We started @ 9 months. eased into it - I went with him for a few hours for the first couple of days. He's now 15months and there's a boy he plays with all the time, and another boy he steals toys off all the time ... He loves it, big smile when we drive there in the morning.
For us, its great, but that's because we found a centre that aligned with our values and is smaller (council-run) and he's thriving there.
Started at 22 months, because of study, two days a week. Started out with half days to get him used to the kids and carers and was going to leave it at that till I realised I needed more study time. So, now it's two full days.
At the start he didn't like it, because I would leave and that was natural enough. That's why it was only for 3 hours max at a time to begin with.
For a while longer he was happy when there but hated going and would cry for about 2 mins after I left and wouldn't sleep there. Now he doesn't mind going and will rattle off the names of the kids there on the way. They interact but I don't think he plays well WITH other kids, they just happen to be there playing the same things. There's one kid that he'll 'pat', but all the kids pat this kid!
I have to say that as far as socialisation, he was getting this anyway from my local ABA group (Booby Club) and the families from my fire brigade, so I can't credit CC with that.
Also, if it weren't for uni, I wouldn't send him to CC, but that's also because he has a grandmother living around the corner who can have him two afternoons a week to let me do some things.
It's a fantastic centre that is very child-centred (I know, they should all be, but we know they're not), and benefits immeasurably from being in the university and close to up to date research on child development.
Children learn the best socialisation from adults in their environment - they observe and model us, our conventions and patterns. This is how they learn to converse, take turns in conversation, 'manners' etc. Children who are sling-worn and carried pick up on these things sooner because they're closer to the action and included in these interactions
Children learn conventions for interaction, or socialisation skills, from about 3 onwards - as in, when they hit someone, other kids will implement consequences, they start to enforce 'sharing', demonstrate true contrition when they cause upset to another in their social environment. This is what is meant by socialisation, I'm pretty sure - peer influenced behaviour when it a group situation. Playing 'with' and around other kids affects how they play and interact at a younger age, it's just not important at a younger age in a childcare setting - playgroups and other interactions where the parents are present with the kids is a lot more important, if you can afford to (time-wise, if you're not working), or can access these avenues.
If you don't have to use childcare at this young age, then don't worry about it, no matter what anyone says about the advantages. There are far more advantages to being with your child than separating yourself from her at this stage of her life, if you are in the position to
Olivia was 14 months when she started 2 days of CC, because I was pg with Charlie. She loved it from day dot.
Charlie was 12 months when he started 2 days of CC, because I was pg with Lexie, and he too loved it straight away.
Lexie started at 6 months, for 2 days a week, when I went to work part time, 2 days a week. She too loves it.
I am lucky in that I found a child care centre that I am totally happy with.
I did fret at first, but only for the first day or two. Now childcare for two days a week is firmly entrenched into our families routine, we are all totally comfortable with it.
It varies so so much on child and circumstances, it really does. You have to chose what is right for you and your family situation, budget, circumstances and maternal gut feel.
Thank you so much for your inputs. (I was out of internet for 3 days and was so desperate so hear the feedbacks!) Finally...
After having heard from some of you, I have that I will leave out the worries for DD's socialization since she is far too young for that at her age. Putting her in a CC will most likely create a sense of fear as she clings to me for everything at the moment. Also to mention, since I'm pregnant with number 2 and not going to work, I should take this time and enjoy DD and spend as much as time cuddling her since she won't be getting all my attention when number 2 arrives. I realize that I would fret leaving her in CC and having to hear her cry would absolutely tear my heart away.
I will most likely try some playgroups in the area hopefully that way she and I would get some outside activities. Perhaps, once a week would be sufficient to start and slowly she will be adapted to our world of socialization.
At the moment, my priority is DD. Like many of your suggestion, she is a bit too young for CC unless is necessary in which isn't my case. So, I will dedicate the few months to her since I've got nothing else but a housewife and mommy chores. When I do need some time off, my parents are always available.
Good on you, Carmen Definitely, if you have parents around who like having her, make the most of them!
My parents moved away to a country town, but my MIL is around the corner and she's an invaluable resource. She knows it, and she loves it - gives her time to smell the roses because she's busy doing volunteer work during the week. Plus, it's time DS will be grateful for when he's older and she's not around anymore Whereas, he won't be grateful about CC, he'll be grateful that I found a great CC and that it wasn't every day, but not that I sent him, per se IYKWIM.
Anyway, you enjoy DD whilst she's just her, because you're all going to change roles when baby comes along!
Yay Carmen - in your first post, to me it sounded like you were feeling pressure from people around you to put your DD into cc as a way of fixing her "clinginess", and this made me sad because it just didn't sound like it was something that you wanted to do. So I was very happy to read that you've decided not to go down that path just yet. Especially as the next few months will be such exciting developing times for her, as she learns to really move around & talk even more than she maybe already is.
Other ideas for socialisation - we go to a music class once a week, called Mini Maestros, which my DS just loves. Some people go to Gymbaroo (which I think is physical activity & music). These cost a little bit of money, but for us it's been worthwhile. We also have a play centre close by, which isn't a formal meeting as such, but still lets the kids see & play with other kids, and I find that I can usually strike up a conversation with other mums (and dads sometimes) that are there. Also, your local library will quite often run book reading sessions for little kids, and these are free - another place to see more kids.
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