to say hello again.
This is met with mixed reactions! On some occasions, they’ll both nod their heads and say ok. On other occasions they’ll start to get a bit upset and say that they don’t want to go school.
I have a premium subscription for Twinkl Resources online from a review I did a while back with them. I’ve seen that they have a booklet called ‘What will school be like?’ so I’ll be downloading two copies of these in the hope that they’ll help.
I think the school also have settling in session so I hope to make the most of these in helping our girls to settle in.
I’ve thought about going to the gym for an hour and dropping the girls off in the leisure centre crèche, but I think they’d be too upset by it. I guess because you can’t really have settling in sessions at a crèche where I can stay too!
It is a comfort to me though that they’ll have each other and I hope that when the time comes that will be a comfort to them also.
A lot of people tell me that they’ll be fine and that I’m worrying too much, but that doesn’t offer me any reassurance as I know my children and I know that they will find it difficult because they’re very close to me and their daddy. Especially as they’ve never been apart from us.
Do you have any tips on helping toddlers to settling into nursery–school?
6 Comments
Andrea
February 16, 2015 at 8:56 am
Alfie was the same he was only with us or my parents, so before he started nursery we tried to get him to spend time with as many different people as possible. We also took him with us to choose his nursery bag etc. First day he went in he never cried or even noticed I'd gone. X
becki bawler
February 18, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Our Twins had never been in any childcare, my partner had given up work when I went back. Nursery was a challenge, lots of tears when he left them, but happy when there. Same thing when starting reception as we changed to a different school in Cardiff for that, but now both go in happily – keep at it & don't look back!
Sophie P
February 20, 2015 at 10:35 am
I'm worried about M starting nursery school. Since she has been with me all day everyday for the last 6 months, she has been getting very clingy! I'm sure they will be fine though! Thanks for hosting #binkylinky 🙂 xx
Entertaining Elliot
February 20, 2015 at 11:06 pm
My son will be starting pre-school in September (he's a little younger than your twins, he will be 3 in Nov) and I know he is going to love it but it doesn't stop me from feeling scared! My parents look after him on a Friday when I go into work so we've never needed to put him into paid childcare so it will be a big change for us all. Good luck with your girls xx
Mummy3+1dog
February 21, 2015 at 7:27 pm
all 3 of mine were the same was looked after me or a family member, so i was a bit wary with them starting school and what they would be like, but you know what they all went in no problems, summer my youngest was the worst and cried for 3 days but the teachers told me tht as soon as she couldn't see me she stopped crying, she now goes in laughing I have to ask her to come back for a kiss and a hug, she loves it. they will surpise you hun, its exciting and it will be playing with a load of friends and lots of fun.
Ickle Pickle
February 22, 2015 at 10:18 am
I hope everything goes well – I am supposed to be starting a morning a week playgroup next week :/ not sure mummy's ready! X