do you want your 3 yo to attend preschool/kindy?

[bubhub]

Do you want your 3 yo to attend preschool?

(please note that the term 'preschool' refers to the NSW system. The name is different in other states - eg in Qld, the term used is pre-prep or kindy).

And free-form responses to:

If 'yes', have you applied and what has the response been?

[MrsTwith3]

Yes I have started my 3yo in preschool. I have had responses such as why send him so young etc. I sent him as he needed the structure from a preschool environment and to help him learn more appropriate social skills with children his own age.

[chellegoth]

Yes, I usually have to go into a lengthy spiel about Montessori if people ask why she is in school already.

[Seekrit]

Yes... I work so it's a given anyway as his centre is an early learning centre that caters from nursery to "junior prep" which is where he'll be as he moves up the ranks.

[vanillabean]

My DD will be 3 1/2 when she starts preschool next year one day per week and then the year after (year before school) she will go 2 days per week.

[oleander]

My DD will be attending an Early Learning Centre which is located at the school she will be attending.

[4B2L]

No, my kids will be just doing the normal 4 year old kinder the year before they start school. I keep them pretty busy at home with playgroup, trips to the park, cooking, craft, and just hanging out with mummy, and that will be enough for them until then.

[Chelle123]

My 3.5yo will attend 3yo kinder (Melbourne) next year. His centre have 2 x 2.5hr sessions per week. The rest of the week will be spent doing stuff with me until he goes to 4yo kinder in 2009.

3yo kinder is quite common around here so there really isn't much negativity about it.

[DoubleAce]

If I can get her in yes, just one day a week. I want to ease her into it as she doesn't go to daycare so would rather start her on one day a week, then go to two days a week the next year before starting school 5 days a week and being in shock!

Got to get her on a waiting list though...it's the first thing I'm doing next year!

[Noah_and_Elijah]

Yes.

My Children will go to Kindergarten which is held three days per week and then onto Prep and then Year One! :thumbsup:

[Mum&bubs]

Nope. My girls wont, they will only be going to the normal prep.

[Miaow]

Not sure about the 3yo kinder but 4yo kinder yes.

[SweetSerenity]

Yes my son will be going to preschool once toilet trained (which hopefully will be soon).

[SalTheGal]

Yes...when he is 3 lol!

Haven't applied yet, but I live rurally so shouldn't be a problem getting into the local kindy

[kymmy]

I don't have a three year old yet (next year my youngest turns 3) but I would like him to attend kinder as he is so active. I am not sure if I will have the patience to home teach him.

[~Kimba~]

When he's 3 I'd like him to. He goes to daycare anyway, so I'd like him to 'progress' to the structure of preschool, although it will also depend on DH and I working around preschool hours etc.

I live in Sydney so I'm looking into get him onto waiting lists now, if it isn't already too late (considering I'm still waiting for him to be offered council-run daycare places I'd put him down for when I was newly pregnant! LOL)

[BigGeorge]

Yes, I want my kids to go to 3yo kinder.

I haven't booked a place yet, although I've started thinking about which one to send them to. I've heard some have waiting lists.

[xkwzit]

DD is born in the first half of the year (Queensland system :banghead:), so she will start pre-prep at a private school when she is 3.

[Mariposa]

DD2 will be going to pre-prep next year. The centre she goes to is an early education learning centre

[cheezelkat]

Yep, our daycare is also an early learning centre so caters for it.

[Susan Mac]

If we don't homeschool, I will send Jack to a pre-school/kindy/pre-prep programme, for 2-5 half days a week in the year before Prep. (He will be 4). I am not keen on sending him straight from full time at home to full time school when he goes to Prep. I'm a bit annoyed that that transitional time has been taken away, unless I want to pay for it.

[Susan Mac]

Should just add, I need to get my backside into gear and put him on the waiting list of the kindy I want to send him to.

[Angike]

DS will be going to kindy when he is 4.

Not because it will give me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside but because the school I am sending him to is a kindy / primary school in one and they take children at age 4. :)

[subaruforestermum]

Yes definately, I want to give him the best start in life, and he is really smart, so I would want to encourage his learning!

I loved kindy when I was a kid, I went the same time my sister did, then she got older and went to school, so I left kindy too and attended her classes (mum volunteered at the school and the school said it was great that I wanted to come along)! Then when I started school I just excelled in everything I done, so I hope for my son to get the same drive for education I had.

And since he cant start school until he is 5.5 years old, (as he was born 15 days after 30 June:hair:, he cant start in the year he will be turning 5, but the year after, which p!sses me off big time. Its a stupid system I say.) I would love him to be able to start prep in 2 years time, but we'll just have to wait 3 years.

[MummaBear03]

Well she has to go to childcare but I voted no because she's not there because I want her there, she's there because I work 3 days a week so have no choice. I would have only taken her to playgroups and different sessions each week where the parent attends. The Montessori centre is designed so that parents actually stay, not where kids are dropped off. I would have her there and at our music group and at our playgroup which is structured with various planned activities. I really do think (remember this is MY opinion) too much emphasis is placed on children's learning though education and not enough on learning through play. Where my dd goes to, yes they have taught her how to write her name and counting and alphabet but that's because she wanted to learn, it's not pushed onto each and every child.

