Thank-you all so much for your replies!
I did read them last night before I went along this morning, but I was too tired to reply then.
Well, I went along to the C&K this morning to have a look, and its really nice. Big backyard, happy kids, really relaxed teachers. And its tucked away in the park under big trees.
I loved it! Reminded me of my kindy when I was a kid.
Was a bit worried, because when I was looking at cc's, the c&k one was the worst. But this is just a kindy, not cc, and it seems good.
They have the 5 day fortnight there as well, that would be really frustrating trying to fit work around that.
My Mum said enroll her in both (The c&k and montessori), then just send her for 2 days at each place. So four days in total, and miss the alternate wed. Not sure about that one, but its a thought. Especially since I wont know what days I need until the last minute.
Snugglybean, thats a good point. It does seem to be a true montessori, and they had some great activities there, but the director was showing me the blocks, that they line up in order, and I asked, 'what happens if they just want to build a castle or something' and the look on her face sort of said no, but she said, oh they can do what they want, but we don't encourage them to knock about the blocks because they are very expensive'. Actually I think she mentioned the word expensive about three times but other than that I liked it there.
Rivlas, thats a good point too, Im usually pretty shagged by the end of the day and I will have to allow the extra time to pick her up.
MantaRay, yes I know what you mean. Her personality I think she would easily fit in a Montessori, she seems happy to play by herself, quietly working on something and gets a bit overwhelmed by the groups of kids running around. But then she goes to cc now and is happy there.
Hmm anyway, thanks again. I enrolled her in the C&K and I think I will be happy to take her there. Not sure yet if we will take the days at the montessori as well. Think I have a week to pay the deposit.
I might have to just so I know if I have Uni all day on say a tuesday, she can still have somewhere to go. I suppose I could try and find her a single day at a family day care if it happens that I need it, but I usually have only a few weeks notice to do so, and I would like to get her settled in. Alot of centres around here have a minimum of 2 days. The montessori has min 2, and the kindy is 2-3. Her current cc has min 2 also.
What do you do when your children go to kindy? Do they just go to kindy? Or do they have other days in care?
i dont like the sound of the montessori.. you gotta question their priorities when all they worry about is how much something cost not the development and enjoyment of the children.. hmmmm
but if you like it i dont see any harm in doing both montessori and c&k. which suburb are you in by the way?
If you decide to enrol her at both, keep in mind that even though you won't be using the alternate Wednesday at the C&K, you will still have to pay for it.
My DD just goes to kindy, no other care because we don't need it with me being at home. I know some parents when my DS went to kindy had their kids in day care for before and after care - the day care would drop the child off at kindy and pick them up afterwards.
I like my DDs kindy because the children set the agenda, in the sense that the teacher is very flexible and she designs the children's days and activities around the things that they want to do. This week they had a 'pirate and princess day' because a few of the children thought that would be fun. Another time they did a teddy bears' picnic for the same reason. Their ideas and opinions are always respected and it is a lovely, loving environment for them. Inside there are plenty of different toys to play with, books, puzzles, activity tables etc and the children are free to choose what they want to do, and how they do it. Outside they have a sand pit and a digging patch (yay mud!) amongst other things and the teachers make it a requirement that they take their shoes off (unless there is specific reason not to). Of course they do follow a curriculum, and there are times of the day that they do 'structured' things, like music and dance, show and tell, group games, listening to a story and having rest time. But it is all so wonderfully free, and I know when my DS went into prep the year after, he was so confident and ready for the school experience - kindy gave him that.
The five day fortnight is going to be annoying for me when Matilda goes there in a couple of years, especially because I want to study, but I am determined that she will have the same experience as her older brother and sister. IMO child care just doesn't compare. But they are different things too -kindy is not meant to be like day care, it is more like a pre-school, hence the hours and the holidays etc.
As you know, I work in a cc centre, and we have HEAPS of kids who go to a kindy for two or three days and come to us for a day. It works pretty well.
Keep your options open, I reckon.
Im in Morningside Hollo.
Wow Bon, mud! Thats cool
Actually this C&K had a forest area (small but a few little paths under trees) which I thought was really nice. And lots of different areas they could go to play in. Plus one of the girls climbed to the top of a swing, and she was really excited, and intsead of freaking out, the teacher seemed genuinly (sp?) proud and happy for her. Probably only stood out because I went to another place and a kid took a step off the ground on something, and the teacher there said, 'hop down' straight away, and I thought it was a bit sad.
Anyway, think I need to go and observe a class at the montessori so I know whether to enrol her there aswell, but Im not sure, even if its great, if I'd want her to go 2 days at each. It might be better to try and find 1 extra day if I need it when the time comes. Just worried that I will get to next year and I will have Mon, TUes Wed classes and dd is booked in for Thurs fri (alt wed) at the c & k.
Oh, I know the C&K you are talking about heliana. The grounds look really nice. We were offerred a spot there, but we had already accepted (and paid) for a spot at the one nearer to us.
I'm sure it will all work out for you. I was really worried this time last year, as the spot I accepted was mon, tues and alt Wed as they were already booked up for Thurs/Fri. But this meant that DS2's day care days had to change. Luckily it worked out but I was worried for a while!
Reminded me of my kindy when I was a kid.
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