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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
I personally don't understand WHY people put their kids in kindy any younger than the school kindy allow. Most kids aren't ready for kindy before then, and really as a parent it is OUR responsibility to be teaching our children to write and read before they go to school.
Here, the child has to be 4 years old BEFORE the 1st of January on the year they start. So for us, Jaidan was almost 5 as his birthday is the 6th Feb, before he went into kindy at the local primary school. Chase was 4 years and 10 months (April baby). By then they could both read some words, and could write their name and other peoples names. They were both 100% ready emotionally to go as well. Kindy here is 3 full days a week.
I wouldn't have dreamed sending them earlier than that. I even contemplated not sending Jaidan to kindy at all as it's only Prep that is compulsory, because I wasn't sure he was emotionally ready as he was very shy, but he came out of his shell a couple of months before he started.
As for being hard with a child and a baby, it's not I am on my own and it really isn't that hard at all. And I almost have 4! LOL
Things like kinda gym, reading together at the library, playgroups, mothers groups, pram walking groups, and play dates with other kids, are MUCH more beneficial to children at 3 then kindy.
Anyone NOT have their 3-4 year old in kindy??
Reply With Quote
I am on my own and it really isn't that hard at all. And I almost have 4! LOL 
Bookmarks