Childcare or no Childcare?

[shinri]

Hmm… DD is 15 mths turning 16 mths soon. I registered her early because afraid the school will be full.

She’s supposed to go pre-school in 2013, but nowadays I wonder if it’s too early?
To me, she’s still so small, so little, still like many things dunno, etc.
She just started to learn to walk, can only say a few words (i.e. mum mum, orh orh, gai gai, ne ne, etc) and only has 2 teeth.
I’m thinking now whether to delay for another year…

[cherrygal]

Shinri,

If your dd is already 16 mths soon, that means she will enter when she is 25 mths next Jan? By then, she should be steady enough and would have learnt to say more words. Things move relatively fast in the next 9 months. Dun worry so much…

[decollette]

Cherrygal:

I only brought along his bowl and spoon, but makes no difference to him hehe. Anyway, the principal updated me that he had quite abit of lunch today… (think he likes noodles thats why) They said they told him he could go to the play area if he ate his lunch as reward. Once, they tried stickers as reward but that didnt work. Anyway, Im glad they are working very hard with me to ensure he doesnt reject lunch totally.
Yeap i think your method about taking away food and offering same food afterwards is the right way! Often we offer alternatives they tend to become picky. Full day is definitely more flexible… but wondering how they manage so many kids having naps? What if some woke up and start crying, fussing etc? Won’t it affect the others?

ahbombom:
If i were u i would withdraw my child from the school. As a teacher she should know that separation anxiety is a normal thing, how can she shout at her to stop it? This would only make the anxiety worse. WHen my boy was 18 mths , i enrolled him in a childcare near my place… i pulled him out after just two days cos the group was just too big and it seems the teachers were shorthanded. To add to it, there are three other newbies joining on the same day. And when i meant big, its like 20 over toddlers in a room and just three teachers.Some little girl just cried in a corner and she was mostly ignored. I felt so bad for her. Leaving your child to adapt to childcare also meant being able to trust the teachers to a certain extent. I listened to my instincts and withdrew him. Then I went on to shortlist and view all other ccs before i decided on the current one. My boy was made welcome on the first day there and his separation anxiety was shorter than i expected… so dont lose heart! There are good ccs around, so dont settle for what you clearly are not comfortable with.

[decollette]

ahbombom:

Hi, many thanks for your views. The teacher is firm and very loud and we think she leans towards being fierce, at least that's our impression of her. We are likely to go with our instinct and withdraw DD.


Having this disappointing experience, we are thinking if we should find another childcare for her or wait till the year she turns 3. For those of you who sent your child to childcare at 18 months for purposes of socializing, literacy, and learning to be independent, do you see any huge benefits of doing so instead of waiting till the year they turn 3?

Once again, thanks for your comments.

Personally i think 3 is a little late, unless she is being stimulated with activities at home. Cos i find from 18 mths they learn and absorb very fast, and they are keen to explore. Mine was not so ready for the group experience at 18 months to be honest. But at 21 months, he was kinda ready.. as in he acted very interested in his surroundings and was not clingy to me somewhat.
My boy is close to being two months in half day cc in the morning. And he has started singing some songs, more verbal and i can make out what he says better now. Most importantly, its an indescribable feeling when he held on to his bag and walked in confidently to join his teachers and friends. Its good to know that he enjoys his time learning and having fun with others.
Good luck in whatever u choose

[alangolf]

Chat with the teacher and see what happens. If you’re still uncomfortable, should withdraw the child else you’ll be ‘haunted’ by the discomfort - having constant doubt (rightfully or wrongly).


Every child is different.

[ahbombom]

Many thanks for all the advice. We have withdrawn DD. It is exactly this discomfort that we decided to do so. Do PM me if you have recommendations on other cc or the ones that your DS/DD are happily attending that we should visit and find out more. Thanks.

[grapevine]

Hi. For my 2 cents worth, I tried out childcare ( the little skool house international) for my 18 month old. He refused to eat in school as well. He is used to eating semi-pureed food and being fed with a spoon while watching TV.

Not ideal but I had to leave my maid to handle him while at work.
He was ok when he could see me for first 2 days. I only left him at the CC for half day. The next few days when my hubby drove the maid to pick my kid up at noon - they could hear him crying form outside the school.
For the teachers’ part, I have to say they were good. They did ask me to send his home food and milk in with him in the morning and wrote about his feeding problems in the communication book. He still refused the food when they fed him. He also frequently vomited out whatever they managed to feed him.
I pulled him out of childcare before the end of 2 weeks.
Hubby and I decided to send him to kindergarten instead. He now goes to 1 and a half hour toddlers palygroup 2x a week caregiver/ parent accompained and he loves it.
I think if the kid is ready to be without a caregiver than childcare is ok but for some kids they are just not ready for the big change in environment so a gradual introduction is best.
I was thinking of Talent plus playgroup but I didn’t think the quality is good. He is now at Zoo Phonics kindergarten. Also tried out Growing up gifted and Julia Gabriel both were good but very expensive. For quality , they are all almost similar.
May try childcare when he is 4 years, plan to keep him in kindergarten till then.

[marucomoruca]

don’t worry to much. Send your kids to the childcare. They will get familiar and then love it

[Ran1977]

My child loves his MMI childcare…he cries to remain there when it is time to go home cos he wants to be with his friends and he is 5:)

[Ran1977]

...and with his teachers too :boogie:


:grphug: