The Benefits of Booking Your Child into Nursery or Day Care

Some parents may feel guilty about sending their young child to nursery, concerned that it might not be the best environment for their child to flourish in. However, research has shown that there are many benefits to children attending regular day care in the preschool years. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal choice, but if you are in the process of deciding whether childcare outside the home is an option for your child, you might like to consider these advantages.

Social and Communication Skills

At nursery, your child will have the opportunity from the outset to play and begin to learn as part of a wider group. This can help develop self-confidence and making new friends will help his or her self-esteem. Your child will begin to learn to share toys and take turns in games too; as well as meeting and learning to communicate with adults other than their own parents. With a wider circle of people to mix with, your child’s communication skills will improve too.

Preparation for School Life

With these better social skills, your child will be ready when it’s time to start school to mix with a wide range of other children. More than that, they will be accustomed to a routine, and to the learning environment, so are more likely to settle quicker in the classroom. Having spent time at nursery with grown-ups other than their own parents, children will relate to new adults, like their teachers, better than if they had not had this experience. Nursery will also reinforce good habits and good behaviours introduced at home, like potty training, eating with a knife and fork, washing hands, tidying toys, and sharing and taking turns, for instance.

Encouraging an Active Lifestyle

Introducing activity to a young child’s life at an early stage is more likely to result in them staying active in later childhood. Nursery promotes plenty of opportunities for playing indoors and outdoors, in an environment that can be hard to recreate at home. Additionally, activities like running, jumping, climbing, playing with a ball and so on can help develop gross and fine motor skills.

Opportunities for Learning, Imaginative and Messy Play

Day nurseries are expected to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which offers structured learning and care for the under-fives. Good nurseries put a lot of thought and care into planning a huge range of fun and educational activities for their children which can aid their development. They also have more space and resources to introduce messy activities including water, sand, paint and glue than you might have the time or the patience for at home! 

If you would like a taster of the kinds of things your child will get up to at nursery, why not come to view our little community at Twinkle Toes Day Nursery and Preschool? As well as sessions for children up to the age of five, we also run day nurserys for older children of school age up to 12 years.