What to look for in a Daycare
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Topic: What to look for in a Daycare
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Subject: What to look for in a Daycare
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 9:52am
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We are starting to look for a daycare if the need arises and I have to go back to work come September.
What should I look for (other than location, price, good staff etc)? What questions should we ask? Are there any recommendations (AKL central)? ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Replies:
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 10:17am
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as a preschool teacher:) I would suggest : looking to see if the children look happy?(thats the biggest one) do the teachers have time to spend with the children or is it like a factory....what is the programme like(are you after a structured environment or more sortof freeplay..obviously at 3 months its a little different:) )
Do the nursery teachers have a genuine love for children(lots dont seem too) ..are they happy with sticking to your routine? do they have a seperate area for under 2's/18 months? some of these things are hard to see ..thats why i always preferred people to just drop in but lots of places like you to book in first.. I'm sure there's lots more that my preg brain cant think of right now:) personally i would go with your gut as well.. and lots of places have long waiting lists as well! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Henna79
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 10:41am
| why don't you try home-based care instead of daycare? I am a homebased carer in Hamilton and the 2 sets of parents I have are so much happier with homebased care than daycare. |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 10:52am
Hi Henna, I don't seem to be able to find any in my area yet. I will keep trying tho  . It may be an option.------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 11:45am
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I had Ollie in a daycare a few months ago and the worst thing about it was that it was very sterile and not very "homely" - I think that is really important when placing a child in daycare. Also what I found annoying with my daycare was that they kept changing the caregivers so it didn't give Ollie the chance to get used to people. ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 1:17pm
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Sunnyhoney- I would definitely recommend homebased care, if you can find a carer if your area and that you get along with. Ella has just started homebased and we both love it- the educator is lovely and because she only has her 3 year old (and 6 year old during hols) at home she is able to spend more one-on-one time with Ella. Ella also loves watching the 3 year old and he is pretty good that sitting down and playing and talking with her. I also like the fact that she will stick to Ella's routine and because she is with her all the time is able to notice if Ella is more tired than usual and needs a little bit more sleep; also a bigger factor was that I could choose the individual carer (as opposed to in a daycare where there can be high turnovers). Realise homebased care isn't for everyone and it does very much depend on the individual educator..but just an option ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 1:57pm
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My friend works at a quite pricey daycare in Remuera, its $95 a day for as many hours as you need that they are open for and they provide everything. If you want the name PM and i'll gladly give it to you. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 2:18pm
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Madison goes has been at daycare for about two weeks now and she loves it. The centre is really friendly and homely. They didn't mind me just turning up to see how it felt before i had Madison.
I think its important that you like the feel of the place and can just turn up whenever to sus it out. Talk to the kids there and their parents if you can. A good daycare should let you do this. Also the one that Madison goes to had a couple of home visits before she started to get to know her and her routine which i thought was a great idea. She is in a daycare in Mt Albert if you want details let me know and i can pm you. -------------  
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Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 3:38pm
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If you don't mind, thanks Kicker. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 23 January 2008 at 9:39pm
I'd suggest you go to a few and then decide - and go with your gut feeling. You know what's important when looking after your bub - keeping them safe, dry, fed and entertained. Not too much to ask for eh 
I'd also suggest visiting a couple of times more once you have a short list and visiting at different times so you can see what things are really like. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 24 January 2008 at 9:27am
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i would too yummy but just remember if you have arranged a time ( i so prefer it when people drop in) you dont get a clear idea of what its normally like:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 24 January 2008 at 2:08pm
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I didn't always have a pre-arenged time. I'd call them so they'd know to expect me on the day but most daycares were OK with me saying I'll drop in sometime in the morning/afternoon - my excuse was fitting the visit with baby feeds etc and it always worked ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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