Hi, thanks for reading. I just wanted some advice about my dd's childcare in a hurry because we're supposed to start tomorrow.
She is 21/2y and I want to put her into daycare for 1 day a week so she is used to it for next year when I go back to uni. The only place I could get her into seemed nice - it had a good feel and there is only 8kids in the room, its not flash or new but the teacher seemed nice so I enrolled her this morning for tomorrow and we went for a quick play while we were there.
Anyway, it seems they spend 8 - 10:15 in the morning and from 2:30pm onwards with the pre-prep kids outside in the playground having free play. It started off ok my daughter started playing with a little girl, but then she tried to play with some other kids and three times in a row they were quite pushy and said 'no'. and my dd got upset and she tried again and it happened again. There seems to be a few not so nice older kids in the group and dd is pretty sensitive kid who doesnt have siblings and hasnt been in childcare before. The teachers seem to only step in if theres hitting, which was happening a fair bit. None of the kids were really smiling or laughing.
My dillema is, Im not sure if I want to enroll her after all. It seems like a lot of time to spend in free play? Is that normal? I know its normal for kids to not share and hit and stuff but I thought if they were playing in a smaller group or more structured activities it might be nicer. But I dont know if thats possible to find in a childcare. I have no experience of other childcares apart from the quick glance I had at the others I looked at that were full, but I wanted this to be a positive experience. When we went to swimming after my dd was scared to talk to the other kids in her class.
Sorry this is so long. I just dont know whether i should go as planned tomorrow or keep looking or what. Any thoughts?
My kids have been in 3 days day care since they were 10 months old - YES that is alot of unstructured free play time for a child care centre!!! I know at mine they have it broken up into hours - eg 9am morning tea, 9.30 puzzles/drawing/counting 10am run around outside if possible - 10.30 - that type of thing.
However, speak to the room leader about your concerns re other kids - was she trying to play with something that belonged in the junior pre-school room or something - maybe they were being possessive - perhaps the carers can direct her towards the kids her own age etc. Personally - I would try for a day and see how it goes, you can keep looking in the meantime and if it doesn't satisfy you - you do what is best for your DD!
Hi Sam!
Thanks for your reply. I calmed down a bit and decided to take her back tomorrow and try it out again. However have been looking for other options all afternoon I think the centre is nice and the teacher is nice, but I just feel uneasy about the lack of direction. My friend says they do the play outside in the morning arvo too at her sons place but it is for shorter time also and they have activity tables set up too. I really hope either this one turns out to be nice or I find her a much better one
Hmmm, I wouldn't really be happy with my DD spending so much time with the pre preps, (they're too big!) and that does seem like an awful lot of free play. The teachers shouldn't be letting bullying happen. My DD is like yours and would probably not go back...
My CC has lots of structure, activity tables, stories etc. They do have free play too, but not THAT long and they would stop the hitting before it began - I really like the way its handled there.
Keep your eyes open for alternatives and see how this pans out....
ETA - If you are paying for childcare you want to get what you pay for - it sounds more like 'childminding'. Kids get lots of free play at home, and relish structure in any situation. Go with your gut.
Why are they not giving the kids boundaries and teaching them what is NOT alright? Geez, you might as well leave her in the ball pit at IKEA while you go to uni.
She does not need to toughen up...she is perfect as she is gggrrrrr!
I personally would feel uncomfortable in that situation. My DD1 went to a child care centre that sounds similar to the way that one is structured & came home with bite marks on her back!
I pulled her out & got her into Family Day Care & its been wonderful
Hello, some urgent advice please?
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I think the centre is nice and the teacher is nice, but I just feel uneasy about the lack of direction. My friend says they do the play outside in the morning arvo too at her sons place but it is for shorter time also and they have activity tables set up too. I really hope either this one turns out to be nice or I find her a much better one 
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