Montessori vs Home care

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hi all,

My DD is currently 16months and is cared for by my mother. Mum does a lovely job none the less but I think DD is getting under stimulated.

Anyway, I have already put her on the waiting list for a council run childcare. Then I kept reading about MOntessori on BB and how great it is.

Anyway, I found one about 20 mins drive from my house and am meeting up with them on Monday.

Should I enrol DD now? wait until 2 yrs? or do you think home care is better?

I am so torn it is so hard because i want to give DD the best start possible.

Also, I have heard Montessori is great but surely there are pros and cons? Anyone have any experience with them? (I know Christy does =) browsed through her posts)

Also, are all montessori centres the same? as they are all privately owned so im wondering if their follow like franchise guidelines? or each will differ?

Thanks all!!!

[Mum2SweetCs]

anyone?

[~Jayne~]

I don't really have much information to give you, only I didn't know that Montessori did daycare? I'm in the West so we are a bit behind the times!

My DD went to the Montessori playgroup & I love the way they teach children, but I'm not a fan of their discipline, that's just my opinion & being the clever little minx she can be, I felt she wasn't suitable for the school. Just my opinion.

I'm sorry I'm no help.

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hi Jayne,

Thanks! the one near my house does daycare.

Why was it not suited to your DD may i ask? I thought their discipline was to let the kids go at their own pace?

Thanks heaps!

[christy]

I think the only thing that defines a Montessori is that they follow Maria Montessori's philosophy. They generally have similar educational toys but its the philosophy they share. Have a look around the internet about Maria Montessori and see what you think, if the philosophy rings true to you, you may want to get her into a Montessori playgroup or a Centre. Most Montessori's start at age 3, but you will find the rare one that is before. I know there is a centre in Brisbane that has a nursery and goes up... so they are out there. For the younger ones, they don't often do "Montessori time" because the philosophy is really geared for over 3's.

Goodluck deciding! I had to work and did not have family around, I put my DD into family day care until she was 3 because I preferred the home environment for her.

[luna moth]

+1 for home environment here. Until 2. I wouldn't be too worried about understimulation if she's in a one-on-one situation - most of their learning before 2 is focused around relationships anyway.