What the daycare told me

Hi! This is the right thread for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. Great stuff, just great!
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Yip boys are pretty average and girls are just advanced.

Thanks Claudia!

At this point in time I am actually considering homeschooling my child/children - so imagine those strange looks!

Sorry for those who have boys - Notoriously boys are slower learners and she's the only girl in her class of 15, so I'm terribly worried about what the school is doing with these precious 3.5 hours a day - for now it's just to play, but she gets bullied by the boys (they bite, pinch, smack her and each other in the face and some have the foulest mouths)

Today when I went to fetch her they were watching Scoobie doo, in the mornings when the kids get dropped they are parked in front of the TV.

I tend to agree with Dr James Dobson who said that there is a difference between a daycare (birth till 5years) and a learning centre for preschool kids (only 3 - 5 years). The only problem is that I'm not aware of a real learning centre in our town, the only one I know about closed because it didn't make enough money.

Marijke you re not alone - I get a lot of flak from friends about the fact that James is not in daycare and that he is not going until 2014 (he'll be 3 and a half). I think with most people working school has become normal and all manistream parenting advice out there advocates me time. Honestly? Its just a lot of rubbish. Do what is right for you.

You have done a lot of alternative things that I'm sure you are used to your share of strange looks:)

BTW 11am is a long day for a little girl anyway, and her own bed is a lot more comfy:)

As for TV well dont get me started:)

Oh I feel way too strange to go the shops on my own, so use to having her in my trolley or toddling along. Don't get me wrong, sometimes she drives me up the wall because the child talks NON STOP and has started the why, why, but why questions.

Even hubby took a Friday off work and kept her home with him - he was very tired when I got home though

As far as 'schools' go for her, I'm not too happy, but she's with her cousin and loves him, if he wasn't there too I would have moved her somewhere else already but it's a difficult situation to tell my sister that the school isn't good enough for my child but ok for hers. The 'stimulation' she gets is possibly what's right for her age but we learn enough at home.

As far as meals go, we eat in the evenings and if she eats at school then she doesn't eat as much dinner with us, so if I know that I don't feel like cooking then I leave her till after their lunch (12) but pick her up before nap time. But then I'll also work till that time.

Seems the more independent she gets the more I want her close, but this is really my favourite age! Don't want to miss a moment

Marijke you are not strange to want to spend time with your daughter. I personally like the idea of having time to myself, but I am a selfish mom and have no problem admitting I need my own space.

Dylan school is quite strict. Fetch your child by 12 30 which is after the meal. Much before that and it does disrupt the learning plan they have set out, but if you dont' fetch before the nap then you can only fetch after 2 30 when the kids have finished sleeping which makes sense unless you have something important.

They do encourage regular hours where possible , but Dylan is 3 and in two years will step into a regular school. Can't believe it!!!

Oh and last year when I worked from home Dylan was in school from 8 till 4 30 every day.

What ever works for you is best for you.

Marijke,

Your not strange and you are paying them for a service, frankly its up to you when you fetch your child. As you say you are paying them for full day so its not like its costing them anything. I very much doubt you are causing any harm in spending more time with her

I am the same, I work from home and have a nanny, but I wont ever leave my daughter with the nanny to do personal stuff only when I am working or going to meetings, I like having Paige with me and she enjoys our time together.

So do what works for you... Each mom has their own routine and what works for them

Why don't you look at a play group that does mornings only, that way it will cost you less and all the kids will be leaving at the same time ?