DD is having a blast. The first proper session, she was asking us to leave as she didn't want the adults there!
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DD is having a blast. The first proper session, she was asking us to leave as she didn't want the adults there!
Lovely to read about all these little munchkins finding their independent feet at kindy/kinder! Our kids are awesome :)
Yeah they're long days, she was at day care from 9-5 before that so not too new for her. Just need to get into a bit of a routine and she'll be ok. She had a good day today, with the exception of her teacher being taken to hospital in an ambulance midway through the session. I hope she's ok, they didn't give us too many details except that she probably won't be there for the rest of the week.
Goodness, PP, hope the teacher is ok. Glad your DD is enjoying herself. :)
Kinders closed this week due to the fires. ;(
DD2 is loving Kinder, she turns 5 next month & she is having a fairy party but she only has 4 other girls in her class & 12 boys....hoping they get a few more girls in her class over the year.
Chesh - D's class is the same! She already knows a few boys as their older siblings are M's friends, so she's all popular with the boys :) apparently yesterday someone (a girl) said she wanted D to be her BF but doesn't remember her name lol!
we have heaps of girls and only a handful of boys.
DD is loving kinder!! 4 hour sessions this week then 5 hours next week.
We're nut and seed free and now whole grain free :o
There is a kindy around that is fully allergen free. No nut, diary, or gluten. Ours is just nut free. DD1 is loving kindy. Starts three five hour sessions from next week.
Our kindy is only nut free.
Moo was soooo tired Friday arvo...then swimming the next morning so by Saturday night he was shattered!
Just wanted to pop in and say hi. My ds is doing 4yr old kinder thus year too. He does 3 days - tues 8.15-3, wed 1.30-4.30 and fri 8.15-1.30. The two 8.15 starts are taking some getting used to! He's loving it so far but he was there for 3yr old last year and even has the same teacher. Ours is just nut free.
Same here :(:
Miss E seems to be really enjoying kinder. Our proper hours start next week. In order to have a an activity 'free' day, we do dancing on Tuesdays at 2:15-3 and then swimming at 3:45. The last two week she has been a nightmare after these two activities. I suspect the two together is too much. I'll leave it for a couple of weeks more and see if things improve. Has anyone had older kids that had an initial tiredness that was worth working through?
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Last year my Preppie did dancing 3 days a week each lesson was 1hr long.
After the first term she was fine with it, ocassionly it was too much so skipped it on those days.
Ours is closed due to fires too :(
Kinder opened again today. DD was keen to go.
Got there bit early to pick her up, and talking to another mum out the front when DD comes out the door crying. I pick her up and cuddle her, as the kinder teacher is saying "dd, you have to come back inside". We all go in, and the teacher says "not sure if you guys have been home or what last few days, but she is out of sorts today". She then goes on to say that "dd has been quite oppositional today" ?? "don't think she ate much..." I said you should have rung me. "i wasn't sure, thought you might have appreciated the break"
I don't know anymore. This sucks.
Her fave teacher wasn't there, and there were extras due to the fires (in case of evacuation i guess) that she hadn't met before. Plus she had been at my mums for a few days. And we have a baby coming. i know all these are making things a bit confusing atm. but, i don't know if the teacher is the right one for her. each time i have met her, she has said something that has annoyed me. urgh i don't know. don't quote this cos i will probbaly delete it later.
Hot if you re not happy with the teacher, can you swap groups? You don't want/need someone who's going to break her spirit xxxx
I was thinking the same thing - can you swap groups? Poor little poppit has had an awful lot on in the past few days, so it is understandable that she may be out of sorts. I don't know what shire you are, but Macedon Ranges has just posted up information on assisting kids with dealing with anxiety, etc following the fires. There is some quite useful information in there. Have a look on their web page.
Hotl, can I suggest making a time to chat with the teacher after a session? It might give you an opportunity to clarify some of the things that have been said and to share how you would like your DD guided. IMO 'oppositional' makes me think the teacher wants complete compliance and obedience, which in my books is not quite right.
'Oppositional' is a strong word for the teacher to use. And it's a bit early to be talking like that IMO. Definitely talk to the teacher...explain what's going on with you at home (if she already knows though, she should be putting strategies in place) and ask her what she can do to support your DD.
FWIW, kids often love the first week or two of school, lull you into a false sense of security, then it all catches up to them and the settling in period starts, iykwim?
