reassurance please!

[blake12336]

Hello, my toddler used to come to my nursery where he would be in a different room with children his own age. It was a lovely nursery however we moved due to being offered a higher wage and free childcare. Our new nursery is only one big room and all the ages are mixed. Plus I am with LO all day.

Is this going to affect my little ones development with him not being with children his own age?

It's really worrying me that I've done the wrong thing moving, also as the new nursery has a loose 'child led' routine, whereas his old nursery had a stricter routine which suited him well.

Argh please reassure me

 

[Noodlebear]

Plenty of kids don't even go to nursery at your LO's age (or at all!), many will go to a childminder where there will be fewer children and they could be any age and many will go to nurseries with a similar set up to what you're describing. I don't think you need to worry at all. If your LO has settled into his own routine well surely that will be picked up on at this nursery if it's 'child led'?

 

[Beanonorder]

I don't see it being an issue mixing with different ages. My LO doesn't go to preschool but she has playdates with children of different ages all the time. She also goes to a music and movement class for kids aged 9 months to 3 years and I think all the different ages are good for her.
I think you've made a good move and things will settle soon! Don't questions yourself!

 

[sevenofnine]

I never really understood the idea that it's good for a child's development to be with kids his own age. While it's certainly great to have kids to play with and learn from, I would imagine that being with a variety of ages and mindsets would be more beneficial.

Older children can help your child grow in ways that a child their own age simply cannot. I would imagine it's actually a good thing that will lead to a more well - rounded kid.

 

[seoj]

Just do what suits you and LO best hun- plenty of kids don't even go to daycare/school till they are older and do just fine. Others have older siblings and that actually can encourage them to try things they might not otherwise. My LO does great in her small day care class with other kids her age- but hangs around kids older/younger outside of that. She only goes 2 half days anyway. The rest of the time she's home with MIL or myself/hubby and her older sister (who's 16).

Eventually all kids are in school with kids their own age- prior to that, it's about what works for you and LO. I know plenty of kids that learned a LOT in daycare, others at home, others at in home daycares with kids of all ages... There is no one size fits all

 

[Rags]

Personally I don't believe young children should only mix with their own age group. I feel that one of the best ways for them to learn empathy, sharing, responsibility and any number of other positive traits is to go through phases of being the youngest and eventualy the oldest within their environment.

 

[FAB mama]

I agree with the others. I don't see a problem with it at all. It's great for him to be with children of different ages. He can learn from the older ones and learn to be especially nice to and careful around little ones. I wish my son was around more kids of any age, but I stay home with him so we don't get too many opportunities right now.

 

[blake12336]

Thanks everyone for putting my mind at rest. I've always worked in nurseries where the age groups are split up, so this is the only time he's been in contact with children older than him really. But now I can see the benefits in it and don't understand why I got myself so worked up!