Is My Child Ready for Nursery?

Looking to figure out when your child is in fact ready for nursery? There are a few ways you’ll be able to learn for yourself if they’re ready to feel comfortable in new surroundings and have a certain level of independence to do so. In this guide from a Montessori Nursery in Islington we explore the ways you can understand when your child will be ready for nursery.

Their level of independence

At a young age, your child will be developing their own forms of independence. You’d be surprised how much your child picks up as a toddler, even from playing by themselves or playing with other children they know.

But has your child been able to do things alone, or have they stayed with a friend or your own parents for a day so you’re away from each other. Kids who are used to being alone or being able to be away from their parents will fit straight into nursery just fine.

If you’re not sure how well your child could adjust then try different scenarios in small doses. Drop your child off for a few hours at nursery and see how well they do, they could even surprise you with how well they do.

Their experience with different activities

A child is normally involved with arts and crafts and creative play. Having that experience for your child will gear them up for their first days in nursery where they often find a lot of the day is spent playing, drawing and more.

Gradually build your child’s level of creative play and free time where they eventually can play alone for long periods of time. This will help them when they’re taken to nursery for the first time and don’t need hand holding when they’re completing tasks.

Your child’s stamina

Most nurseries have a chance for children to take a nap for the reason that they all get exhausted relatively quickly. For most nurseries there’s also a break between play time and lessons to boost your child’s energy. If your child doesn’t have the stamina to keep up, they can easily fall behind their classmates.

If your little one can keep themselves energised throughout the day then they’ll fit right in when they start going to nursery. You can work towards this as they get used to regular activity; aim to keep your child going for as long as possible before easing them into nursery. If they’re struggling, there are half day programmes to get them started slowly.