[Owen&Noah's_mum]

ds#1 went to 3yr old kinder and so will DS#2. it was the best thing for his social development and his speech.

[Milliner]

Yes, we have a kindy room at DS' daycare centre.

[Kirstlea]

Yes and Yes
I started my dd at daycare in the kindy room at 3 1/2 because our mothers group was finding it harder to meet up and we moved further away to a rural area making it hard for her to meet other children her age. I also did it because I wanted my ds to have some time with me alone as his sister did obviously for the first 3 1/2 yrs. I hated taking her but I also felt that she would enjoy the ability to play all day without having to stop at home just because her little brother needed his day time sleep. She starts prep in a months time and is so excited, so I am glad she has had the time to build up to it. DS will start daycare in the kindy room in two years time which will also be when he has turned 3. A few people ask me why I don't send him sooner but I feel that he should have the same time with his mother that his sister did.

So thats my opinion and of course I am very lucky that I work from home (late at night once the kids are in bed) which alot of people don't have that option.

[SorenLorensen]

:yes:
we are looking at sending DD next year.
she will either be going to a local one down the road or a Montessori not too far away

[marymac]

Sure do. we do playgroup twice a week, mainly music once a week and will start kindergym/ swimming lessons next year. She gets so bored at home. I am pretty sure she will be ready for 3yo kinder when the time comes.

[alindrina]

Yes, all of my children attended a day care which was also a preschool, one or two days a week when they were three. It's important for their social development. It gave me a bit of a break, too. My oldest two children still have good friends whom they met at preschool.

I took them to Playgroups also.

[Riley's Mum]

My DS will start 3 yo kindy (vic) in 2008. He falls into the grey area of start 2008 or 2009, so the plan is to start in term 2 of 2008 and then do a full year of 3yo kindy in 2009. we have been doing playgroup/swimming etc., but this will be his first time away from Mum/Dad. I think he's excited, I've got mixed feelings....

[sare]

Yep. DD starts in 4 weeks time. She will go for 2 x 2hr sessions. She is so excited. She has met her teacher and some of the other kids that will be in her class and is really looking forward to it all.

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

Yep. My DS will start 3YO kindergarten this year. He is booked in and will start his sessions at the start of the school term. He has 2 X 2.5 hour sessions a week (during school terms)

[M~T~J~M]

:yes: DS1 attended 3/4 yr old Kinder last year, and this year I have DS2 starting! He's really looking forward to going to Kinder - I think it's helped that
DS1 has only just finished this year, and it's still fresh in DS2's head :D

DS2 will be attending 2 x 2.5 hr sessions a week.

[lilpearl]

My son is starting 3 y/o kinder in a few weeks - I think he will have a ball...it's just one afternoon per week. Purely for fun, to play with other kids. I have no expectations for structured learning at such a young age. Children learne through play at a natural pace, and that's all I want for all my children - you're only a child once. :D

[mamma0f3]

we love pre school:yelclap:
my kids started when they were 2 they are almost three now its been fantastic for them if it wasnt for pre school jazz (autism and global devepmental delays) would not have learned to walk so quick the other kids gave him the motivation to do what they do and play like they do on there feet and also ricky our youngest was helping jazz to much he would get do and say everything for him we had to seperate them for one day a week so jazz learned to cope on his own without ricky to get his drinks and food and talk for him

[WorkingClassMum]

We've just gone through this stage.

DD did 3yo last year and will do 4yo this year. This will be a very hard year to get her to 4yo but I'll try my damdest.

Both kids went to childcare from young age and we did 4yo with DS so that he was going to school with kids he knew.

DD did 3yo as she needed it

Our kinder (in Vic) has a Learn Through Play policy and I couldn't recommend it higher.

I think school entry age throughout Australia should be standarised. I held back DS so that he didn't start school until he was 5 turning 6. He could have started school the previous year as Vic.'s cutoff is the end of April.

DD will be starting school the week she turns 5 however. It might be early, but we'll consider that at the end of Grade 1

[mumofKieran]

No.

I don't see the need to start him till he's 4.

I think 1 year of preparation for school is plenty.

And we have so much fun at home! And attend playgroup already.

[Proudmom]

My son is 2 years old, and he attends day care which also is an Early Learning Centre ranging from Nursery to Senior Kindy.

He goes 2 days a week. I put him in to get him used to other kids and to see his conversation skills with other kids pick up. Its interesting to see just how much he is changing, and I can pull him out at any time. :thumbsup:

[Jessie Wood]

Yes. I feel my child is ready.. :)

[Jessie Wood]

Yes. I feel my child is ready.. :) BUT I believe every child is diffrerent. So not every child would be ready.. but in sayin that. From working in childcare.. most chn are ready and willing to learn at a young age. BUT mummy knows best ;)

[Tasha83]

Yes, Id love for my son to attend 3 yr old kindy. Its a very common thing here in melbopurne.. the problem I am having is finding places that are available AND dont cost a small fortune.. so far all ones I have found.. fees have been $220 minimum.. a term... thats quiet alot for 2 days a week, at 2.5 hrs per day.. average... mmm so we will see... we are a family that is only on one wage...

