My Child’s Preschool Confidence: The Changes I’ve Noticed Over Time

Meet Maddy, a mother and valued member of our fantastic Parent Panel*; a diverse community of Bright Horizons parents sharing their experiences of raising happy, thriving and confident children. In this blog, Maddy shares how preschool has supported her child’s confidence.
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When my son first started nursery, confidence was the last word I would have used to describe him.

In fact, the early days were incredibly difficult.

Like many nurseries, our setting offered three standard settling sessions to help children adjust to the new environment. For most families, that might be enough time for their child to begin feeling comfortable. For my son, it wasn’t even close. Some days, he struggled to stay for even an hour.

Navigating a stressful start

As a parent, this was such a stressful time. Not only was I returning to work, but my little one wasn’t settling into nursery either. Nursery is meant to be full of play, discovery and new friendships, yet in those early weeks it felt as though we were asking too much of him.

What happened next, though, showed me just how special our nursery really was.

Nursery took time to understand

Recognising that my boy needed more time, the team offered us additional settling sessions, completely free of charge. There was no pressure and no sense that he needed to “just get on with it”. Instead, the focus was on understanding him; his personality, his needs, and how best to support him.

That was the moment I realised we weren’t just part of a childcare setting. We were part of a nursery that genuinely cared about each child as an individual.

Working together to support development

My child’s journey has also included delayed physical development, which meant nursery support became even more important. Our physiotherapist worked closely with the nursery team, attending sessions and collaborating with his key worker so they could fully understand how to support him.

Together, they created protected time during the nursery day for my son to complete his exercises. These weren’t treated as something separate or clinical. Instead, they became part of his normal routine, woven naturally into his day alongside play and learning.

Reassurance through collaboration

For me as a parent, that level of collaboration was incredibly reassuring. It meant the support my little one needed wasn’t limited to appointments outside nursery. It became part of the environment where he was already learning and growing.

Watching confidence take shape

Slowly, something began to change. The child who once struggled to stay for an hour began staying for longer. Tears at drop‑off became less frequent. Hesitation started to fade.

Then one day, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before: excitement.

My son began walking into nursery with curiosity instead of worry. He started exploring activities independently, grew comfortable with his key workers, and began engaging with other children.

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a big, obvious moment. Sometimes it grows quietly in the background until one day you realise just how far your child has come. Now, nursery is one of my son’s favourite places to be.

Watching that transformation has been incredibly emotional. The early days were full of doubt; wondering whether he would ever truly settle, and whether nursery was the right place for him. But confidence takes time. For some children, it also takes a little more patience, understanding and support.

The foundations that made the difference

Thanks to a nursery team that recognised my little one’s needs and worked alongside us to meet them, he has grown into a child who now approaches nursery life with joy and curiosity.

Looking back, I realise those extra settling sessions, the collaboration with his physiotherapist, and the consistent support from his key workers were not small things. They were the foundation that allowed his confidence to grow.

Sometimes, that is exactly what children need. Not pressure to adapt quickly, but the space and support to grow at their own pace.