Don't forget the kitchen sink.....

I don’t know about you, but getting ready to go to nursery is my favourite part of the week. So stress and tension free. Never a cross word about getting dressed. Always a healthy hearty breakfast consumed with a smile. And out the door with plenty of time to spare we skip.

Nah. Me neither. But recently, there’s been an interesting development on the hell-that-is-Tuesday-and-Friday-mornings front. My darling little boy has developed a liking for taking things with him to nursery. I think the first ever thing he took was a toy. And it got taken up as an objet d’art in Show and Tell.


And so now he has the bug. Each morning before we set off he casts around for something new to take.

And it’s not just one thing anymore. It’s like the generation game, complete with cuddly toy.

I don’t know if I should be encouraging this, or if it is strictly speaking, allowed.

But I actually share his sense of surreal elation at taking the swag bag to the pre-school room.

Last time we arrived at the door with a carrier bulging with:

* Buzz Lightyear toy

* Photograph of a digger

* Swimming certificate

* Dominoes

We did get a titter from the carer who met us at the door, but she didn’t appear to disapprove.

It reminds me, a little, of my friend whose twins insist on wearing fancy dress to nursery. And I like this. There will be plenty of time for uniforms and name tags and rules and regulations when they go to school.

And, while there’s an argument for getting them ready for that, and for that matter being a sensible and perfect parent, I totally embrace wacky anything goes-ness at nursery. It goes back to the whole mantra: If he’s happy, I’m happy. And if we’re getting into a routine of going off into the big wide world with a smile instead of a frown, then surely that’s the best preparation for school there can be.