What can I do with my 3 year old

Hi Betti, My ds turned 3 in september and missed the cut off so won't be starting fs1 until next sept. To be honest im not in any rush for him to start a nursery as I have a dd 2yrs at home as well so it makes no difference. Plus its quite a big expense. We've been to the expat mcc before and found the same, it was mainly me just running after the 2 of them and no interacting with anyone else. He doesn't really have a problem playing with others more a lack of anyone to play with his own age and finding activites that don't cost an arm and a leg. Give me a shout if you fancy getting together one time for a playdate.

DD has just turned 3 and goes to nursery 8-12 for 4 mornings a week - there are others in her class who do less mornings and some who are dropped off a bit later so hours work out less (understand you still pay for 4 hours though). We also go to the MCC Expat Woman group although have noticed it is getting quieter now as the weather is getting better for outside play - took time for DD to have confidence to go and play with others but was worth the perseverance. Friends who don't have their LO's in nursery do Boogie Babies, Top Tots and Kiddlywinks. We used to do the cooking classes at Mini Monsters and DD loved it and although I was still in the class she was the one doing the activity and then would play with the other children before or after in the soft play area. Little Explorers at MCC run some kind of drop n shop system and I think at 3 you can leave them for an hour while you shop and they play - haven't used this myself but might be worth looking into. :)

Oh yes and Simpleasabc's suggestion that you check out 'FairyGodmothers group in Dubai' is an excellent one, some lovely ladies in this group + Mums of 3 there too.

Hi Betti. What a lovely caring Mum you are looking to ease your little ones transition into FS1 in September smoothly. 5 hours a day can certainly be a long stretch to expect your child to handle cold turkey so to speak. But Nurseries are much more flexible than schools in that you can easily decide not to take them in on any given day or you can pick up earlier. My DS went to Willow Children's Nursery just off the Al Wasl/Al Manara junction. They were really kind there to the child in their settling in period. They offered my DS 2 open days where he could go in for an hour or so just to get a 'feel' for the environment. When term started I just collected him as early as I wanted or felt he needed the first week + started him on a 4 day week for the first term. They offered a 3, 4 or 5 day week with first pick ups at 12:30pm, then 3pm then 5 or 6pm I can't exactly remember. I know lots of nurseries offer something similar. The Raffles nurseries in the EK Hills are the only ones I know that have a strict 5 day week policy. Don't know where you are based or what religion you are but this may be of interest to you? United Christian Church of Dubai in Jebel Ali offer child care while Mums + Dad's go to church on Fridays (UK Sunday school equivalent) or participate in Bible study groups on Wednesdays. Your son would get to mingle with this peer group for an hour or so away from you. Could be a gentle way to getting used to being without Mum for small stretches of time? Otherwise I know there is a child minding 'care group' in the Springs. Personally I have heard some negative reports of the flexi drop off Oasis Nursery on Palm Jumeirah (but then you always hear good + bad reports about everywhere, so best to check it out for yourself). Take a look at 'Family + Friends' in JBR, it's run by a very sweet UK lady called Joanne. She's enthusiastic + easy going, they have a very flexible play + care program that might work for you + your son? I hope you find the perfect solution + the transition is a happy + exciting one for your little fella. Good luck x

Same with my DS :) you could register for classes at Kidville, Little Gym, MyGym. As for other activities, I've made a little list for myself earlier - hope it helps http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=162222

Children's Oasis are a lovely nursery with locations in and around Um Suqueim. They offer aftenoon sessions of only 3 hours and it's easier to get a place that way! The morning hours are very flexible - you can choose the drop off time & collection is at 12.30. They also have a playcentre on the palm where you can pay by the hour and leave your child in supervised care. I believe MyGym, Little Gym & Du Gym offer independent classes for 3 year olds. Kidville offer a flexible nursery type appoach with lots of independent classes. Perhaps LO is a bit clingy because of the move too?

Hi Betti, there are a lot of activities for children his age. As carymama said Peekaboo and Mini Monsters are good and it's worth looking up the "things to do" section in dubai kidz dot biz, it's a great website with loads of info about anything to do with kids in Dubai.

My 3 year old doesn't start FS1 until next Sept but he's becoming very clingy as he spends all his time with me and doesn't mix with other children. I went to look at a nursery today but I really don't want to be putting him in for 5 hours a session. Back in the UK he would have been doing 3 hours. I think 5 hours is too long. Are there any nurseries that offer fewer hours or is there something else I can do with him. I've tried the Expatwoman morning in Mirdif but he just played with me and avoided all the other children. Any other suggestions to get him mixing with children his own age and making the transition to school next Sept easier. thanks I found myself in a similar situation with my 3 year old too (and I also feel that 5 hours is too long at nursery). You can look into Peekaboo as they do have a schedule of group activities every day. Also look into Mini Monsters. They have some classes for toddlers as well.

Honestly, 5 hours is not too much for a 3 year old, they don't do anything particularly strenuous, just playing, painting etc, just as they would at home, but with other children there. They also have quiet times when they have a story read to them. My LO loves her sleep and has a little nap in the afternoon after she has come home.

Hi Betti,my 2 year old daughter goes to Kids Island Nursery,drop off is anytime between 8 and 8.30 and pick up between 11.45 and 12.30 so if you dropped off at 8.30 and collected at 11.45 thats just over 3 hours.They offer 3,4 or 5 mornings per week.My daughter was registered for 3 mornings but after 3 weeks I increased it to 4.They ave a settling in period for the first week -you just leave them for 2 hours. <em>edited by michamen on 19/11/2011</em>

Hi Betti I can understand where you are coming from, but *most* nursries here do 5 mornings a week. But if you find a good nursery they should have what I call a settling in policy. This bascally involves you dropping your little one off the first day for an hour, you can stay with him for about 10-15 min or so. depending on how he manages, then the next day will be 2 hours and so on. This would carry on for at least a week or two depending on how he take to it all. Some children will be ready to start full time after a week, other children will take a full two weeks or more to really settle in and be ok with being away from you. Honestly its not too bad having them in for 5 hours. This is how we used to do it at my old nursery and it really worked a treat to help children settle.

Do you have any friends with kids the same / similar age? You could leave him with them for say half an hour, then an hour and get him used to playing with others without you around as he will naturally gravitate to you if you are there and if he is used to being with just you. I am in the UK and my little one (also 3) goes to nursery, she is there for 5 hours and loves, loves, loves it! I suspect that you have more seperation anxiety than him. Yes, it may take him a few minutes after you leave to get over you, but trust me, he will! :) The nursery staff are used to dealing with this and at first you can stay a little while with him until he gets to know the staff and then leave him for half a session say and before you know it he will not want to leave with you! I know it's hard to watch him cry as you leave, but honestly, it will be good for him to interact with others of the same age in the long run and he will soon be distracted. Good luck.

Betti, have you tried looking at the Fairy Godmothers (Dubai) Club on Facebook?

Dear Betti Having read your post i feel the child is not really the one with the issue here that needs resolving, you need to look deeper into the issue.