is it good to send the kid to cc before he can speak?

[Imami]

Actually I always thought being in a childcare centre setting accelerated my child’s development. He waved goodbye at 7 months, walked (really walk, not wobbling/cruising) at 9 months, talk at 12 months (two to three words/syllabus at one go), ran at 15 months, toilet trained at 22 months, self feed at 28 months… not trying to show off here but I sincerely believe that the childcare centre my child attended played a huge role in my child’s development.


But of course, it takes two hands to clap. How much/fast a child can develop is difficult to determine. The same bunch of kids who went to the same cc around the same time as my child developed at different rate even though they did everything together. Now that all of them are 4 years old, some still babble (only the parents understand what they are talking about), some still dunno how to wear shoes. Some can dress themselves up already – zip, button, shoe Velcro etc. Some toilet trained – day and night.

[Imami]

Actually I always thought being in a childcare centre setting accelerated my child’s development. He waved goodbye at 7 months, walked (really walk, not wobbling/cruising) at 9 months, talk at 12 months (two to three words/syllabus at one go), ran at 15 months, toilet trained at 22 months, self feed at 28 months… not trying to show off here but I sincerely believe that the childcare centre my child attended played a huge role in my child’s development.


But of course, it takes two hands to clap. How much/fast a child can develop is difficult to determine. The same bunch of kids who went to the same cc around the same time as my child developed at different rate even though they did everything together. Now that all of them are 4 years old, some still babble (only the parents understand what they are talking about), some still dunno how to wear shoes. Some can dress themselves up already – zip, button, shoe Velcro etc. Some toilet trained – day and night.

[straffan23]

Childcare, playgroup, infantcare etc offers structured playtime. IMHO, Learning to play is important because playing is fun, and it sets the foundation for all other forms of learning. I regretted not doing a pre-registration for my DS2 for playgroup - we had to wait until he was 27 mths before being offered a place. The difference can be seen from the end of first week onward. Being in a group of children also automatically teaches them things that they haven't quite figure out yet - monkey see, monkey do - there's pros and cons but I cannot keep on protecting him.


Be prepared for incidents such as pushing, falling down, scratches... and my daughter even got bitten once, and got her face mauled once. But these type of incidents are often skin-deep, and I am cool about it. Some parents are very courteous and they seek you out to apologise; others don't. My daughter learnt 2 things - one, run away when being attacked, and two, scream for the teacher! :boogie:

[Imami]

straffan23:

Childcare, playgroup, infantcare etc offers structured playtime. IMHO, Learning to play is important because playing is fun, and it sets the foundation for all other forms of learning. I regretted not doing a pre-registration for my DS2 for playgroup - we had to wait until he was 27 mths before being offered a place. The difference can be seen from the end of first week onward. Being in a group of children also automatically teaches them things that they haven't quite figure out yet - monkey see, monkey do - there's pros and cons but I cannot keep on protecting him.


Be prepared for incidents such as pushing, falling down, scratches... and my daughter even got bitten once, and got her face mauled once. But these type of incidents are often skin-deep, and I am cool about it. Some parents are very courteous and they seek you out to apologise; others don't. My daughter learnt 2 things - one, run away when being attacked, and two, scream for the teacher! :boogie:

Nice post. Indeed, I totally agree on the monkey see, monkey do. Stopped short of saying that earlier because some parents, especially those who are uninitiated/in two minds about cc, may misconstrue my intended meaning. When I look back at the same group of babies who were with my child, indeed – nothing described them better than “monkey see, monkey do”. When my child started walking, all of them around the same age group all began to cruise/wobble soon.

The biting/hair pulling/slapping episodes are to be expected too. children all come from different backgrounds and are exposed to different elements. Some may take to biting due to stress/insecurity (e.g. a new baby in the family). Hair pulling/slapping may be picked up from the tv, digested by the children but not guided appropriately by the parents (sometimes parents didn’t know that their kids had picked up such thigns). Children are amazing little people, they adapt fast. There was a big size biter in my child’s infant group. This boy was 4 months older and a lot bigger (my child was around his shoulder level and when my child stood behind that boy, you could not see my child). He tailed after my then 6 months old just so to bite him. One day the teacher told me that my child was bitten by another infant and his shin had a ‘jaws bite mark’. The mark didn’t go away until one week later and my child was limping around becos he was so badly bruised at the shin by the bite.

I was naturally very worried since my kid was much smaller than Jaws. I tried to check on my child from the teachers, after having heard from several parents that Jaws also attacked their kids. One teacher was very nice, she said my child learned his lesson fast. When my child saw Jaws coming, he would try to move away and if he could not, he would “flap” his arms around to deter Jaws (because coming too close, jaws would end up being slapped by my child hahahah).

So yes, they would adapt. Stay chill, even though the first time may be horrible.

[nedved]

Interesting Imami, your kid adapts really quickly.


I hv heard cc like Little Skool House offers flexi 3hrs program. Is it a good starting point before switching to half day or full day ones?

[Imami]

nedved:

Interesting Imami, your kid adapts really quickly.


I hv heard cc like Little Skool House offers flexi 3hrs program. Is it a good starting point before switching to half day or full day ones?

Do you have someone at home to take care of the child presently?

You seem to hesitate alot. I sense that 1) you have a choice - your child has someone to take care of her even without childcare and that 2) you really have little faith in cc. Now why the lack of faith? In order for us here to share the relevant experience/opinion, you need to help us understand your concern.

I personally don't have good Impression of little skool house. went to view two ctr, but decide not to out my child with them. A close friend puts her kid at one of the branches but is always complaining about them.

Wrt 3hr flexible class, will full day cc be your eventual aim? If not, then go for kindergarten. If you are going to out your child in a full day cc eventually, then I don't see the point of 3hr child care.