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what does a 2 year old "learn" at nursery?

kiwispiers15400

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 12:37

We have decided not to send DS (now 17 months) to nursery until after he is 3. I'm happy with this decision and I'm making sure he has lots of social contact with other kids via playdates, playground, playgroups etc.

Am interested to know though for those of you with 2-3 year olds at nursery (or younger), outside of enjoying being with other kids what benefits do you feel they are getting?. I don't mean this in a contentious "there are no benefits" kind of way, I just want to make sure that I can attempt to give DS the same benefits at home or through "mummy and me" type classes if that makes sense.

I'm interested in more than just academic stuff (numbers, colours, alphabet) although I would like to hear about that too. What is your child's favourite activity at nursery, what things does he/she have access to that you don't have at home, do the nurseries actively teach social skills, physical skills etc and what methods do they use to do so?

any input appreciated

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kiwispiers15400

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Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 09:33

I'm in Doha so not sure I can help, but we "borrow" ours from a friend who she works full-time for. ;)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 08:26

I hear you parkernz, I now have a nanny who comes and plays with DS for 3 hours one afternoon a week and I def think the break does us both good, plus I like the idea of him bonding with another caregiver (more like the extended family we should live in). How does this tidy-up song go? am working on the put-away jingle right now ;) Hi Kiwi where do you get a Nanny from for 3 hours per week? sounds like something that could be useful, can you rcmd someone?

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Latest post on 11 January 2012 - 07:58

Ladies, all the activities you talk about sound super-exciting! cant wait for Baby#1 to do all these fun things. Im wondering however if any of you are working moms, and if so, how do you manage to squeeze in home-school/play time with the tots?

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Latest post on 10 January 2012 - 14:23

yeah we have two afternoons a week of a small playgroup with the same kids, plus playdates with those same kids (and some of them at the playground each day as they are in my compound) so I guess he gets that now, but [b'>might become trickier if some of those kids start to go to nursery instead[/b'>. I had that concern with my son...he was at home until he started FS2 when he was four and a half and so often at bigger playgroups he was the oldest child here. I was fortunate though and found a small group of mums with children the same age and we organised a playgroup together. Each week a different mum would prepare, provide and 'teach' an activity for the children. We made pizzas and ate them for lunch together; played with real dough and made shapes to bake then paint and keep as ornaments; cut pictures from old magazines & did themed collages (the child would choose a colour or a shape or animals etc); made placemats; did basic origami; water play in a splash pool with heaps of different shape and volume containers; wet on wet watercolour painting so they could see the colours combine and make new colours etc etc. The children learnt sharing, taking turns, listening as a group, routines etc...all in a slightly different way to all of that one-on-one at home. To be honest, I think that's the only thing my girls have gotten from daycare over the last year that they would not have gotten from staying home...learning from different adults with different teaching styles. I miss those years with my son and wish I was able to do the same for my girls. :( <em>edited by Green-ish on 10/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 21:56

yeah we have two afternoons a week of a small playgroup with the same kids, plus playdates with those same kids (and some of them at the playground each day as they are in my compound) so I guess he gets that now, but might become trickier if some of those kids start to go to nursery instead. Hiya kiwispiers I didn't send my son to nursery or school until fs1 he turned 3 in the January and started the following September. We did what you're doing with play dates etc. when he went to school there was no crying and he wasn't academically any different to kids who were in nursery from a young age. His teacher used to comment on how emotionally more mature he was compared to other kids in the class. He loved school then and now. I truly believe that they're only little for such a short time before they have to go into formal education that keeping them home is a luxury.

kiwispiers15400

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 16:53

yeah we have two afternoons a week of a small playgroup with the same kids, plus playdates with those same kids (and some of them at the playground each day as they are in my compound) so I guess he gets that now, but might become trickier if some of those kids start to go to nursery instead.

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 16:35

Our DS goes to nursery in the mornings, and is loving it. In all fairness, it also gives me a break and brings structure to our day. So I agree what has been said below, try to build some routine and set some timings, e.g. when you get up, when you start your first activity, when is lunch etc. One of the big advantages for us also is that our DS is learning English, as we are Dutch speaking, and it would feel strange for me to talk English to him at certain time frames (also don't think this is the best way forward). What is also nice is now that he is been in nursery for a couple of months, he is really starting to know the other kids and asking about them. If you "fixed friends" this problem is solved, but playgrounds etc is always other kids (which is also a good experience btw, just a different one) Finally, make sure you also give them a lot of physical activity: go swimming, visit (an indoor) playground, perhaps get a trampoline. It's amazing to see how they develop and how strong their bodies are!

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 15:25

To me it's mostly social skills: playing with others, sharing toys, stand for themselves. I don't think at that age the "academic" development is important or needs to be a focus. Social development is "available" in playgroups. It's just less frequent and therefore less impactful. Also, the groups change and it may be difficult for LO to develop deeper social relationship outside home. Being disciplined (sitting still when needed, listening to other children, helping each other out) will be an "unknown variable" at playgroups - it depends on parents and children mix. In nursery there is learning focus on how to treat each other and how to become a good contributor to the group. I'm personally a firm believer in bringing LO-s to nurseries as soon as they are ready, but think that it's also not a big deal if they miss it.

