The New Year is fast approaching and with it comes advancement in Primary. If you have a child in the nursery you may be thinking about him moving up. But what happens to those children who miss the cutoff by a few days or weeks. It can be a difficult transition for them to see their friends move up while they are left with the “babies” in nursery. Here are a few tips to help you get through this difficult time.
1) You should continue to have your child attend nursery. This struggle may be an ongoing one, but you may discover that after a few weeks you child adjusts and enjoys his position as being the biggest kids in the class. It is important to have your child realize how important Primary is, by having him continue to attend. (Nursery is optional, and you may decide after several weeks to try another approach. Often a visit to Sunday school for a week can make Nursery much more appealing.)
2) If a child is missing the playtime with a particular friend or two, you may consider setting up play dates so that they can continue to be friends. It is difficult when friends are in different Primary classes and the only association is at church. The friends that your child makes at church can influence them over their lifetime.
3) Consider talking to the Nursery leader to see if there is anything that she can do to help the situation. You may talk to your child about helping the nursery leader out in some way. This could be by being a good example, helping to pass out papers or crayons or by playing nicely with the littler kids. If the leader makes it a point to praise the child for her help, it may make the situation a more positive one.
Related Articles:
Primary Time: Making the Transition from Nursery to Primary
Primary Time: Dealing with Nursery Problems
Primary Time: My Child Won’t Go to Nursery