Daycare Question
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37020
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Topic: Daycare Question
Posted By: nathansmummy
Subject: Daycare Question
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 12:43pm
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Just a couple of questions - I am just starting to put my son in daycare for about 8hrs/week - 2 morning sessions. So it's not a lot but obviously I want what's best for him and I've only looked at one centre because others were twice as much, however the "baby area" (under 2's) was quite small and not loads of toys. DS would love their 3+ area with a huge sandpit, two playgrounds, water play area and inside puzzles and books etc.
My question is for those that use daycare - what does your "baby area" (under 2's) have and how big is it, what condition are the toys in... and how much per hour are your daycare charges? Particularly those in Auckland. TIA!! |
Replies:
Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 12:54pm
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The DC that my daughters go to have a great under two area. They have the usual inside area, which has lots of books, games, objects etc for them to play with. Outside they have their own area with a bigish patch of grass, sandpit and deck area. They set up water play on the deck, and have outdoor toys to play with.
Toys are all in good condition and get cleaned/fixed regularly. Charges are approx $250 a week for full time. Oh and we are in Auckland. -------------  
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 1:07pm
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Not in Auckland but my friend is the head teacher at a DC in Remuera. They change $105 a day (I think now) regardless of hours child is in. They also had anything and everything you can think for a baby there. It is the DC used by all the celebs. Here in Palmy about $250 I think is standard for fulltime DC of a baby. The place Josh goes to have a wonderful babies area. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattykat
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 1:17pm
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DD is in the under twos / baby area full time. We pay $190 but not in Akld, we also supply Nappies & lunch but morning & afternoon tea is provided.
With her DC the area is smallish compaired to the next room up but they have a lot less children in there. They have a lovely outdoor area with grass, sandpit, etc. They rotate the toys every few days but also have cupboards for each week. If that makes sense. Week one toys get rotated throughout the week then go back in the cupboard and week twos come out. They also do lots of reading and dancing. She seems to love it there |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 1:50pm
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I am also not in Auckland but the boys DC is about $45 a day including food for a half day its $35.
The under 2 area is a converted house so a decent size with a standard size yard. It has swings and a sandpit, lots of ride one toys etc outside. It has a covered deck fro playing on if wet. They also set up stuff outside like water play, bubbles etc. Heaps of stuff inside and they often do painting etc. Hope that helps. -------------  
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 1:54pm
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Our under two room is split .. so the under ones although are technically in the same room have their own room inside the bigger room. They share the outside area, but there is a fenced off smaller part where the under ones can hang out without fear of being trampled.
The outside area has the same things as the over twos, but the land area is slightly smaller - its also flat the over twos also have a hilly area to play on. ETA - Its $100.00 per day regardless of hours. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 3:14pm
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We're auckland, There is 2 centers - 1 is aged 2-5 years the other 0-3 years. The younger group split with the under 2s in one area, the 2 year olds in another area (other than early morning and late in the afternoon when theyre together) They dont offer sessions, but for a full day (anytime between 7am and 6pm) it is $55 (give or take a dollar) and less for fulltime. This includes food.Theyre lucky enough to have a HUGE area to move about it - and large outdoor area. Lots of toys/equipment - although not all is out at one time. Condition of toys - they are all quite new (the center opened early this year) although some are missing parts. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 8:03pm
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At G's daycare the under 2's are in a smaller room just off the 2-3 year old area. Its only a bit bigger than the size of a standard lounge so not big but they usually only have about 8-10 kids so not too many. They have their own outdoor area on the covered deck though, and also a lawn type area with a sand pit, slide etc outside which is quite big.
The toys are all in good condition and get rotated daily. They are all stored in a big cupboard and the teachers get out different things each day. They also have a massive wooden train set and car track which they sometimes set up, plus fish in a tank and stuff that stays out all the time like the dolls and dress ups. G's daycare charges $6.50 per hour and I don't send her for the standard sessions which they are totally fine with. Thats one of the reasons I send her there. They also have a cooked hot meal for lunch every day and nappies are supplied. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Jaxnz1
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 9:12pm
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Our DC (in Hamilton) has three separate houses, the under 2's house is the smallest of all the houses, but they only ever have about 10 kids at a time.
