Introducing Your Toddler to the Nursery
LDS parents just love it when their children turn eighteen months old and can begin attending the Primary nursery. Finally, they get to sit through a class uninterrupted--maybe! The secret is in the preparation. The better your child is prepared for the first day, the better your chances are of not being called back to help your child.
Preparation actually begins long before the important day. Your child needs to learn to go to the nursery without you. This is easier if he is already used to being away from you. Make an effort to leave your child with sitters regularly so that he will be used to the idea that you go away, but always come back. Try to avoid sneaking out, which leads to mistrust. Instead, tell your child that you are leaving now, but that you will be back later. Even though he is more likely to cry, he will soon learn that you keep your promises.
Find out who the nursery leaders are. Several months before the big day, begin introducing your child to these leaders. Talk with them in the halls. Invite them to your home. The better your child knows them, the happier he will be to stay with them in the nursery. If possible, let them hold your child regularly, so that he learns to feel safe with them. Of course, this being our church, those leaders might well be released the very day your child enters the nursery, but every exposure to other adults will help. 
In the nursery, your child will receive his first structured learning. There will be prayers, a brief lesson, songs and organized games, as well as free play. You can prepare your child for all of these things. Read to him often, and help him practice sitting quietly during family home evening lessons and family scripture study. Teach him some of the Primary songs. (The nursery leaders can suggest which songs he should know.) Let him take a turn saying prayers with help. In addition, give him opportunities to play with other children and to play alone. If you entertain him all the time, he will not be able to handle being ignored for a short time in a busy nursery. Finally, teach him to wait. Sometimes when he wants something in the nursery, he will have to wait to get it, or even to get attention. If he has had practice doing this, he won't be upset when the nursery leaders are busy.
Talk to the nursery leaders about a month before your child enters the nursery to find out how they would like you to introduce him. You shouldn't leave him prior to the official start date, but many nursery leaders welcome short visits with your child, so that he can see what happens in the nursery. Find out what the typical schedule is. Begin telling your child what will happen in the nursery. Present it in a positive light and sound cheerful.
When the first day arrives, bring your child to the nursery and settle him with a toy. If he has friends in the nursery, put him with his friends. Once he is occupied, tell him firmly but gently that you are leaving and will return in two hours. Then leave. Don’t come back, don’t peek in the door and don’t worry. He might well cry, but he will stop eventually. The children who know their parents will be gone until the end of class stop crying the soonest. The leaders know how to help your child.
I always asked my children’s leaders not to bring them to me if they cried. If they were brought to me even once, they knew they could manipulate the leaders and they would never stay. If the leaders were uncomfortable with that, I asked another adult to stay and take charge of them. One ward called an elderly woman to serve as baby holder. Her entire calling consisted of sitting in a rocking chair holding crying babies. The babies loved her, and she was skilled at eventually integrating them into the regular class. This freed the leaders to teach the other children. However, you can probably find your own baby holder.
Going to the nursery is a big step. It is your child’s first church class and will help him to decide how he feels about church attendance.