Last Updated on April 4, 2024

Nursery offers many benefits for your child, some of which include teaching them how to share, getting them used to having adults that aren’t their parents take care of them, and as they get older, preparing them for school.

However, starting nursery can cause mixed emotions for children and parents.

Some children will be ready to start, and will confidently enter nursery from day one.

Other children may be more hesitant, and cry many times at nursery drop off.

As parents, we may worry that our child isn’t settling into nursery, and we may doubt the decision we’ve made about getting them to start nursery.

To help deal with these emotions, and make the transition a positive one for everyone involved, here are some tips on how to prepare your child for nursery.

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Talk about nursery in a positive way

Talking to older children about nursery in a positive way before they start, will allow them to have positive associations with it, which will help them adjust better.

You can talk about how much fun they’ll have, the friends they’ll make, and the toys they’ll play with.

Whenever you talk about nursery, always be positive because children pick up on our emotions, so the more positive you are, the more positive they’ll be.

Attend some settling in sessions

One of the best ways to prepare your child for nursery, no matter how old they are, is to attend settling in sessions.

Settling in sessions is something that many nurseries offer, and comprise of small periods of time over a few days where you take your child to nursery so they can play with other children, and get used to their new surroundings.

You may be required to stay for the first couple of settling in sessions so you can ask the nursery staff questions, and be there if your child needs you.

Then for the last session you may be asked to leave, so your child gets used to their new surroundings without you.

During these sessions it’s worthwhile asking the nursery staff what routines they have in place, and what skills your child needs to know before they start, so you can implement the routines at home, and teach your child the skills they need.

Read books about nursery

Another great tip on how to prepare your child for nursery is to read books about nursery with them, so they can understand what nursery is about.

Some nursery themed books that you may like to read include:

• Peppa Pig: George’s First Day at Playgroup.
• I’m Starting Nursery: Helping Children Start Nursery, by Campbell Books.
• Let’s Go to Nursery! by Caryl Hart.
• Maisy Goes to Nursery, by Lucy Cousins.
• I’m Starting Nursery: A Pirate Pete Book, by Amanda Li.

For older children, ask them questions about the book, ask them how they feel about starting nursery, and what they think their favourite thing about nursery will be.

Get them to start playing independently

Getting your child to start playing independently before they start nursery is a great way to boost their confidence, and get them to practice meeting their own needs, and solving their own problems.

Nursery staff are fantastic at helping your child, but there will be times when your child will have to play on their own when they’re helping other children.

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Get others to look after your child

Leave your child with other adults before they start nursery, so they can get used to being cared for by someone apart from their parents.

This can include asking family members to come over for a small period of time to care for your child, whilst you leave the house, or are out of sight.

If family help isn’t available to you, look at hiring a babysitter for a few hours each fortnight, so your child gets used to having someone else care for them.

Start doing this in small amounts of time, then gradually build up to whole mornings or afternoons, so your child gets used to you not helping them with everything.

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Get social

When your child starts nursery they’ll be playing with a lot of other children, which for children born during the pandemic, or only children, may be scary because they lost a lot of opportunities to play with other children during lockdown.

To help get your child used to playing with others, have as many playdates as possible prior to starting nursery.

If you don’t know anyone with children your child’s age, then take them to places where other children will be, take some classes, or visit a local baby or toddler playgroup, so your child can get used to playing with unfamiliar children.

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Introduce small tasks

If your child is 3 or older when they start nursery, they’ll probably start doing small tasks at nursery like putting toys away, or putting their water bottle in their bag.

To help them do this, start to introduce small tasks at home so they practice doing these types of things, which will make them more confident when they do it at nursery.

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Have a goodbye plan

Dropping your child off at nursery isn’t always pleasant, so it’s important that you have a goodbye plan.

The best thing to do, no matter your child’s emotions, is to leave as quickly and positively as you can.

This means not lingering, and being firm. For example, say “goodbye, have fun today, I’ll see you soon” then walk away, even if they’re screaming.

From personal experience, it’s the days where my children scream at drop off and where I feel the worst for leaving them, that they have their best days.

Be firm, stay strong, and know that you’re doing the best for your child, and yourself.

I hope you’ve found some tips on how to prepare your child for nursery that will make the transition a positive one for you and your child.

What’s been your experience with your child starting nursery?
I’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.