As a parent, one of the hardest things to do is to let your child go into a childcare setting. It’s not because you don’t trust the people that will be caring for your little one or because it’s a bad thing for your child to go there. It’s simply because it’s hard for parents to let go and enter this new era of their child’s life.
If you are in the process of choosing a new childcare setting for your young child, a nursery will likely be at the top of your list of options. Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider sending your child to nursery.
It’s play time!
While nursery offers a whole host of benefits to children, they will most likely associate it with play, which is in no way a bad thing! Nurseries are often full of whimsical colours and bright logos, big writing, lots of fun noises, and plenty of toys to play with – not to mention other children. There are so many new things to do, see, hear, and enjoy. As a parent, you will soon realise that your child’s nursery is a place of engagement, development, and learning through play.
Making new friends
No matter how old your child is, going to nursery is going to give them a chance to socialise and make new friends. If they have never been to a childcare setting before, a nursery school can be the perfect place to engage with adults, as well as children that are of a similar age. This early socialisation is sure to equip them with valuable communication and social skills that they will require throughout their childhood and beyond.
Growing their confidence
Nursery can also help your child build confidence, as it encourages them to try new things, develop new skills, and make new friends. All of this can work wonders for self-esteem, confidence, and curiosity. This confidence is vital for when they enter full-time education in a year or two. As a parent, it’s going to grow your confidence in your child’s skills and prospects, too – after all, if they thrive in nursery, you’re far less likely to worry about how they will fare once they reach primary school.
School preparation
Plenty of nursery schools offer school preparation programs to help your child to feel confident and comfortable when they walk into their first day of primary school. Firstly, they will have had some exposure to a structured daily routine, so having to focus for periods of time and stay at school for a half-day or full-day will come as less of a shock to the system.
Attending nursery will also help your child to learn how to respond to authority from adults, engage with their peers in a healthy way, and interact with objects that they may otherwise be unfamiliar with or that do not belong to them. They will also be also exposed to rules and ideals that you may not enforce at home, which can help them become accustomed to listening to instructions and obeying rules set by people other than you or another parent/guardian.
Are you considering sending your child to nursery school? Here at Little Acorns Day Nursery, we are committed to helping your little one develop important skills early on so that they can grow into the best version of themselves and thrive once they reach primary school. To find out more about what we can offer your child, give us a call at one of our two locations.