3 Year Old Kinder

I can't believe it's time to start thinking about this already, DD1 is 3 in October so i am looking at organising enrolling her into 3yr old kinder for next year.

The MCHN nurse suggested it would be good for her as she does not go to CC but is slightly ahead with her speech.
She thinks developmentally it will be really good for her.

So please tell me the pro's and con's of 3 yr old kinder.

Also if anyone could answer the following:

1. How did you choose WHICH kinder
2. Is it expensive
3. Did your child like it
4. How far in advance did you have to enrol?
5. What was the most important thing to help you decide if 3 yr old kinder was right?

Thanks in advance, i am e-mailing 2 local kinders, 1 is about 10min away the other is 15min.. should i ask to go in and have a look at them both before deciding which one is best for her.. time is no issue.

Am also thinking i might just skip the whole CC thing this year and then maybe organise to put DD2 in 1 day a week when DD1 has Kinder next yr... what do you think?

Heya hun
DD started 3 yr old kinder this year and LOVES it. Like your little one she didnt go to daycare, chats your ear off and was just hanging for it.

1. How did you choose WHICH kinder.
Word of mouth here, another lady had her daughter in the one thats closest to us and gave it a good review so went with them.
2. Is it expensive.
Here is $90 a term
3. Did your child like it?
Yep loved it and talks about going every week!
4. How far in advance did you have to enrol?
Enrollments were done in november before she started.
5. What was the most important thing to help you decide if 3 yr old kinder was right?
I asked DD, talked to her about it seen how she was with other kids, she was more than ready and absolutely loves it. Its not to big of a day and the interaction and things they learn while there is priceless.

Good luck :)

for me where i'm living now, there's only one pre school and thats 5 minutes down the road for me, otherwise it is a 30 minute drive down the mountain. so that for me was the reason why i chose the pre school for my daughter. it depends on where you put your DD in as to how much it will be. i was working a few days last year, and so was taking them 30 mins down the hill to a long day care, and so i was entitled to the CCB, which was a lot cheaper. however, the LDC they went to was really good, had a fantastic early education program so it was kind of a pre school as well. now that im not working and pregnant with bub #3, DD is going to the local pre school, which isn't funded, and so costs me about $30 a day, which i think is common with most pre schools. the thing with enrolling as well, is since we live in a really small community, i didnt have to worry about whether or not there would be enough space for her. however, in bigger areas, i guess the sooner you get her enrolled the better? hope this helps, all the best :p

1. How did you choose WHICH kinder
We went to a few Kinder open days & found our kinder that way
2. Is it expensive
We pay $220 a term so for 6 hours a week it's a little expensive.
3. Did your child like it
She loves it, She really enjoys going.
4. How far in advance did you have to enrol?
Ummm about 6 months.
5. What was the most important thing to help you decide if 3 yr old kinder was right?
We thought it would help DD1 become more social(She is very shy) & she wanted to do big girl things that didn't involve DD2.
So for us Kinder was perfect.

DD is in 4 yr old this year but did 3 yr old last year!
we love kinder she did 2x2hr sessions last year and it cost around $250 a term (one session a week was $125 a term)
we chose it because we did toddler group the year before, love the staff etc..
id apply to both, check them both out then make a decision on which you prefer
we have to apply early, as in as soon as the applications come out due to its popularity (if thats a concern though,join the committee) our wil be out asap for next year, offers are made around august,
our council you apply directly to the kinder but most around us you have to apply to the actual council

goodluck!

Thanks everyone i have e-mailed both the local kinders, were not in a massive area but it is expanding so i would like to try and get in early if we can.

I'd make contact if they don't get back to you. There are only two local kinders here at the moment for two growing suburbs and I've heard there is a waiting list for the waiting list. I'd guess your area will boom shortly!

Haven't heard back, should i just call them.. is there normally a cut off for when to register them?

Hun there is a cut off for rgistration.
I had to go thru the local council for kindy with Matt.
Call them or your council. :)

I'd call them. In my area you have to apply for 3 year old kinder as soon as they turn 2. The local kinder association send a list with local kinders and you number them in preference. There is a big waiting list for those that don't get in early. But this may be different in your area. It's worth calling them just to find out.

Our kinder is on our street which is why we chose it LOL! It's about $250 a term, but it's money well spent. My DS1 loved 3 year old kinder and DS2 started this year and is having a fantastic time :D

Thanks ladies, might start the ring around tomorrow and try the council directly aswell.. nothing has been sent to us and we have been here since before DD1 turned 2.

I would ring, I know our areas 3 yr old kinder there names need to be down at age 1 yes you read right I said 1. 2 years old for 4 year old list!!

Good luck

My MCHN hands the form to everyone when their child turns two. It might be worth chatting with your MCHN too :)

I asked at her 2yr old appt and the MCHN just said i can contact the local kinders to discuss it, i've emailed them (only 2 close by do it) and had no response, will call council and the kinders tomorrow, i will be less than impressed if it should have been done at her 2yr old appt... considering the MCHN is IN the kindergarten building :(

with our council you have to apply directly to the kinder, its not through the council, our applications are out and filling very fast

It's amazing how different it is for each area! Good luck today ZF, I reckon you'll get some answers by chatting to someone on the phone :)