What's the deal for 3yo kinder in Vic?

[PumpkinZulu]

We just got a brochure for a local kinder/childcare in the mail. I know it's a while off, but it got DH and I pondering...is 3 and 4yo kinder compulsory in Vic? I don't mind so much about the 4yo kinder I guess, but 3 years old, I don't know, I think it's too young and we'd really rather not send her. What's the deal there?

[Tinks]

No, it's not compulsory. 4 yo isn't either but I think there was talk of it becoming compulsory.

[fionas]

We didn't send DD1 to 3yo kinder - it was only two hours a week here. MCHN told me 3yo not that important, 4yo VERY important.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Not compulsory, I send DD1 because the MCHN recommended it for her as she was ahead with her speech & getting bored with things we were offering at home, writing her own name at 2.5 and dad just before 3.

Don't discount the idea, I thought there would be no point but she LOVES it and DD2 is enrolled for next year.
It's also great as I get some one on one time with DD2.

It's going to become hard to get places soon with the increase in 4yr old hours, we had to actually do a deposit this yr for DD2.


Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

[TaRhLi.]

Yep not compulsory but I registered DD in April for next year as she is already needing extra stimulation than what I can provide for her at home, plus she is already asking me when will she be big enough to go to 'school'.

Depending on the costs for next year she will either be going 1 or 2 mornings a week for 2 1/2 hrs, which will then give me some time to be able to do things.

[peanutter]

hmmm, I should read this ...

subbing for another day.

[Traveller]

I was the same as Fiona. I didn't want to be apart from my children at all and constant nagging from people to put at least one child in childcare to give myself a break (which I didn't want or need) drove me up the wall. When we moved to Scotland, I was heavily pregnant with the twins and there is a free kinder scheme. The village I lived in had a service where they would pick DS1 (then aged 3) up from my front door and drop him back after his session. He absolutely thrived in a preschool system, so much so that DS2 started going from 2.5 years. I really rate some form of interaction in a school type environment before formal schooling if that is the chosen route of education but I found the kinder I chose here to be woefully lacking for reasons I have discussed in other threads. The childcare that my twins attend is far superior but as others have described is about fun and socialising as well as learning letters, numbers, colours. They also get the entire group to focus on whetever letters my son is focussing on with his speech therapist so he gets to practice without feeling left out. There are also 3 of their friends who will be going to the same school which is a bonus.

My point basically being that you know your daughter best, you know how she will thrive best, and that could be with a nanny and local playgroups, a formal kinder, childcare, or just by interacting with you herself and making friends with other kids through swimming, playing in the park, library sessions and all those sorts of activities. FWIW I believe the 4yo kinder we chose here was unusually bad and most are far better but DS2 was better out of any formal kinder system after his experiences there.

[Loveinamist]

When we moved to Scotland, I was heavily pregnant with the twins and there is a free kinder scheme. The village I lived in had a service where they would pick DS1 (then aged 3) up from my front door and drop him back after his session.

I read this and instantly thought Balamory!!! LOL! With Edie Macreadie driving the bus!

[Traveller]

haha it was the same type of bus, with a very similarly colourful character as a bus driver. I think that's why the kids loved it so much!

[PumpkinZulu]

Cool I honestly don't like the idea of 3yo kinder right now. It may happen, but it's good to know its not compulsory. Same with 4yo, and frankly, if I didn't feel DD was ready by then, and it were compulsory, I'd be fighting that. By that stage DH and I have already discussed hiring a nanny for the children rather than sending one to childcare and one to 3yo (or 4yo) kinder, as I'll be studying by then and we like the idea of one on one care. DH had a nanny, although his was 5 days a week 9-5. We would only need one the times I need to be at uni. Nice to know there are options though.

[FabFiona]

Regardless of whether or not you like the idea (personally, I think that early learning is very important and that 3 year old kinder is part of this) I'd strongly recommend registering Isla. It can be near impossible to find a place and if you do decide to take up the option, it's best to have put your name down. It's different from council to council but registrations generally start around 18 months.

[Olive]

I also feel 4 yr old kinder is super important!

[nothing2lose]

As far as I am concerned, there is a vast difference between kindergarten (which is part of a child's education) and being cared for by a nanny (which, at the end of the day is childcare). That's to say nothing of the vital socialisation that occurs at kinder. Ask any prep teacher...it is glaringly obvious which kids went to kinder.

[PumpkinZulu]

I also believe early learning is extremely important. But I also don't believe the only way to access early learning is necessarily through kinder I'm definitely not discounting it, and will register her, but it is good to know that it's not enforced.

[PumpkinZulu]

DH and his brother had a nanny who was fluent in 3 languages, was a qualified primary school teacher and a long term nanny. He went to play groups, music classes, group craft sessions, libraries and was 'socialised' and very ready for school without having ever set foot in a kinder. He spent plenty of time interacting with other kids (and other adults), learned how to share, read and speak another language. So I guess it depends on the type of nanny you get.

[nothing2lose]

If you're getting a nanny that has qualifications and skills like that, who is willing to do all of those things, you have a lot more money than DP and me! I still think kinder is a better option, but obviously, it's your choice

[Heaven]

We don't even have 3 yr old kinder up here and the kids are all fine, LOL. I wouldn't send my kid either. Sure, at 4 yo, that's the year before school so it's starting to get them ready for that just a few days a week but I think 3 yrs old is very different and young. I wouldn't send my child (taking into account I'm a SAHM so easy for me to make that choice). And I highly doubt a child would be disadvantaged in any way by not going at 3yo.

[PumpkinZulu]

Okay...I'm willing to hazard a guess that my financial situation is probably a lot poorer than yours, although I didn't really start this thread to debate the merits of questioning 'the man' and how our country suggests we raise our children or discuss my finances or explain in detail how we plan to afford our choices, I think that's a bit rude, don't you? Anywho, I have the info I need, I've years until I even have to think about kinder, so I trust that I'll make a pretty good decision for DD by then. As I've said, I've pretty much discounted 3yo kinder but I don't have much of an issue with 4yo unless DD isn't ready.