Hello.Again.Kitty

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 14:04

I started DS at nursery when he was 26 months and have actually not continued since moving. It was a lovely environment for him, but i felt was overwhelming him (and he's a confident little chap) - I noticed that although he started recognising shapes and stuff (which in fairness he was already starting to do at home), he was also developing less desirable things, like biting to get attention. He's now with a childminder for a day a week and she has 2 other little boys his age (they're building dens today!) and with me 1-on-1 every day for 3 hours while DD is at pre-school, so we go and do stuff together (that's the theory at least - it's Week 1)... the rest of the time we're all together doing stuff. DD didn't start nursery until she was 3 and wasn't at all disadvantaged. It was more about getting time apart at that stage and she was old enough to thrive with the FS1 curriculum.

kiwispiers15400

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:57

I absolutely LOVE the frozen one. Get a whole load of little toys, and freeze them inside a big block of ice, and give bubs a (child safe!) little hammer and let them bash all the toys out and play. Perfect for a warm day outside. that is such a cool idea! I love this one too http://saltthesandbox.org/ can't wait for Ds to get a little older so he can really appreciate this kind of stuff, should be a busy summer!

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:50

Take a look online, i use Pinterest a lot, and bookmark some ideas. i have literally TONES of stuff bookmarked for when little Miss is a bit older (wether we will do it all or not is another thing, mind!) For example, i dont know if you have heard of sensory tubs? I think its am American Homeschool-y kind of idea. You make a tub of stuff on a theme (underwater, dinosaurs, space, garden - literally anything) and let the little-un explore digging things out and playing with each thing. Then change the box each week. Have a look here for sensory tub ideas: http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/search/label/Sensory%20Tubs I absolutely LOVE the frozen one. Get a whole load of little toys, and freeze them inside a big block of ice, and give bubs a (child safe!) little hammer and let them bash all the toys out and play. Perfect for a warm day outside.

kiwispiers15400

2782

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:32

I hear you parkernz, I now have a nanny who comes and plays with DS for 3 hours one afternoon a week and I def think the break does us both good, plus I like the idea of him bonding with another caregiver (more like the extended family we should live in). How does this tidy-up song go? am working on the put-away jingle right now ;)

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:31

Our 16 month old puts her fists to her chest and makes monkey noises every time she see a toy monkey, a monkey on tv or hears the word monkey. That's money well spent on nursery, haha. She has learnt animal noises and names, 1,2,3 and loves the music class. Maybe Kindermusik would be a good option?

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:16

I always thought I would put my daughter in after three years also but as she started getting older I realised she might need some time away from me!! I was having second thoughts up until the moment she started (she was 2 year 4 months) but it was the best thing I ever did. She just goes three days a week from 8-12.30 and I was really happy with my choice of nursery. I was taking her on lots of playdates and a music class etc but it has just been great to see her thrive with her own independence from me. She was a social child anyway but she is so proud of herself now and she is so happy to see me when I pick her up. I dont think she has actually learnt a lot since she has been there but they do a lot of art that we dont do at home and it has also been great to see her get more grown up. When she first started she would only do her own thing, not sit on the mat and listen to a story (because she was too busy playing!) now she listen more and will take instructions better. They have also have a "tidy up" song that I now use at home to get her to pick up toys. I dont think any child will miss out they dont go to nursery and it sound like you have all the bases covered. I basically did so we could have some space from each other and I could be a better mum with more patience haha!

kiwispiers15400

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:07

Thanks HH, kind-of what I was thinking, a bit like a home-school, with lots and lots of unstructured play though. Do you do that now or are you thinking thats how you'll do it when your DD is older. We do go to a music class once a week and right now we can go to the park every day but am thinking come summer will have to get more imaginative.

kiwispiers15400

2782

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Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:04

awesome KC thats exactly the kind of info I was after, keep it coming ladies. :) I feel like its easy to get stuck doing the same stuff every day at home and without having extended family around DS is stuck with just whatever I can think of so hopefully this will help and inspire me as to new things I could possibly teach DS.

Helping_Hand50392

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:00

Hi KS, My DD is 14 months old and yes even we have made the decision not to send DD to a nursery until she's 3 plus. However a friend of mine, started both her kids when they were 18 months and I have sort of always found them to be a bit more 'independent' in a different sort of way. Hopefully by the time the kids reach their 3's the effects would have been neutralised. Saying that, I do think nursery's do offer a larger scope of activities as compared to home based ones. The kids go along with the flow and sort of get pulled into activities that they would not sort of feel inclined to at home. Helps in adding more variety and trying out different things. Okay and now coming to your point. I'd suggest to incorporate some of these - Story telling, structured and unstructured play, maybe a weekly educational outing - to the zoo, supermarket, library etc, introducing new concepts - eg one week learn about all things round and next week all things square. Also suggest to loosely draw up a timetable and follow it, like in a nursery. Saying that, see what works best for you and your LO.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 12:55

DD (13 months) absolutely LOVES the music classes at her nursery. They have a trained childrens music teacher come in and sit them all in a circle. They sing and dance (clap your hands, stomp your feet kind of stuff) and they explore instruments like xylophone, maraccas, cowbells etc. The teachers actually sent me a note to tell me how enthusiastic she was, and we bought her a set of little instruments for christmas and some baby dance CDs thats she is really enjoying. Other than that, she is a little young for academic learning, and mostly enjoys playing with her little friends, exploring outside in the garden, craft things (they do hand printing etc with them, and she will usually 'make' something every now and then). They have terrapins and fish in tanks too, and she loves watching them. Basically, nothing you couldnt organise at home/outside if you preferred to.

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