Childcare or no Childcare?

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

I’m a SAHM, my girl is 30mth. I’m in a dilemma as to whether to send her to pre-nursery next year or let her start nursery at 3.5? Is it too early to start school? She is the only child at home, her playmates are mummy and grandmother. Her daily routine are flash card, watch mio-luli channel and some educational videos from library. She will go playground everyday and goes out to library or shopping mall once a week. Pre-nursery and nursery are they just a warm up for them to go formal K1? She used to go playgroup at 2 for abt 4 mth because she picked up lots of bad habits from there, so I stop her from going. She has no separation anxiety since the first day of school. Everytime I asked her "do you want to go to school", her ans is "Yes". Or is it better to start off with once a week enrichment (eg. phonics)? I would like to have some advice from mummy out there. Thanks

[jedamum]

it depends on your kid's character, whether you can find a good PreN and other factors.

my ds1 started his twice a week playgroup at 2.5yo; a disaster cos my boy was frightened by the disciplinary technique the teachers meted out to his fellow classmates. later on, we withdrew him and he started his nursery at 3.5yo.
my ds2 started his daily PreN at 2.5yo. while he still cries during the parting time almost daily (cos teacher made him sit on the naughty chair due to his rough behaviour), he gets to learn to follow rules in school, interact with others and i get a breather for that 3 hours.
so far, ds2 doesn't pick up bad habits in his preN...his classmates pick up bad habits from him! :shock: :oops: [/i]

[tankee]

er … how about opinion from a daddy?


My DS started to go to pre-Nursery at 18 months. I started him early as he is the only child; and the first grandchild on my wife’s side of the family and my in-laws are the caregivers.

IMO, kids being kids; they would pick up each other bad habits from time to time regardless how old they are. It is our role & responsibility to guide them.

[winth]

jedamum:

it depends on your kid's character, whether you can find a good PreN and other factors.

Agreed!
My boy was 18 months when he went to daycare with a school bus arrangement. There was no such thing as separation anxiety with him.

Now, at 2.5 year old, he challenges K2 students and 'disturbs' them. He's highly independent and knows his way around to get the things he want, forunately or unfortunately :roll: Yes, he has learnt some unwanted 'habits' but well, this is all part of growing up.

Mac, your girl sounds really independent and she might be feeling alittle lonely when left at home that she'd rather spend her time with peers of her age.

[KingRascal]

My DS went to pre-nursery the moment he turned 18mths. At 20mths, I decided to put him in a full-day childcare as the nursery school near my babysitter’s house (for her convenience) was really really lousy…


Never regretted the 5 years he was with the childcare. Too many things to share on his development, that’s all I can say - it was a good move.

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

Yes, my girl is independent but I think might be feeling alittle lonely. Yes, winth, perhaps early education can have early exposure and spending time with peers of her age. But is there much different if start at pre-nursery or nursery?

[jedamum]

mac_t13@hotmail.com:

But is there much different if start at pre-nursery or nursery?

no, there is not much difference whether you start at PreN or Nursery....except.....if the preschool is VERY popular! one of the key reasons i let ds2 start PreN is so that he has priority registration at Nursery level.
other than that...i don't see any difference if you wait for another 6mths.

[clarabella]

Hi mac_t13
[quote]But is there much different if start at pre-nursery or nursery?[/quote]I think that depends on the curriculum taught at the preschool. I have seen some schools where the Pre-N curriculum is equivalent to the Nursery level at other schools, and vice-versa, some where the Nursery curriculum is much like the Pre-N in the more 'academic' kindergartens.

It also depends on your own comfort level. Would you feel that your DD is losing out if she goes to preschool a year later than her peers who went at the age of 3? I know of parents who are horrified at that thought! But I guess since you're exploring the idea instead of having already enrolled, you don't mind waiting.

And lastly, if you're worried that she is lonely, how about arranging regular playdates with neighbours and friends?

[girlmum]

[quote]But is there much different if start at pre-nursery or nursery?[/quote]
Pre-N curriculum is very much the same as the Nursery. U may continue to teach her the alphabet & the sounds of the letter so as your child will able to pick up when she starts nursery. Social skills is the key factor that your child will learn when she starts Pre-N or nursery. Fine & gross motor skills are also important too. Fine motor skills such as holding a pencil correctly, colouring or the use of scissors. Gross motors skills include jumping, hopping or able to balance on a plank. These are just some of the activities that u may want to start off. I do agree that enrolling in a Pre-N class will give u priority when she promotes to nursery (ie. the session AM/PM u wanted).
Hope it helps.

[mac_t13.02738hotmail.02738com]

Her motor skills are fine. She can holding a pencil correctlyand write some letter words, she can hold a scissors but not cutting very nicely but she have no patient over colouring. Jumping, hopping & able to balance on a plank are also not a problem as she practice everyday at the playground. Sometimes I really run out of activities ideas especially social development. Preschools is it a good place for fun-loving play and learn for toddlers?