I think my FDC does a bit with the kids. I know she has two other carers in her street and they meet in the park a couple of times a week, and there are also the organised activities from the FDC center, like playdays, and fundraisers and parent nights which we are able to be involved in too, but it is difference from a day care center with the resources. That is another reason they encourage you to use a pre-school when your kids are 3.5 for a few days a week to get them into that more structures environment.
eta - Prama where did you find long day care in Syd for $70 per day... I am amazed.... that is a great price...... I pay nearly that for FDC (8am - 6pm)
Definitely try to find one that you are comfortable with, and mesh well with - similar ideas etc. I've had the kids in a few day cares, DS went to one from when he was 10 months old, and DD when she was 3 months old. I didn't like the first one of hers, so switched her when she was 6 months for a MUCH better one. I wish I could do half the stuff they do at day care with my kids!!! I just don't have the knowledge to do child care stuff at home and I think DS is really missing out. The day cares that I have put them in have been something like $63 a day - food not included.
My sister has her kids in family day care, but I didn't choose this option mainly for the fact that if her family day carer is sick, or needs time off for a holiday or something - my sister has to make alternate arrangements for the care of her kids - so she usually gets my mum to help out. We don't have any family support where we are now, so if I was working and my FDC couldn't do a day, I'd lose a day's pay because I would have to stay at home. I much rather send them somewhere where it doesn't become my problem if the kids main carer is sick/injured/wants a holiday.
Different situations work for different people though - you have to find what sits with YOU the best.
Oh and my kids went from 7.30am to 5.30pm - veryyy long days.
Prama, we live in Windsor. I work out this way, but DH works in Ryde.
I can certainly see advantages to FDC, but also disadvantages... with me on immune suppressing drugs the less day care bugs to come home, the better. Would a child between the age of 1 and 2 get much out of the special activities in formal day care? He really is a child that sets his own routine and I would need a system that can cope with him needing to be cuddled to sleep and taking more naps than most kids his age - although we can really hope that the day sleep situation starts to improve some time between now and then!
BW I have always found FDC to be very flexible and accommodating, and our carers have always provided a nice balance between structured activities and free play. I'm confident my babies have been cuddled and patted to sleep whenever they have needed it. We have a back up carer so if the main carer can't do a day there's a plan B.
You could ring the Childcare Access Hotline to find out what childcare is offered in your area (including contact point for which ever organisation administers FDC)
bw.. the one ds goes to is off kissing point road, at ermington so close to ryde. it's called active kids. i can pm you the details. we got one close home cos anyone of us can pick/drop him off. and also helps if we change jobs, we dont have to look for another one.
ages 1-2 are very important as they learn to socialise and learn things outside their world.
we dont have much family here so i felt it was very important for ds to know other kids and not just us being his whole world. it will certainly builds his self confidence and social kids.. and LDC/FDC do a lot more as well, providing play/education ....
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