Not ready to send your child to nursery yet? Here’s what you can do Instead.

The decision to officially separate yourself from your toddler and send your child to nursery is every parent’s worst dilemma. When you first send your child to nursery and hand your child over to someone other than family for the very first time it feels like a risky, heart-clenching challenge infused with conflicting opinions and anxiety.

It is in every toddler’s best interest to officially begin their educational journey at a suitable age. Sometimes, it’s a lot harder for parents to take that decision of separating themselves from their little ones. After all, you did spend the last 2-3 years, cocooned together in your little bubble.

In this conflict-ridden situation, it’s vital to remind yourself that- It’s okay to take that extra time and prepare yourself sufficiently for your toddlers’ transition into school life. With that being said, the toddler time is the best age group to begin molding your child and shaping them into the people they grow up to be. This is the time you need to ensure your child engages in maximum learning productivity.

As parents, you are their first teacher. And so, before deciding to keep your toddler with you a bit longer, it’s essential to make sure that they engage in fruitful productivity during the extra time away from the nursery.

Here are some ways you can cope with the anxiety of sending your child to nursery while also preparing them for school life should you decide it’s time for them to begin that phase.

Tips to send your child to Nursery

• Think, Rethink and Go for it-It’s not a hidden fact that sending your child to nursery is hugely beneficial for the growth of their academic foundation and their overall development, which is why, as parents, it’s essential to make sure that you are making the right decision when it comes to your toddlers’ education. Coordinate with nurseries for some guided and professional advice on what the child can do instead of preschool. Speak to parents who are also battling similar conflicts- it may help ease your mind when you have like-minded people around you. The idea here is to make sure you make the best choice for your child and yourself. And remember- taking some extra time before committing your child to the confines of school life is perfectly fine.
• Opt for daycares/ creches– The best way for your child to develop social skills and to start their training into independence is by sending your toddler off to daycare or a creche. This not only gives your child an outlet outside of the home, but it is also a gradual process for you to adapt to the lifestyle when your child begins school. Unlike school hours, in which your child spends several hours away from you, in a creche, you have control over the amount of time you can stay away from your toddler. Over some time, keep increasing the number of hours you are away from your child, and very soon, you’ll find the transition a smooth process.
• Occupy yourself-   As anew parent, your life probably revolves around your child/children. This tends to create challenges when it’s time to separate yourself from your toddler when it’s time for them to begin their nursery years. During the time you send your child away in a creche, use those few hours, and occupy your time with something productive to take your mind away from constantly thinking about your toddler and will make you focus on the work at hand.
  • Engage in activities that require deep concentration and focus. Other than work, the best option would be to take part in some sports training or involve yourself in a sports club where you can participate in friendly matches. This will also tire you from overthinking about not being around your child. Alternatively, there are a plethora of mom/ dad/ parent groups in which there are frequent meetups, luncheons, etc. This will help you connect with those in similar situations and can even offer you some great advice and suggestions.

• Involve your child in home learning- Now that your child is not exposed to the nursery surrounding, it’s up to you to take charge of their education. Thankfully, the world wide web is filled with abundant solutions where you can learn just how to engage your child in learning activities.
  • Sign up for some online courses for your toddler, where you can monitor and conduct the activities and lessons for your child.
  • Subscribe to learning-based activity boxes– A fun and easy way to begin your child’s learning journey is by subscribing/ purchasing learning-based activity boxes. These activities are designed with the element of learning, while also capturing the minds of young and easily distracted toddlers through its playful form.
  • toddle.ae provides development-based activities created by educators, that can be effortlessly conducted by you. Check out the website to find out more!
  • Hire a sitter-This may cause a bit of a price crunch; hiring a home tutor should be considered as the last option to resort to. While it can offer you some peace of mind by having your toddler in the same room as you as they engage in learning. It can be taxing on the child when it’s time to transition them to school and getting them to adjust to the new environment.
    • Alternatively, hire a multi-cultural/ bi-lingual sitter (babysitter). This is a lot more effective as sitters not only provide the service of looking after your child on for a short time, but they also help the child engage in developing a plethora of skills -such as reading, language learning, adjusting to unfamiliar faces, developing their gross and fine motor skills, etc. The role of a sitter is primarily to monitor the child. Through this, they also help teach the child basics of looking after themselves, which adds to their learning process. Advise your sitter of what you would like your child to engage in during the few hours they would spend together , or just hand them over a Toddle box and follow the easy activities (they even include all the supplies needed).

The decision to send your child to nursery is one that requires a significant amount of introspection and communication. A transition such as this comes with its own set of painful challenges that every parent faces.

It’s entirely natural to feel emotions of anguish and anxiety when it comes to detaching yourself from your child. The school life is a terrifyingly long journey; at the same time, it’s one of the most vital courses for your child’s development.

Whether you pick a nursery, nanny, school, or choose to stay at home, the key is to feel confident about the decisions you make. Keep an open mind, have lots of conversations with professionals and parents, and you’ll soon come to the right choice.

Hope these tips help!

Toddles for now and take care.