We are nut free, but there's a child in the class with quite serious allergies (to dairy and I think wheat too, maybe other stuff). The kindy is still deciding what they'll do about it, but they don't want to ban anything else.
DS was excited yesterday as they had a 'visitor' who 'said everything the teacher said, in a Chinese language'....apparently there was an ESL teacher in the class. :)
'Oppositional' is a strong word for the teacher to use. And it's a bit early to be talking like that IMO. Definitely talk to the teacher...explain what's going on with you at home (if she already knows though, she should be putting strategies in place) and ask her what she can do to support your DD.
FWIW, kids often love the first week or two of school, lull you into a false sense of security, then it all catches up to them and the settling in period starts, iykwim?
We are nut free, but there's a child in the class with quite serious allergies (to dairy and I think wheat too, maybe other stuff). The kindy is still deciding what they'll do about it, but they don't want to ban anything else.
DS was excited yesterday as they had a 'visitor' who 'said everything the teacher said, in a Chinese language'....apparently there was an ESL teacher in the class. :)
A little bit different as DD does kinder at childcare so is used to the length of days etc but does three days a week, and we do an art class and swimming on a Tuesday so can have Friday as a free day - she does get hyped up a bit on a Tuesday as loves both classes (this year is first time has done any classes apart from a term of swimming last year) and is more difficult - but I think is worth it so can have Friday free.:
That was my thought too. Teacher is aware of things happening at home. This is a community who were majorly affected by Black Saturday, not these kids but their parents and older siblings, and the effects are long lasting and you would be hope teaching stuff should be aware of potential effects.:
There is another kinder group with different teachers, and i am thinking i might go up during one of their sessions and meet the teachers, and see if i think they suit dd better. Also thinking i will send dh to observe for at least part of the kinder session on Friday.
Thanks
I know you've been busy HotI but have you had a chance to look at that other kinder group? How is DD going now?
I feel sorry for DD2, she had a week off with the fires then was back for 2 days and has had a week off kinder again being sick, she had temps and was lethargic for 3 days then now she has croup - no swimming or gymnastics today either.
She really misses her friends but if she's not better she can't go to a friends b'day party on Saturday, which she would be devastated about so I'm hoping it's all said and done after her last does of predmix today.
How is everyone else settling in?
Can I join here as well? DD2 is at kindy this year - she goes 5 days a fortnight. She absolutely loves it, and wants me to usually leave her at the gate, however I have to sign her in first! DD1 was so different last year, she wanted me to stay a little while and help her unpack her lunch box, drink bottle and piece of fruit and help put her bag away - DD2 takes her bag off me when I'm signing her in and refuses to let me help her and tells me to go! LOL
She's such an independent little thing, I'm sure she would sign herself in if she could!
Dd is loving kinder. She has a best friend apparently, and is coming home really happy and sharing lots of what she is learning. She seems to have lost the ability to control the volume of her voice though!
This is DD's 2nd week of full sessions after two 1/2 day weeks, she goes a 5 day f/n. The other two days of the week LDC as I work. She loved it at first and now is just crying the whole way, crying when separating at both school and day care, and at home - well she is just such a handful and just so out of sorts. I know she's exhausted as she has just suddenly dropped her naps, new friends/school/routine etc but please someone reassure me this will settle and I will get my happy little girl back soon.
I am starting to dread school mornings and drop off - everyone else's children just happily say goodbye and there's DD crying away, she settles within 5 minutes and has a great day but it's just really wearing me down. This morning I burst into tears as she was hysterically crying and then at afternoon pick up I felt like everyone just felt sorry for me :-(
Sorry to crash the thread, with a downer too, I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed. Guess that pretty much sums up DD too doesn't it.
DS1 is enjoying kindy, but is definitely feeling it...he's been tired and out of sorts too. Things that haven't bothered him for ages at home are bothering him again and we've had a few outbursts and meltdowns. There's a whole heap of new sensory experiences for him to process. Some he is finding obviously overwhelming, and there is a lot of newness for him to come to terms with - things he doesn't react to overtly, but probably go into his 'emotion' bucket so it's pretty full all the time. Means it's not taking much to tip him over, iykwim?
The other mums I've spoken to say their kids are tired and grumpy too. Do you think that explains the tears or is there something else going on? It's a big adjustment.
