thread: How Often Do You Help At Kinder?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Add fionas on Facebook

    Apr 2007
    Recently treechanged to Woodend, VIC
    3,473

    How Often Do You Help At Kinder?

    Had my first session helping at DD1's kinder today. It was great seeing what she does there and meeting the other children.

    I'm thinking of doing it twice a month.

    How often d'you find is about right?

  2. #2

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    at 3yr old kinder they are asking for 2 parents per session, it's a biggish class (20ish kids) and only 2 sessions a week so if everyone takes their turn we could probably do once a month.
    That said my first turn wont be until April as we've onmly just started the roster.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    Ours is 2 per session as well, with DS's I can't do it at all because I work one day and have swimming with DD the other day and with DD's the dates filled up before I had a chance. I try for 1-2 per term if I can but it can be a bit tricky to work out.

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Member
    Add ~*Niadalla*~ on Facebook

    Jan 2007
    VIC
    2,199

    Our kinder is only 1 parent helper per session. I have my first for 4yo this Wednesday (I stay the entire session). We have a large group, so it will probably only be twice for the year, 3 times max.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Melbourne
    4,895

    Ours is optional and I have done it once so far - I really enjoyed it. I wil be helping out probably 1-2 times per month, depending on how busy I am with other things

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Apr 2006
    Perth
    4,203

    Ours is one parent per session with only one session per day. They're also optional but both my kids love the idea of having Mum and Dad there. I do a kindy and pre-primary session each semester and so does my DH. It seems maybe 80% of parents are either not working, or able to be flexible in their work so the times fill up really fast.

  7. #7

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    I help out in DS2's class once a week for a couple of hours.
    I would like to help out in DS1's class but am yet to get anything from the teachers. Do they not use helpers in older grades?

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    Onyx at my school parent helpers in class help up to about grade 3/4 and older kids have helpers in sessions like garden but not necessarily so much for literacy sessions etc. Although if offered in upper grades it is never turned down. For some reason not a lot of parents offer once kids are in the upper school at the schools I have worked at.

  9. #9
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber & MPM

    Feb 2007
    Melbourne
    5,462

    I try to help out at least once a term. There's never any shortage of parent helpers at our kinder which is great

  10. #10
    Moderator

    Oct 2004
    In my Zombie proof fortress.
    6,449

    Our kinder was mainly after volunteers for snack time to cut up fruit. I did that once and apparently I did it wrong so I refused to do it again. I used to cook professionally, but apparently I can get fruit wrong!

    What I did decide to do though, was something I was happy to do. I took in my spinning wheel to show the kids how wool becomes thread. We matched it up to the week that they were teaching the kids about how something becomes something else (so, sheep, to fleece, to thread, to cloth).

    When there was a change of kinder teachers to an awesome one, who loved fruit cut up in any fashion, I used to help near the pick up time with the group games.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2008
    Melbourne
    1,838

    Last year in 3 year old i did at least 2 a term and this year with 4 year old i'm about to do my 3rd on thursday. I'm home with the kids and with the tantrums i have with DS2 not wanting to leave sometimes it's easier just to stay

    'Duty' at our kinder is about helping out where you can but also just about being there and spending time with your child. The kids get so excited knowing your going to stay. DS asks me most days if i have duty that day