DD recently started swimming lessons and in chatting to one of the other mums about her DD's preschool i started getting some serious childcare envy!
DD has been at the same childcare since she was 15m, and thought it is small, a bit old and not very impressive to the outside eye the teachers have always been wonderful and kind and she has generally been quite happy there. It took us 3 goes with different centres to find one we were comfortable with so have stuck through some periods where we weren't entirely happy. At the moment though, DD is in the 2-3y old group and is 3y 7m. She is unlikely to move up to the 3-5y old group until Jan next year when the older children start school and they have places for her, so she will be 3y 10m at that time. I am really not happy about this, but haven't pushed for her to be moved as i didn't want her to be separated from her best friend (one month younger), and i also didn't want to mix things up too much for her just as DS was born. Now that he is here though and everything has settled down i think i am ready to start pushing that she be moved up (though i don't think it will happen anytime soon unless another child leaves). I do think her current teachers do a great job with her and are doing everything that they can to make sure she is doing the right activities for her age group, and i don't mind her and her best friend being the oldest in the group and being the 'leaders', but there is quite a developmental gap between them and the next oldest children in her group.
So, the mum at swimming i was chatting to was telling me about how her preschool does french lessons, gymnastics and music and movement classes and this is when the childcare envy started kicking in! I realised that though they are doing a good job with her, there is so much more she could be doing! I don't want to move her to this same preschool, as it has short hours and doesn't take under two's (won't work for me when i go back to work, and i don't want to do two different drop-off's for childcare), but i have been having a look around at other centres and found another one that i think would be really lovely and might be more suitable. They also offer a transition year (or a prep year), which i am quite interested in as well.
So, is it just a case of childcare envy, or am i justified in thinking about moving her? Would you move your child?
If you're both happy with where she is, does she really need to move?
Why does she need to do more? French classes sound a bit scary at that age, to be honest.
Anyway, if you want to move her and that's going to work better for you guys then go ahead
Hahaha, thats exactly what my mum said marcellus! She said i should just let her be little for as long as i can, there is no need for her to do more than just running and playing at the moment.
Yeah, cant say the french lesson would be the clincher for me either
BUT, the age gap thing prob would concern me a little, I wouldnt want my child to have only 1 friend KWIM?
I guess you have to weigh up how happy your DD is, and can yu guarantee she will be as happy/happier somewhere else.
What sells a place for me is the staff, and their attitude to my kid, not weather they offer french and movement classes.
Toughie, tho, I can understand your curiosity and a little envy. GL
I agree with the others, if your DD is happy there and you are happy with the teachers I couldn't see a reason to move.
In early education the emphasis should really be on play. Play is a child's work and they learn all that they need by having a well designed play curriculum. It is most likely the case that your child does have a dose of 'gym' and 'music and movement' in her center, they are just not formally named as such. As for french, I'm not sure it is all it is cracked up to be! I personally would prefer my DD to be able to have time playing with building blocks brushing up on her coordinations skills, object-space relations, balance and symmetry, or busy in the book corner developing a love of words and literacy, or developing her social skills, literacy, numeracy, problem solving skills, and ability to understand other's perspective through role playing.
Don't underestimate the importance of play and the benefits a child gets from basic play. We are in far too much of a hurry to get our kids to grow up and learn that sometimes we miss the fact that they learn best from the simple things. You seem to have already have this sorted with your DDs childcare at the moment and maybe your friend should have childcare envy of you
In my honest opinion - that other stuff you mention is just too much for a young child. Why push all that extra stuff on them when they should be mastering the basics - like english to begin with, writing their name, knowing their numbers, shapes colours and dancing and moving to music in their own way rather than in an instructed way.
Let children enjoy their childhood, there's plenty of time for all that extra curricular stuff later - children should be learning through their play in the years before they start formal schooling and developing their imaginations in natural child like ways.
Edited to say - read the other posts after I posted and I agree with them all!
French lessons, gym lessons, computer classes, yoga, whatever. Some places do them, and it's great. Some places use them a lot, and it's sometimes a bit of a gimmick that allows them to charge ridiculous fees while skimping on other stuff, and having quite bare programs.
FWIW I LOVE older places - anywhere that has stood the test of time tends to be pretty good quality, in my experience, so I'd stick with it.
I agree with Audax & the OP's. Your DD sounds like she is truly happy in her current group! So what if she has one friend?! Better to have one awesome friend than ten horrible ones!
I'd say from the woman you were chatting with, she pays exhorbitant fees for those french lessons etc.... What is wrong with kids playing with dolls, cars, puzzles, reading books?! Also, if your DD is comfortable with her teachers & they are great, then I think that is one of the most important things, not French lessons!
I wouldn't be envious, I'd be worried about a mother who thinks these things are important in a pre school!
I totally agree with all the PP, preschool is about learning to socialise and playing not learning French!!
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Childcare envy... What to do?
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