Childcare or no Childcare?

[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?

[chavie]

Has your child experienced trauma while attending child care or preschool class? What happened and how did you help your child recover from trauma?

[icemountain]

I come from another side of the coin. Perhaps, you might appreciate a different perspective.


Your girl sounds a lot like my younger child. She’s independent, sociable and no separation anxiety. Now she’s 3.5 years old and only attends one drop off class a week. She goes out with me every single day and I leave her running in and out of neighbours’ houses.

Perhaps you are already feeling societal pressure to put her in school since most of her peers are already there?

Socialisation to me is not about interacting with kids of the same age day in day out. It is the ability to interact with people of all ages. She must be polite and courteous to greet and acknowledge friends and strangers, share her toys and ask politely if she wants to play with another kid. As her mum, I’m fortunate I’m around to guide her.

She plays with kids who are in school and I can tell you many of them don’t play well, don’t share well and aren’t polite at all. How our kids behave depends on how we parents guide them.

I personally don’t see kids who go to school earlier get a headstart over those who go later. Similarly, kids who read at 3 are not better readers than those who read at 6!

You have a major advantage in that your daughter has your devoted time. Relish this time to guide her in the way you want her to grow. In time, when she hits primary school, it really doesn’t matter whether she started school at 2.5 yrs or 3 yrs.

[smurf]

May I hijack this thread?


My 21 mth boy still cannot talk and I'm very keen to put him in a childcare (maybe starts with 1/2 day 1st). I'm a SAHM but because he is very active, I fnd that I can't manage him anymore. also, I dun want him to bum around doing nothin, might as well let him go sch and learn something, there is only so much that I can teach him and most time, he doesn't listen to me anyway.

the problem is, he is a tyrant. resemble spoilt brat I would say. but he is very affection. when he sees a child around his age, he would beat them. but also would hug them IMMEDIATELY after beating. I'm worried when he goes to childcare, the teacher cannot manage him, afterall, they have many children to look after, where got time to see if he disturbs other kids? :?

also, he is quite active. he can just run off by hmself after let loose even for 1 sec. and you wouldn't be able to find him. so, when I bring him out, super stress!!
any advise??