The outdoor area consists of a huge sandpit, water table, mini playground and grass area. Toys are different every day and are in good condition. They have a separate kitchen and sleeping area. They charge $6 an hour and only supply morning and afternoon tea. The one thing I considered (price wise) was the ratio of teachers to kids. ------------- 
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 9:16pm
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Were in Auckland and pay $40 a day, no matter how long DS is there for. He is in the baby room, which goes up to about 1 year, but they can be kept in longer until they are ready to move up to the next room, which is up to 2 years. The baby room is awesome, has heaps of toys, and just has a great feel to it. The next room up has an outdoor area that they can access but they need to be pretty confident on their feet etc before they move into that room.
I looked at another daycare that was twice the price, and it was so boring and lacking in personality. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: julz85
Date Posted: 08 December 2010 at 9:55pm
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i have recently had to move my DD from one preschool to another beacause the old preschool was closing there under 2';s area next yr. the under 2's at her old preschool was VERY small ( they had a max 7 babies but would ussualy only have 2 or 3 babies ) more often than not my DD would venture into the over 2's and play with them , it was a very small centre tho so all the kids were very closely monitored and all played together, it was charged on an hourly rate ($5.50 an hr) and i had to pack her lunch and nappies . Her new preschool is a much bigger centre , it is a purpose built centre , only 18mths old , it has 5 seperate class rooms (0-14months, 14months-2, 2-3yrs , and at the moment 3-5yrs but once the role increases that will also be split to 3-4's and 4-5's) in saying that they do tend to mix them quite a bit , there is 3 seperate outdoors areas and they are really awesome , in the under 2's outdoors area they have a sandpit , swings, baby slides , little tykes cars , theres a big white bunny that jumps around outside (they are really good at picking up his droppings) , they also have a mouse in a cage and a bird in a cage inside , HEAPS of toys and books plus they supply ALL the food AND nappies and there rates are $26 half day ( up to 6 1/2hrs) or $52 a full day ( open 7am-6pm) its a great centre for working parents because they dont even close over xmas ( apart from the 2 stat days) Financially it works out cheaper at the new one for me because dd is in for 3 half day sessions a week ( 3 6 1/2 hr sessions) plus of course they supply food and nappies which is a bonus . i have been happy with both preschools, i think at the end of the day it is the teachers that make the difference , TBH i preferred the teachers at the first preschool dd went to and even tho it was a small centre and no where near a flash as her new one i would have kept her there if they didnt have to close the under 2's (government funding) purely because the teachers were so lovely , they really went out of their way for DD as at her new one i sometimes just feel lke she is a number as they have so many babies there . ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 12:52pm
| Thanks everyone for your imput. It's good to know what is "normal" out there. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 2:01pm
| maybe a nanny or in home carer would be more to your and your sons liking? |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 3:49pm
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and I do nannying and am looking for work for next year ------------- susie |
Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 8:44pm
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it's interesting to read the huge range in prices for daycare for an under 2.
I am an under2's teacher and work part time in a great nursery. The main key things i think you could look for asa parent are: apart from warm, friendly, interested, qualified staff is space lots of space to move around and interesting toys and areas to explore. Is it clean well looked after?. Lots of toys good quality a variety of activies providied. Such as painting, messy play, sandpit, water play, climbing boxes, a good size outdoor area.e.t.c. But then again there are some beautiful centres that are clean, new lovely, heaps of toys and look the part but have huge staff turn over and the staff are not great. So i say staff and of course cost are huge factors. Just to add $100 a day is crazy! $500 a week WHAT?? -------------  
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Posted By: mel_b
Date Posted: 10 December 2010 at 2:22pm
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My son's daycare has separate Babies and Toddlers areas, which each have their own room, plus a room each for sleeping in, and the toddlers have an eating/kitchen area. Heaps of toys and things to do inside. They also have an 'outdoor' area that is in between the two sides of the building, and has a sunshade. This area has a deck and a small babies playground. And they also have a larger outside area with a garden and sandpit, water play area and bikes to ride on etc.
Toys and equipment all seems in great condition. They have a daily charge which is about $60-70, or about $260-300 fulltime a week I think. This includes nappies and all meals, including a hot lunch. He really enjoys it there, and has brought home paintings before. They also take the kids across the carpark to the field and the playground sometimes :) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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