I have no idea - I've not experienced that with either dd1 or dd2, but they both dropped their naps around the age of 2 so maybe that's why? I'm not sure. There was one morning when dd2 wasn't looking forward to going but I talked about what she may be doing that day and crapped on about how awesome it is etc and she perked up. Haven't had the same problem again.
Ds1s behaviour has definitely been more challenging since kinder started. He's also had heaps going on at home. We're moving house and he's got to change kinder. So it's been a bit lot of craziness. Fortunately the new kinder I'd right near our new house and opposite the school he'll be going to do that's great for him for next year I think.
DD1 did 3 yo kinder last year and she was vile after every session. I was concerned she hated it but she was just so flat out at kinder that she was exhausted when she got home. Her attitude was pretty testy at times too.
The school holidays returned our sweet natured girl. I was actually dreading the Christmas holidays but in the end I was dreading her going back because I knew I'd miss her.
Week one brought back the grumpiness and the attitude. It's not as bad as last year and we're talking about how she's feeling. Plus we know now it's a mixture of tiredness and not wanting to leave her friends . But ultimately, she is still the same beautiful girl, just a little bit worn out.
Human Bean - We didn't go through the tears with DD1, but I watched other mums go through it and in most cases, it lasted a couple of weeks and then they were happy to go in. The tears then tended to be at the end of the day then, when it was time to go home! One little boy struggled for the whole of first term, but I also suspect he has other things going on. I think I would cry too. I had a big cry when DD1 went willingly! :hug:
DS1 actually admitted today that he gets tired in the daytime. This is huge as he flat out refuses to rest during the day despite being soooooo tired lately...his teacher pulled me aside earlier in the week to tell me he doesn't like to rest at rest time there! Not sure how far we'll get, but I'm going to try (again) to enforce a quiet time at home. Any suggestions for quiet time/wind down/relaxation activities? TV doesn't work as he's easily scared by what's on - even shows like Peppa Pig have him running to hide. Reading could work, but he won't look at books on his own.
how has attendance been at your kinders the last couple of weeks? Wednes we had 10 kids, friday only 7 (out of 19). i know the long weekend, and kinder finishing late friday might have been a factor, but just wondering if maybe there is something else going on? Or are kids just getting tired everywhere, and parents giving them a break?
I think it's been ok at ds' kinder. I did duty last week and I think 24 of the 27 were there. A couple went on holidays but they were back this week and a few have been sick. we have 2 days that start at 8.15 and those days seem quiet sometimes when I do drop off but that's cos some kids come a little late to fit in with school drop offs.
Jleigh - how's your little guy going? I forgot to reply when I first saw your post, sorry. Would he do something like pasting or drawing as a quieter activity? Or a sticker book? Sometimes I just put the kids in the car and just go for a drive so ds will fall asleep. He's not likely to ever rest at home but a once or twice a week car nap helps a bit! Or would he rest while listening to music? Something calming? Or at a stretch a musical type of dvd/show? Would the wiggles be scary?
Pretty much all the kids have been at dd's kinder for every session. I know a lot of kids were out from local schools at times over the past couple of weeks due to gastro though - thankfully it doesn't appear to have hit the kinder and the worst is past. Is it possible something like that is going in down your way too?
Dd has had persistent colds since starting kinder. I know we were expecting her immune system to take a hit given she hasn't been in child care before, so I'm not bothered by it. Just a bit sad for her really.
We have received our fundraising schedule for the year. Looking pretty full on! For the first time ever I'm glad my brothers kids are older and their schools do next to nothing fundraising wise. I don't feel guilty turning around and hitting up the family the same way we copped it for years for all their kids lol
birthday parties and kinder.
how many kids do you invite? dd s kinder has 14 kids. was thinking of inviting 5 ish, but after struggling to work out who she plays with so far, now thinking maybe invite them all ?? is this crazy thinking?
how long do you do party for?
do parents stay?
Out of 14, I reckon possibly only half would come. Or you could just invite one gender. Parents definately stay, I think.
Personally, we aren't doing a kindy party this year. By the time we invite family and closest friends it is already at the 30 people mark!
PS Hi, my DS1 is in kindy in QLD. I've been reading this thread with interest.
Maybe ask the teacher who she plays with. I think invite them all if you're happy to have that amount, I would, or invite just the girls like friends of mine have done. 90 minutes is pretty usual and I would say at this age parents would hang around.
Moo missed yesterday and will miss tomorrow too, has caught that cough that has been doing the rounds. I was meant to be doing kindy duty tomorrow!