Are they kidding?

[Daydream Believer]

I was asked last week if I had book DD into 3 y.o. kinder yet. Are they serious? Do I really need to book her in now? She's only 1

Are kinders all the same? and what sort of cost is involved?

[Lulu]

There aren't many 3 yr old kinders available so they are in demand. Stick her name on the list anyway

[Olive]

definatly do it! some around here need names from birth DD1 was booked in at 18 months and even that was late

[MantaRay]

It seems ridiculous doesn't it! It was only after DS2 was born and I was asked if I had put his name down for kindy yet that I found out I should have done it for DS1 as soon as he was born. Luckily they introduced a prep year in Qld since then and fewer mums are sending kids to kindy now, so we still got a spot.

[Erin_25]

It doesn't hurt to be on the list & yes 3yr old kinder spaces usually (well in qld) are only given out after the 4yr old spaces are filled. So if you really want them to attend YES the name goes on the list very early & even then you may not get a spot.

[Nelle]

It's insane isn't it. As far as I understand, 3yo kindy is mostly about socialisation and getting your kids used to structure, so if you found a playgroup with structure that might work just as well? Our playgroup has playtime, with rules, then when the bell rings it's outside play time, and then they're supposed to wash their hands on their way back in, then it's snack time where they all have to wait and sing a cute little grace before they can eat and then storytime/songtime. There's quite a bit of structure, they know what's expected of them and what happens when, so I think that will be good enough for me.

So if you can't get your bub into 3yo, or don't want to, there's another good option. If you can find a good playgroup.

[~Raven~]

Yes do it now! We are in a high growth area I was told to enrol C at the 2yo check.

Unless you know you are going to move before then cos it will cost you $50

We had to enrol M in kinder at 6 weeks in Narre Warren

[Bathsheba]

Hah! I have a 3yo (just turned) and I haven't booked him in anywhere yet. I probably should. My other 2 kids went to 3yo kinder. I'm just not really inspired by any of the places around here anymore I guess. I don't know what I'll be doing myself yet (next year) so it's hard to know where will be the best place. If I am working then the council kinder won't work because the hours are too irregular.

[visitor1]

Yep birth around here too.

[Nelle]

Are you talking about actual 4yo kinder Sam?

[Daydream Believer]

Thats insane.

They should tell you at the MCHN checks or something, coz unless this person hadnt of asked me I wouldnt have even thought about it

[Bathsheba]

I didn't have my other two kids on waiting lists, strange. With my DD we just rocked up and enrolled her at the start of the year... around the end of January. It was a kinder linked to a private girls school and it was full time hours... so maybe that's why... it was quite expensive but i ended up working there too and recieved a %25 discount on the fees.

With my DS I enrolled him the year before, no dramas.

I don't understand if you put them on some waiting list from birth how on earth do you know what you'll be doing (working or not) or even if you will be living there??? So what do people do who move to a different area when their child turns 3???

[luna moth]

Put your name down - easier to change your mind later and take it off than it is to put it on (you'd be at the bottom)

[fionas]

Where we are, you can't put their name down until they turn 2 but they advise you to do it asap after their second birthday. We have to put down three kinders and they don't guarantee you your first choice which is a bummer because I don't drive and there's only one I can walk to without going up a massive hill and being in pain (still have dodgy pelvis) so I'll be completely stuffed if I can't get in to the only one that's accessible for me.

[rufalina]

My local center takes names from 12w gestation (with a $20 fee). If you don't have your name down by the day of birth, the chance of getting into that center is virtually impossible... You have reminded me to go and pop this littles ones name down...

[Trillian]

Rufalina, that's just crazy! 12wks gestation?! *walks away shaking her head in disbelief*

[Astrid]

I remember being hassled by this back in Melbourne. I was not too worried as I could use the kinder at my childcare centre and had priority enrolment due to DD1 already being there. I was still not left alone though, as others thought I should look into other kinders, I understood their reasoning, but the local one was walking distance and it meant I could still work a full day, as they would just put her back into childcare once kinder was over.

I think the whole system is awful and stressful. Enrolment should only be taken the year prior, whilst pregnant is just ridiculous and unfair to those who move into the area later.

[rufalina]

Yep. It is very hard filling in an application form... Gender unknown, DOB Unknown, Name Unknown etc...

Astrid - I agree totally, but I filled in the form to secure my place, but I do feel like I am fostering a system that is crazy and competative... And who knows what the center will be like in 3 years... They charge with staff etc...