Moderator
Can I just point out there is a world of difference between kindergarten and childcare. Kindergarten is an important step prior to school. It is part of a child's education, taught by a teacher qualified with a Bachelor of Education. It is not child-minding.
Registered User
It depends on the kindergarten though N2L. I pulled DS2 out of his prior to school because he hated it and the way it was run, there was no education and all free play. I could, and did, prepare him better for school myself and he has not suffered from his lack of pre school "education".
However the twins' daycare is a fabulous educational establishment, despite it being a childcare centre rather than a kinder. They have really begrown whilst being there but I still would not have sent them if I didn't have to in order to attend uni.
Moderator
Sorry he had such a bad experience Trav. Don't let it put you off! If you want to know of some good kinders in your area PM me. My mum knows who's who down your way
Registered User
Thanks N2L that's very kind, but I am going to have no choice but to leave them in childcare until school because of uni. But they're learning so much there I'm pretty happy with the placement. Hopefully their teachers will not change jobs in the next years and a half
2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
I wouldn't send my children to daycare for that reason N2L. The daycare here is just supervised play, the kindergarten is mentally stimulating and the children's interests are nurtured and expanded. But I think kindy in NZ starts a lot earlier than Australia?? Here they go to kindy usually from 3-5 then start school.
So I guess back to the original question, I wouldn't send them to daycare just for social interaction because we have the kiddie groups for that. I sent him to kindy because he needed more stimulation than the was getting at home, the social side was an added (but fantastic) benefit iykwim.
Registered User
And can I also point out that daycare staff really don't like being labelled as child minders - when there are alot of us who provide very educational programs too. It is quite offensive to quality workers if you actually observed the time and skill that goes into quality programs to be then considered nothing more than child-minders. Sorry, but that one really gets under my skin.
Off topic but I had a 'teacher' in my centre recently observing my group leader running our pre prep program - who does not have the correct piece of paper - she said to me 'you don't need a teacher to run this, you already are'.
As are there some kinders who have a bachelor qualified teacher, yet provide poor standards of programs.
Everyone can't be tarred with the same brush - do some investigating and only make any decision based on how you and your child feels and don't feel pushed by anyone else.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
I don't think it's bad not to, no. There's plenty of other ways to get the same thing.
My DS is in daycare 2 days a week - intitally it was because I was working, then to have a break, and now simply because he enjoys it (I don't get a break now since DD came along).
I find it interesting when people fret about 'socialising' their kids, when really all they need to do is interact with them.
Moderator
Respectfully Ausgirl, a Bachelor of Education is more than "a piece of paper".
Registered User
i really don't think it's that bad not to send your child. it's entirely your choice & depends on your feelings, situation & your child.
i think i'm the only one of the playgroup i go to that doesn't use either day care or occasional care (most of them go for one 3 hour session a week). i hear alot about the socialisation aspect but i feel that DS gets lots of socialisation & stimulation - each week we go to playgroup, a music playgroup & he has a swimming lesson. on top of that we usually visit all grandparents & have some playdates as well & that if i were to send him it would be for a break - more for me than for him. which is cool, we're just not there yet.
if things work for your family, then it's all good
Registered User
No I do not think it is a bad thing at all.
None of my children have gone to daycare, not that there is anything wrong I didn't see it as necessary.
They have always been socialised I didn't think I had to send them to DC for that.
The older four all adjusted very well when they started kindy the year they turned 4.
Each family and child is different so make your decision on your family not on what others say.
Registered User
Totally agree - it is years of hard work, as are the qualifications that childcare staff have - just not as many years. Have you ever looked into the legal requirments for document keeping and programming in childcare (in Queensland anyway)? Don't want to turn this thread into something it's not meant to be - however I feel so strongly about when people don't understand what we do that I just couldn't leave the baby sitting comment alone.
Registered User
firstly, thank you EVERYONE for your lovely posts. i honestly appreciate all the feedback, it's been brilliant. every family is different i totally agree so we decided to take DD out of day care for now. it's been a couple of weeks and she's a totally different child. i honestly can't believe the difference in her. it seems really strange that she could go from a very naughty little girl to someone really well behaved, loving time with her brother and sharing/being kind to him. i am sort of in shock in a way and our relationship as mum and daughter is much better. she's not tired (although in the first week back home she was sleeping 3 hours in the day) so she's back to sleeping around 1.5hours now. we all are very healthy too, sure we'll pick things up when we're out but the kids have much more energy and so do we, we had all been very ill since february. i'm just so happy having her at home now with me every day and sort of wonder whether she was completely ready? she hasn't asked after day care but when i ask if she'd like to go, she tells me she wants to stay home with us. i just want to make sure she's not missing out on anything so we've joined a play group and we do visit friends through the week with children, do playgrounds, crafts at home etc. i just wanted to say again, thanks so much for listening to my rants over the last few months. i think the decision has been a great one. xxx
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