Anyone NOT have their 3-4 year old in kindy??

[Visitor7]

DH has recently scored a new job. Problem is that he's taken on a lesser pay than we're use to as he's in training. Give it 12 months and he'll be earning more than he ever has, but until then we can't afford to send DD1 (who is 3.5 yrs) to kindy. She goes to kindy at a daycare centre here. Unfortunately here I can't get her into a community kindy until next year (she doesn't qualify any earlier due to age). So I'm taking her out. Just wondering, anyone NOT have their child in kindy at this age? It'll probably be for the rest of the year and she'll go back (hopefully) the start of next year. How did your child cope? I know it'll be hard on me being heavily pregnant, then having a newborn baby, but I reckon I'll cope. Just more worried about Nina.

[kelbel]

Hi Jodi,

My son is in 4 yr old kinder. I didn't send him to 3 yr old, because I thought it was a waste of time and money.

He absolutely loves kinder!

If your DH is on less of a wage, there is a government subsidy available for 4 yr old.
Might be worth checking this out if need be?

Many daycare centre have a really good kinder program.

I personally wouldn't stress about her not going to an 'official' kinder. You might just have to do a bit of research on the net to come up with some activities if she gets bored.

Good luck

[alioops]

my kids aren't in kindy. I simply can't afford it and there aren't enough places.

[Curly]

My DS isn't. Having moved up from Victoria where 3yo kinder is much more widely available, I've been stressing over this, worrying that he is going to be disadvantaged in some way. I simply couldn't get him in anywhere until next year for 4yo kindy (C&K).

However he does have various activities like playgroup, swimming lessons, kindergym so he still gets to interact with other kids. I am worried though, that I won't be able to keep this up because Number 3 is due in less than 2 weeks.

I tried to put him in daycare and he hated it so much that we had to pull him out and now he won't even entertain the idea of trying a different daycare place, although he does like the idea of kindy next year.

I keep telling myself that there must be heaps of other kids in Qld not going to 3yo kindy!

[kelbel]

Hi Curly,

all of my friends sent their kids to 3 yr old, and I thought the same as you, and that I must have made a terrible decision.
But once we got to 4 yr, DS was not the only one who hadn't been to 3yr old, and there was no problem.
There are heaps of things you can access online to keep them entertained etc.
The socialising has to be a huge part of it, but if you have so many activities going anyway, you shouldn't have a problem.
Even if you only had one day a week, he's interacting with other kids, it's bound to be better than none at all.

[~me~]

My DS2 goes to creche once a week and they have the 3yr old kinder program in his room. I also get the rebate so it actually works out better and about the same price as he gets a whole day of socialisation and also 3yr old kinder.
I did some research into 3yr old kinder and found it was just going to be much mucking around with only 2 sessions at 2hrs.
So I get one full day at home with DD, we also do swimming with DS2 and Mother's Group on another day (we alternate between houses and play centres), so he has plenty to keep him occupied. I also take hime grocery shopping and helps out and enjoys it.
He will be doing 4yr old next year and I will then take him out of creche. Hoping to get a 12hr of 3days session.
It's quite a bit cheaper and you can claim some of the fee back through FAO for 4yr old kinder as well.

[Smoke Jaguar]

no kindy here Various reasons - we have one day at creche, a morning of playgroup with a kindy session in spanish-language, other activities during the week and I'm going back to finish my course in semester 2, moving area and completing the last unit after the move, in semester 1...we have enough to think about! Plus, DS' birthday is in June and it was too soon for him last year.

[jaspen]

My 3+ yr old is not in kindy either at the moment due to moving, no places in community care and then the prospect of moving again and not wanting to muck him around too much. He is the age for school next year though so I am keen to get him in somewhere now we have moved and settled so he can become reaccustomed to some of the routines like things more like school and also to make some other little friends since we are new to a small town and know nobody.

Given he is the second child I don't think he's missed out on too much (including mental stimulation) over the last 9 months though cause he's always involved if his brother is doing homework etc. Wants to read, count learn etc. in reality there is not too much except writing - he won't do that for me cause he doesn't want to be wrong - that he doesn't know, so academically he is ready for school next year but I think at least 6 months of a couple of days for the rest of the year will help him socially fit in better next year and know a few children before he starts with "big" school.

[Mildez]

My 3yr old DD isn't either and not about to in the near future. Maybe next year when she is 4 but even that is not definate. My 1st went and other then my eldest been more sociable I can't say there is a difference between them acedemically. DD2 doesn't do anything but stay with me or DH.

[~Kim~]

me either.
DD was going to daycare until December but like you we dropped money (I resigned) and couldn't afford it any longer.
Now we've moved to a different state where the schooling is different and people are horrified she doesn't go to kinder but we are still in transition and won't move to a permanent home until end of June so I couldn't if I wanted to.
Initially I was really worried she'd suffer, but truely she's fine. We don't even really have the range of opportunites open to us that many others do and she's still ok.

