Would I be cruel to take him out of playschool?

[Novacane]

I'm having a bit of a dilema and don't know what to do!

DS (3.2) has been going to playschool since Oct last year- he took a while to settle in as he had pneumonia just after he started and was off till after chrimbo. But he settled in and all was hunky dory.

I adore his key worker and he adores her too, but i'm not too sure about the other two that work there, you know when you just can't put your finger on it. There have been a couple of times he has come out when his key worker has not been there and his lunch hasn't been eaten, packets not opened etc.

I have learnt today that his key worker is leaving in Sept to join another playschool in the town, and am devastated. We have recently moved house to the next town, so getting to playschool is now a chore, travelling backwards and forwards etc, but I have kept it up for obvious reasons.

I have other issues with social anxiety myself and do like the other Mums etc, but don't really feel a part of it IYSWIM. Or am I just making excuses.

I love the fact he has a routine there now though, and even though he sometimes doesn't want to go and cries when I leave, he does seem to enjoy it generally.

Would I be cruel to pull him out and take him to a playschool nearer home that we can walk to given the circumstances outlined above? I really don't know if it's just me being selfish and wanting to make life easier for me as he would have to settle in again, new place etc etc

What do you think?

[ejt1764]

I'd move him to the playschool closer to where you live now - especially if ds will be going to school in the same area - he's more likely to make friends who will be going to school with him.

I changed my DS's childcare arrangements just before his 3rd birthday (lots of reasons - including his keyworker leaving!) - and it was really good for him, as he started to mix with the children who were going to be at the same school as him.

Good luck!

[lovemybed]

does sound like you have never really been happy about the other 2 so i dont think you are making up excuses.

i think that mums intuiton (sp?) is a very strong thing and we do usually have a pretty good idea about what is right for our children.

if getting to the nursery really is a chore then i would move him, he is young enough to just "slot in" at another nursery and hopefully that would be a end to all your problems.

out of interest have you ever asked the staff why his lunch has not been eaten on the days mentioned or why his packets have not been opened for him?

[Novacane]

Lovemybed, I haven't. no. My DS is a very fussy eater and I have just never thought about it really- it was DP that brought it up tonight as a concern as he sometimes picks him up from playschool. DP pretty much leaves childcare type decisions to me so for him to raise a concern must mean he is concerned IYSWIM!

[lovemybed]

if he is a fussy eater then that could explain it, but come september this will be a bigger worry for you when his key worker leaves and you will have the anxiety of leving him with people who you dont feel comfortable with.

it wont hurt to even just start looking for new places, you might come across one that you fall in love with right away.