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BuzzyBee 
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Joined: 31 October 2007
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 Topic: Starting Kindy/Questions
Posted: 29 May 2009 at 2:32am |
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Just wondering when most of you started looking into kindergarten for your wee ones, when you enrolled and when they started?
What are my options - I prefer the idea of Montessori but financially I cannot afford that (ALTHOUGH I have heard that a few Montessori places offer 20 free ECE hours, not sure if thats true?). Is there such a thing as a Kindy where Mum can hang around most of the time, volunteer etc?
I only just found out recently that my Aunty (who has 3 kids 5 and under) was only taking her kids to Playgroup three times a week where she helps out,which actually sounds quite ideal as I like the idea of being really involved and being able to sit back and watch him interact and learn - her 5 yo who started school in July last year is top of his class and reading at a 7yo age level - he's really excelling!
I guess I'm thinking out loud really, I do want to get him into a playgroup once we've settled into our new place, just wondering if I should bother looking for a Kindy or just join a playgroup and commit ourselves to 3-4 days a week, and focus on the reading, learning to write etc when we are at home?
Thoughts, opinions and advice appreciated thanks.
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Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :)
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lizzle
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 29 May 2009 at 8:04am |
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what about playcentre? But look around and get some advice about it - cause some are fantastic! (mine in Gisborne was) and some are cliquey.
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AandCsmum
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Posted: 29 May 2009 at 8:21am |
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It sounds like she was helping at a play centre?
The kindy I took Alia to used an parent volunteer each session. I would presume that most have the same sort of system.
If you are a SAHM you could always look into being an homebased carer, you get a proper teaching program which your own child is included in & bonus is you get paid for looking after other kids, you only need to look after one extra if you want.
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Kel
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12
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MrsMojo
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Posted: 29 May 2009 at 8:40am |
You could look at Playcentre which he can start at any age and which parental participation is expected http://www.playcentre.org.nz/. I believe once they get to a certain age you can leave them there if you wish but you need to volunteer there a certain number of hours (remembering that when you do you'll be looking after other kids too, not just yours).
Montesorri is great and I love their philosphy but even with the 20 free hours you still need to pay. I am constantly impressed by the learning activities my friends daughter does at montesorri and I love how structured it is (that's my personality type coming through though). We were completely set on putting Michaela into montesorri (without actually looking anywhere else) until we found out how much you pay despite the 20 free hours, it's probably not huge for most but because we are going down to one income we decided to look around. The montesorri philosophies aren't only exclusive to montesorri kindys and IMO the most important thing is the behaviour practiced at home anyway. Check out their parents guide for more info http://www.montessori.org.nz/file/Parent%20Guide%20ECE%203-6(1).pdf
In the end we had a look at a few of the local kindergartens and put Michaela's name down on the waiting list for one of them. She was 2 1/2 when we did that and a place opened up for her at the start of the year when she was 3 months off her 3rd birthday. We love her kindy and are so happy with our decision. The teachers are fantastic. The activities are great and there's a good mixture of structure (meal times, quiet play time and mat time) and free play. She has her own folder which the teachers regularly update with photos and stories about the activities that she's been doing and how they relate to her development. Parents are welcome to stay for some or all of each session if they want to. I spent a great afternoon playing at kindy when I had an afternoon off awhile ago.
So now you're probably even more bewildered at your options but just have a look around and I'm sure you'll find something that suits you and your little guy.
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Glow
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Posted: 29 May 2009 at 2:32pm |
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I second or third Playcentre! Its a parent co-operative so parent involvment is needed. Its a place where child & parent learn together. Playcentre offers free parent education courses in child development & to inable to run the sessions etc, it is a great support network in the wider community. Yep Im a Playcentre mum & my boys & I really love it!
Check out your nearest Playcentre- you get your first 3 visits free.
Edited by Glow
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Mummy of Two Boys
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K: 2007
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aimeejoy
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Posted: 31 May 2009 at 8:34am |
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If you are expecting reading, writing type stuff at kindy, you will be disappointed! I think most kindys are self-directed play with learning opportunities through that, but nothing really structured, sit down and learn type stuff. For example, the kids might be playing with toy dinosaurs so the teacher talks to them a bit about dinosaurs.
In saying that though, Hannah loves kindy and she has so many friends now. What she loves the most is the singing and role playing they do. And we do a little bit of learning type stuff at home.
If you want to be really involved I would also suggest Playcentre. Oh and Hannah started kindy just after her 3rd birthday, but I had put her on the list when she was 2.
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Aimee
Hannah 22/10/05
Greer 11/02/08
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Candkids
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Posted: 01 June 2009 at 5:54pm |
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id definatly look into them all go along during the day and see what they do, with sarah we did a mixture of kindy & playcentre which was really good and she loved kindy.
all kindys are different, so pays to check out a few near you, some of the teachers like to teach the kids to write etc which is awsome, but some of the others are very child led learning focused so unless a child asks them to help them write something they wont.
id love jett to go to montesori too but there is only 1 here and when we went and had a look it was awfull, the head teacher was really rude and the place was soooooo messy ( like dirty messy) so that put me off.
(but im a tad bias as my mums been a kindy teacher for 36yrs & works for ERO )
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 DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above
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Candkids
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Posted: 01 June 2009 at 5:59pm |
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and . at sarahs kindy there were a few mums who stayed the whole time & read books to the kids & helped out with stuff
usually most kindys have someone who helps out for a hour over the lunch time so the teachers can have a break/ paparwork etc,
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DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above
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Starting Kindy/Questions
