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Glow 
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Joined: 19 February 2007
Location: Waikato
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 Topic: ECE
Posted: 14 March 2009 at 12:12pm |
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Do children of 3+ need ECE?
What is your opinion/experience?
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Mummy of Two Boys
B: 2004
K: 2007
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Brenna
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Joined: 22 November 2006
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Posted: 14 March 2009 at 1:49pm |
As far as I know, no child needs to be 'educated' until they are 6 in NZ. I could be wrong though...
I personally think that ECE is a good thing and to find a situation that suits your needs should provide many positive experience for a pre-schooler.
I'd say you need to do whatever feels right for you...if you are happy with not taking part in any official ECE then that's ok. I'm sure your kids get amazing experiences at home with you anyway 
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 My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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bluebird
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 14 March 2009 at 9:04pm |
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I think they need early childhood education, but that doesn't have to be in a childcare center, or preparation for school (reading, writing etc).
I believe that for young children the best educational experiences are just exploring the world at their pase, letting them smell the flowers etc, and giving them as many oppitunities as you can to experience new things, and if through that they show an interest in something, give them as much of that as you can until that moves onto something else.
All these thins can be in so many ways though, and as long as the child is learning and happy in the option you are choosing for your family then that's great.
If a center can fill those needs then great, but if I had the choice I would have rather have had DD at home with me for longer.
Obviously there are some great things about going to a center for children, like socialising for the child and time out for parents, and for our family it's a needed service so we can work.
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DD1 10/10/04
DD2 10/06/09
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fattartsrock
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Posted: 14 March 2009 at 9:49pm |
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Personally, I have found it to be good. Mind you, I am not a "natural" mother, so it helps, lol.
I feel it helps set him up for school etc, not so much with reading.writing/learning stuff, but the "social" thing, the routines, the working out things amongst each other thing, mat time, luch/morning tea time. the diifferent ages/people/ethnicities/gender etc, basically "life" outside home and your "mum" and family circle. Jake goes to the pre school attatched to the Catholic school he will attend, and there are lots of kids and families from all nations there. It is run like a kindy - eg "sessional" as opposed to a "daycare" type scenario, plus they do a prayer in the morning like they do at school and go back and forward on trips to the church at special times and talk about lent etc and all the stuff they will do at the school. I guess I am hoping it will make school less overwhelming for him, cos he is a kid who needs to know what is going to happen next. I guess it really depends on the child, and of course you! Personally, I think while it isn't essential, it is a good thing. JMHO, tho!
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The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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Rachael21
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Posted: 14 March 2009 at 10:22pm |
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Well I think they need education but it doesn't necessarily have to be from a preschool or kindy. I also the social side is important too but again that doesn't have to be from a preschool or kindy. No matter who you talk to they will always have 'evidence' that playcentre/preschool/montesorri etc is the 'best' for children. Go with whatever works for your family.
Just thought I'd add our experience. We were at playcentre and loved it. it really built Jacks confidence up. This year he has been at preschool and man its made such a huge difference with his speaking, toilet training and interaction with new people. Just the kind of child he is I think it will really help in preparation for school. Education is really important to me so I think its important for my kids to get the best start possible. I always planned to stay at home with Jack til he was five but now hes at preschool I think its fantastic, I'm actually kind of shocked how well hes adjusted to it.
Edited by RachandJack
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fattartsrock
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Posted: 15 March 2009 at 12:00am |
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I have to agree with you on the toilet training etc. Jake was so not interested until about 2 weeks after he started at St Marys, then he just said one day he wanted to do wees on the toilet and bang! It was done and here we are a year later almost no accidents at all. Also I notice his confidence is now sky high and other bits and peices. But like I said earlier, it totally depends on the kids and you!
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The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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Glow
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Posted: 16 March 2009 at 9:17am |
Great thanks for the replies
I believe that education is a life long process & the reason I ask is coz of the comments I have been getting recently about not using my 20 free hours & that I should be using them 
Brae does Playcentre 3 days per week & 1 of those is a drop off session. On his days off Playcentre we do other organised activities ie Music, storytime & coffe group etc so our week is busy, busy. He is a very bright, active & is becoming very social (he does have anxiety issues)
He wasnt at all interested in Kindy, infact hated it. Im also not keen on the ratios either.
I now have his name down on the waiting list for the local preschool for 1 day per week just so he gets used to school hours & being away from Me
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Mummy of Two Boys
B: 2004
K: 2007
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AandCsmum
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Posted: 18 March 2009 at 12:13pm |
Glow it sounds like you have it all under control!
Just cause they are there you don't have to use those hours, it's like saying cause the chocolate biscuits are in the house I have to eat them.
hehe just remembered I bought choc bikkies 
I used the hours but then I was working so it was great to not have to pay for 20 hours that I had been previously paying for.
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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Rachael21
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Posted: 18 March 2009 at 5:56pm |
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Well to me you are educating him so who cares what the other people have said. Education doesn't have to happen in a school/kindy/preschool and I think you are doing a wonderful job yourself.
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ECE