Childcare or no Childcare?

[dokomo]

Hi,

 
I need advises from mummies here. Many thanks!
 
My intention is to put my 2yrs+ girl in full day ccc in 2 weeks time.

Is it better to let her adjust gently by going for half days for first week followed by full days from second week onwards? or full days from first day onwards? 

She has not been in ccc before, only 2 hrs playgroup for past 3 months. My worry is she will get culture shock of having to adjust to new environment, new friends, new teachers, bathe by teacher, sleep there etc, all within a day. Half day is good for first week but she will have to adjust 2 times, double wham.

I want her to start on the right footing and enjoy going to ccc.

[Fuzz]

Hi dokomo


Does the centre allow you to start off with half days then switch to full days? If you can do that, maybe that will help. Some centres don’t even allow parents to hang around and accompany their kids after the first day. It’s very hard to let go, I know! Totally understand your worries.

Yes childcare can be quite traumatic for the kids initially. Esp if you go directly into the full day program. But it’s sort of like throwing them in the deep end of the pool. They usually learn to swim much faster.

I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. Children are usually hardier than we think. Just work closely with the teachers and centre manager, find out how your girl is adapting, ask them to let you know how you can help. All the best!

[DesertWind]

dokomo:

Hi,

 
I need advises from mummies here. Many thanks!
 
My intention is to put my 2yrs+ girl in full day ccc in 2 weeks time.

Is it better to let her adjust gently by going for half days for first week followed by full days from second week onwards? or full days from first day onwards? 

She has not been in ccc before, only 2 hrs playgroup for past 3 months. My worry is she will get culture shock of having to adjust to new environment, new friends, new teachers, bathe by teacher, sleep there etc, all within a day. Half day is good for first week but she will have to adjust 2 times, double wham.

I want her to start on the right footing and enjoy going to ccc.

Hi, if you can, start gently with half-day first. In fact the first few days when I put my boy in childcare, I picked him up earlier than usual. Gradually after he get use to it after few days, we left him longer & longer. If your girl could not get use to it the first few days yet you left her there to cry and cry, don't think it is so good. If she can stop crying after a while it is ok. But my boy in the first week will stop and then start crying again intermittently.

As for \"throwing the kid into the deep end\". Well, I am not a risk-taker with my kid. What is damaged cannot be reversed so I will rather take the gentle way out.

All the best!
:celebrate:

[dokomo]

Thanks for both your advises.


Yes, the centre allows me to start with half days and proceed to full days after that. (but I am still paying full days fees) She will have an excursion on her 3rd day, i am hoping she will enjoy it and like school.

I will probably put her there half day on first day and see how it goes from second days onwards. Guess I am the one who is more anxious. She has already said she doesn't want to go to school when i prepared her mentally for full day school and how school will be fun.

[Fuzz]

All the best dokomo, hope your girl adjusts well to school!


My friend’s daughter just started attending pre-nursery this year. She cried like mad the first week, still cried during the 2nd week but not so badly, 3rd week she was ok but still a bit reluctant. She took a while to adapt but now she totally loves going to school!

[rachelam]

Fuzz:

Hi dokomo


Does the centre allow you to start off with half days then switch to full days? If you can do that, maybe that will help. Some centres don't even allow parents to hang around and accompany their kids after the first day. It's very hard to let go, I know! Totally understand your worries.

Yes childcare can be quite traumatic for the kids initially. Esp if you go directly into the full day program. But it's sort of like throwing them in the deep end of the pool. They usually learn to swim much faster.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. Children are usually hardier than we think. Just work closely with the teachers and centre manager, find out how your girl is adapting, ask them to let you know how you can help. All the best!

Hi Fuzz, I agree with you. My child is about 2 and I sent her to the stamford little genius full day program directly. Like you mentioned, it was really painful to drop and leave my daughter, sort of like what you mentioned - throwing her in the deep end of the pool.

Just a week into her program, my daughter started adjusting better. Quite pleased that Stamford little genius allows me to start off with a full day trial at only $40 per week before considering to switch my daughter to a half day program.

I am looking for a good chinese program. Any recommendations?

[dokomo]

rachelam:

Fuzz:

Hi dokomo


Does the centre allow you to start off with half days then switch to full days? If you can do that, maybe that will help. Some centres don't even allow parents to hang around and accompany their kids after the first day. It's very hard to let go, I know! Totally understand your worries.

Yes childcare can be quite traumatic for the kids initially. Esp if you go directly into the full day program. But it's sort of like throwing them in the deep end of the pool. They usually learn to swim much faster.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry too much. Children are usually hardier than we think. Just work closely with the teachers and centre manager, find out how your girl is adapting, ask them to let you know how you can help. All the best!

Hi Fuzz, I agree with you. My child is about 2 and I sent her to the stamford little genius full day program directly. Like you mentioned, it was really painful to drop and leave my daughter, sort of like what you mentioned - throwing her in the deep end of the pool.

Just a week into her program, my daughter started adjusting better. Quite pleased that Stamford little genius allows me to start off with a full day trial at only $40 per week before considering to switch my daughter to a half day program.

I am looking for a good chinese program. Any recommendations?

Hi Fuzz,
Agree with you, putting them at full day ccc is like throwing them into the deep end of the pool. Btw, do most ccc make the kids do colouring at least 2 times a day generally?

Hi rachelam,
may I have some feedback from you about stamford little genius pls? Is it good? How is the curriculum like and teacher to kiddo ratio?

[princesskaris]

HI I am new to the forum would like to seek some advice here.


I am currently torn between putting my girl who is turning 3 years old next year to Kindergarten or a childcare centre. I have the option to put my daughter at kindergarten because I am currently working part-time and will be able to fetch her back from her 3-hour class on some days. On other days, she can take the schoolbus back to my mother in law’s house which is just a stone’s throw away from school and kindergarten. By the way, the kindergarten which I have shortlisted is just 5 min walk from my home and 8 min drive from my mil’s house. The school seems to have very loving and caring teachers and I can see that the children are very happy during my visit there.

On the other hand, I have also shortlisted a premium childcare centre that seems to have a very comprehensive curriculum and I am thinking whether I should put her there for half a day first and convert her to full day when she is in nursey level. She will take the schoolbus back to my mil’s house and hubby will fetch her to school daily. I am very attracted by the school’s curriculum.

Both schools have their pros and cons. I am really having a headache over the selection of choice. anyone can help? Thanks!

[DesertWind]

princesskaris:

I am currently torn between putting my girl who is turning 3 years old next year to Kindergarten or a childcare centre.

Both schools have their pros and cons. I am really having a headache over the selection of choice. anyone can help? Thanks!

Hi princesskaris,

Wow, this type of question very difficult to answer. Because actually it really depends on what you want! Because yes, for kindy, you will really need the home-support to be able to fetch your girl home. For a CCC, you can opt to put her there for longer hours.

If you ask me, my 2-cents worth of opinion would be to put her to the kindy which is much nearer to you since it would be the first time she is going to school is it? Then when she is older you can decide whether to change her to the premium pre-school you mentioned.

Furthermore, the school fees between this kindy and premium school must be quite large. Presumably it is not an issue for you.

Really again the choice is yours!

[princesskaris]

desertwind, thanks so much for your reply.. really appreciate it!


Yes, my daughter is attending school for the first time... Think I have more or less decided to put her to the half-day child-care centre since I would prefer a more academic environment. The hours are more flexible and I can bring her there earlier or later, likewise for fetching her home, as compared to Kindy which has a fixed schedule. Finally decided to choose the more academic choice and I can't choose to put her at the kindy during pre-nursery and transfer her to the cc during nursery level because the cc has super long wait list and I need to enrol her during pre-nursery level to secure a place there.

Anyway, hope that I have made the right choice.. wish me luck!