[Visitor7]

Thanks so much for the responses guys. I've been made to feel (by a few people IRL) that I'm doing a really bad thing by Nina by pulling her out But it's good to know that I'm not the only one.
I've looked into the community kindy, and don't really like the sound of it, and the fact that it costs more than daycare, so as of Jan next year she'll be going back to her daycare. They've put her name down for that room.

[sneakysparkle]

My 3 yr old DD isn't at kinder - and doesn't go to CC or anything.
We go to playgroup one day a week, have a mothers group meeting once a week, and she goes to sunday school on Sunday mornings
I dont think 3 yr old kinder is necessary. I will prob send her next year - but haven't booked her in yet.
Dont feel bad - just think, she is getting security from being with her mummy xo

[Chocaholic]

I won't be sending my kids to kindy as their daycare centre has a recognised kindy program for the oldest room (which my DS1 is in). He will be there 2 years before going to school.

I work full-time so would not be able to take them to kindy. I also looked into what they do at kindy and to be perfectly honest, they do more at the daycare centre. The kindy's around here concentrate on social interaction, motor skills and language development. This is what they do at the daycare we attend and more.

My sisters DD goes to kindy and it is basically a social thing for her. My DS1 who is a year younger knows more colours, letters, can count to twenty, speaks more clearly and has a larger vocabulary. This could be because my son has been to daycare since he was little but he has thrived and developed faster than my niece who has a SAHM. Please note I am not trying to be offensive to SAHM but my sister (a wonderful mother I might add) simply does not spend the time like they do at daycare on those things.

I have babbled here so to cut a long story short - I expect the first year at primary school will get all the children at a comparable level so kindy is not necessary. As long as your child is happy, then do what you as a family see is the best option.

[*EJ*]

DS1 was 3 in Jan and he is not in Kindy yet. I am planning on getting him into 3yr old next year. I do differ from your situation though as i have had him in FDC. Initially it was only 1 day a week but then in preperation for me returning to work it increased to 2 at the end of last year. I do admit it is extra stimulation for him and a break for me. Do you have an option of a day in care at all? I'm sure everything thing will work out and your daughter is still quite young and they adapt to change. Hope it all works out

[New Dawn]

God if your a bad mum for doing that then what must I be, DD2 should be going to school next year ( I want to hold her back) so she should be in kindy here but guess what she isnt, so if she goes to school next year she will be going from my house right into school without having been to daycare or kindy( we arent even going to a playgroup ATM), DD1 did the same thing and she is fine, kindy up in QLD is very expencive so no wonder people cant aford it plus the wait list are long so she may not get in anyway... Prep in QLD is play based so its very much like kindy anyway, so I wouldnt worry about it, she will do fine...

[Curly]

The kindy's around here concentrate on social interaction, motor skills and language development.

My sisters DD goes to kindy and it is basically a social thing for her. My DS1 who is a year younger knows more colours, letters, can count to twenty, speaks more clearly and has a larger vocabulary. This could be because my son has been to daycare since he was little but he has thrived and developed faster than my niece who has a SAHM. Please note I am not trying to be offensive to SAHM but my sister (a wonderful mother I might add) simply does not spend the time like they do at daycare on those things.

Not offended at all, but just concerned you might worry others reading this thread so just pointing out...

As a SAHM myself, it's the social interaction thing that I am wanting most from kindy because DS hates daycare - we tried for the 3rd time in his life to put him in daycare earlier this year and he only lasted 6 half day sessions before we had open rebellion.

He knows his entire alphabet, can count to 20, all his colours and shapes, knows heaps of songs and nursery rhymes off by heart etc etc so I'm not bothered about that at all. He is just naturally good at that kind of thing - I don't think it's a SAHM/daycare thing at all, just what a child's natural bent is. I don't consider that I've spent a lot of time teaching him those things, he is just interested so has picked it up easily.

On the other hand I think his gross motor skills are only average for his age so I believe even at this age their natural inclinations are already there.

[Kangaskippy]

My 3.5yr old isn't in kindy/creche/preschool yet either...

I try to do something educational with him every morning when his 20mth old brother has a nap and he is forever asking questions about everything, so has a wide vocab and more knowledge than I ever though possible for a little kid, lol...

I have #3 coming in just under 6wks, and will assess how we go then as to whether Jack needs some other form of stimulation/learning...but would like to be able to keep them all at home as long as possible before school, I just want to spend as much time with them before they go off to school and think mummy knows nothing, lol...

[shellbell3]

Ash goes to childcare one day a week and thats it atm. I try get her out to parks and friends kids just so she can run around with other kids. Next year she'll do 4yr old kindy as well as the one day in CC.
You could look at occasional care? See if she can do couple hours here and there.

Jodi, if ppl make you feel bad about it just tell them you'll be more than happy for them to fork out the costs for her to go!