A Great Idea of How to Get Your Toddler to Stay in Nursery By Herself
Brooke has a wonderful time in nursery. She loves eating the snacks, singing the songs, coloring the pictures, playing with the toys, seeing friends, and popping bubbles at the end. The problem is she only loves these things if Mom or Dad is in nursery with her. The second we try to leave, nursery turns into an unbearable place and Brooke’s uncontrollable screaming can be heard echoing through all the halls.
I didn’t mind staying in nursery with her at first. I would stay for the first hour and Dallas took over for the second hour. However, with Baby Girl #2 on her way (and yes, at this point that is her name), I feel a sense of urgency to get Brooke to become more independent.
That’s when inspiration struck.
Brooke is a quick learner, especially when we explicitly show her exactly what to do. I decided to create a diorama of nursery. I used an old box to make the nursery room and Dallas printed pictures off of Brooke and her friends and us.
We unveiled the masterpiece at Family Home Evening.
Here’s Brooke with her friends:
Mom and Dad DO NOT go in nursery. This is a phrase we said at least 100 times.
Snack time!
Moving the table out and adding the blanket for singing time:
Bubbles at the end!
Throughout the week, we often pulled out our miniature nursery and Brooke practiced playing happily with her friends WITHOUT Mom and Dad in nursery with her.
It’s been two weeks since we introduced the play nursery to Brooke. It’s been two weeks that we’ve been drilling it into her head that Mom and Dad do not go in nursery with her. Has it worked either week?
Not one bit.
ARRRRGGGG!
May 17, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Wow, that is inspired. You don’t have much time to help her become independent. And if you don’t ween her off you guys, she might bump up the neediness to compete with baby girl #2. I’ll pray for you.
May 17, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
OH my gosh, that is too cute!! hahaha….I can’t believe it didn’t work! Love it
May 18, 2009 @ 8:08 am
That nursery set-up is the cutest thing ever. Too bad it’s not working. Look on the bright side–at least Brooke loves playing with the new toys you created for her.
May 19, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
LOL 🙂 I am so comforted to know that I’m not the only one whose brilliant ideas fall through. Good luck, and we understand!
May 21, 2009 @ 10:17 am
That is such a good idea I am surprised it didn’t work. But it does make me feel better that I am not the only one in the ward with a difficult child. Dallas has seen Cora in Sunday School and sometimes it is not pretty.
May 26, 2009 @ 9:56 am
WOW!!! What a great FHE/”Nursery Training” idea!!! You are so very creative 🙂