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Mama2two 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Whangaparaoa
Points: 2835
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 Posted: 10 June 2010 at 12:22am |
 fattartsrock wrote:
Kindy does have to follow the curriculm/Te Wharariki, absolutely and I think you will find that most kindys not only have smaller ratios, but are staffed at 100% qualified teaching levels - meaning all teachers are fully qualified. |
Sam has just started Kindy and we were lucky enough to get her into a lovely one run through a local church. It has a qualified teacher ratio of 1/5 plus there is usually a trainee and parent help as well.
I have never had her in care up until now, but have to say I think we are both enjoying the break - plus I am getting true one on one time with my wee boy which is also a big bonus 
I did consider putting her into the local daycare for a couple of half day sessions a week (the waiting list at the Kindy is very, very long and we weren't sure if she would get in before she was 4!) but when it came down to it I just couldn't afford to pay the fees for the daycare who also stipulated a minimum of 3 half days per week!
I have to admit I am much happier with the $3 a session I am currently paying though.
I  Kindy!
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kebakat
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Palmy North
Points: 10980
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 10:06am |
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When investigating preschool options for daniel this is what I found:
Kindy - after spending an entire day there (my mum babysat, I did this when applying to do teaching) all the kids did was free play with a story on the mat and helped tidy up. It was seriously all I saw. There was no small group activities, kids just did as they pleased the whole time. That was for all the kids there, I saw the morning and afternoon session.
Daycare - it can be seasonal if you choose it to be, Daniels daycare asks if you want them to come during the school holidays or not. I spent a day at the daycare as well and they had lots of free play too but they also have a roster of what kids are going to help making morning/afternoon tea that day. For certain age groups they would take those kids aside and do special activities with them (of like 4 or 5 kids at a time), they would get all the kids together and do a story time on the mat and it wasn't just read a story, they had a magnetic board where the kids got involved in putting the right pictures up at the right time and they had dress ups as well for one of the stories. Then they had painting stations and playdough etc set up similar to what I saw at kindy.
Montessori - was like daycare but much more structured.
Daniel and quite a number of the kids in his daycare don't go to daycare because they need looking after, its for the education side. Because there are more teachers they have the opportunity to do more things. Each teacher at daycare can be supervising an activity as well as having the ones out that dont require supervision. It seemed heaps more entertaining than kindy that just seemed like free play galore.
I know I am opinionated on this and whether this is typical palmy or typical nz I don't know. Theres no way I'd send Daniel to kindy after seeing what he gets from daycare by comparison.
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tishy
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Joined: 17 August 2007
Location: Wellington
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 11:26am |
Raspberryjam wrote:
Kids learn by play, I dont really give a rats if she is at kindy or daycare as long as she is happy |
Oh I so agree with this.
Peanut wrote:
I think you will find its hard to compare them all just based on what they are called. |
And with this.
I didn't grow up in NZ (and have no close family here) so I have no presumptions for pre schooling options. Therefore I will choose to do what suits me and my family.
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Raspberryjam
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Location: north shore
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 11:53am |
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So it turns out our care is 1 to 7, not including the trainees, so thats awesome!
And they have a structure of play, and mat time so I guess thats good too
I wish she was 3 though! that 20 hours free better still be available when she is!!
We have no family either Tish so I have struggled long enough by myself - I so grateful for the time I get alone - even if it just to do housework
better go - she is sick and sooo grouchy
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crafty1
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Joined: 03 July 2008
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 2:52pm |
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it sounds like there is such a huge variation in quality at diff places. Our local kindy kicks butt over the other options around here and is walkable. And the minimum hours for the walkable daycare is 3 full days which i'm not stoked about.
fattartsrock - sorry you thought i was being judgemental, it wasn't where i was coming from, tbh i'm just straight up. That was literally our day the other day and i know when i used to come home from work i did BA with my boy as i just didn't have the time or energy. So i'm genuinely amazed that working mums spend 20% more quality time with their kids. How do they do it!
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freckle
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Joined: 03 December 2008
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 3:02pm |
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crafty1 - it's 20% LESS according to that research...
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mum to 3 lovely girls :D
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flakesitchyfeet
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Joined: 23 March 2008
Location: A cute wee place in the SI
Points: 1564
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Posted: 10 June 2010 at 5:09pm |
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I'm a SAHM with their child in two mornings a week. Keeps me sane. That and her grandmother works there full time, she loves having her there! But, more importantly, I take time out for me, and they are my real housework mornings. Just cause DD is in care during that time doesn't mean I'm not working around the place either! It helps us keep a balanced life :)
Edited by Flake
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  http://eggsineachbasket.blogspot.com/
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DC when you don’t work..