My son would definately benifit from it, would be really lovely.

anyway thats me!

[sonlou73]

DS#1 is starting pre-kinder - only for 2.5 hours a week at a cost of $170 per term. He can be clingy & I feel he is ready to mix with children without me being around to cling onto!

[mastermum12345]

absolutely :)

[mamavan2]

my daughter will be allmost 4 when she will attend pre-school for 1-2 days. it is from 8.30 till 2. i think she will really like it, it is me dreading it!

[DonnaR]

My older babes didn't start preschool until they were four and have just started fulltime school at 5.5. My little girls will not go to preschool until they are 4 (birthday in Oct so will wait until the next year) , we think that one year will be enough before starting school proper. My babes have a great social life and I am a SAHM so we have no need to send them so early

[Sarieslittlemen]

No they won't be going. they may go one half day a week when they're four, but I had my eldest home with me till he started Prep and he hasn't had any adjustment worries at all. His teacher is very happy with him and she asked me today if I were happy with her giving him grade 1 work.

[SweetAngels]

I voted 'NO' but I have just enrolled my DS who is 3 yrs and 7 months.

I didn't start my DD at Kindy till she was 4yo, she was in home based child care and I thought she was benefiting a lot from the one on one, so decided to stick to the 'normal' 4yo start.

But DS has been showing a lot of interest lately, and been wanting to make friends his own age, (there are no children his age where ever we end up going) So he started just this week....

DS2, I would like to hold off till he's 4yo, we'll see wheat happens, but definitely no sooner then 3 and a half.

[wa mum of 4]

I voted NO!

In some ways I think it is because I dont want them to grow up too quickly.
Going to pre school or Kindy is such a big thing for a child.
My DD goes to daycare (home care) and gets wonderful educational stimulation there, I guess I just want to keep her as young as possible for as long as possible.

DD will start kindy the year she turns 5.

[Mor]

We looked for some time into what might work for our 3 year old and are are happy with the preschool we chose too, but it wasn't a choice of convenience, it was carefully considered. We have enrolled and started him at a private school pre-school program. It is very similar to child care, however more structured and 'educational' - and he wears a uniform! It's a lot like mini school. We ummed and aahd about the cost, but then compared it with the cost of child care, and it was comparable, and eligible for the CCB. We felt our son needed structure and to be challenged a little more than a couple of 2 hour sessions each week.

So far he loves it, and is excited when he gets up in the morning to get ready for 'school' to play with his friends and sing and dance.

[Mumma2three]

My three year old goes to 'kindy' full time. He enjoys it and is learning a lot. I wanted him to be prepared for when he starts year 1..

I have spoken to his teacher to see what she thinks is best for him.

He will continue this year full time in kindy, then next year will move up in the center to preschool.. he will still be attending full time. Then the year after he will move on to prep at a different school, then year 1!

Next year his brother will be 3 so he will joining him!

I am happy with this, and so is my son. He was ready to start kindy and I have noticed a BIG change in him since starting!

[Lila]

YES
no probs......:flowerz:

[onthemove]

Hi,
Am new to bub hub and have joined hoping initially for some info about childcare in Ellenbrook WA. I have worked on & off since my 1st child was 8mths so have had a fair bit of exp in childcare, now bub 2 is also in care and expecting our 3rd!

However I'm in country NSW and we are moving to Perth and currently looking for a house in the Ellenbrook area - that was recommended to us as having a lot of young families & good services. I will be looking to continue my 3 1/4 yo in daycare/preschool 2 days/wk and would be looking for something that provides a pre-school type program. I got a good vibe from the staff when I called the Woodlake Chilcare Centre in Ellenbrook and am leaning towards trying to enrol there. Does anyone have any info about that centre, or experiences with others in the area?

Thanks

[lukaelmo]

Yes, I do. Luka goes to junior kindy now, and he loves it. Happily waves goodbye to mummy when I drop him off, and is always having a great time when I spy on him :laughing:.

I haven't put his name down for prep yet, but I have one in mind for him to go to next year, so I should possibly get my butt into gear and do that.

[BoyzMummy]

In QLD kids can't start prep until they are 5 so my son will go to kindy when he is 4. I am a SAHM so I feel no need to send my children to a child care centre which is what he would have to go to if he is under 4. So that is a no from me to sending my 3yr old to kindy.

[fra99le]

My DS loves 3yo kinda,he is VERY active and loves that it is something different, and I love that I can spend some time with DD by herself too, got to spend time with DS by himself before DD was born, and now get that chance with her! But he does just love it, he hate that he can't go during the holidays, loves bringing al the things he made home to show me, and after kinder each week we've got to do a trip to all the granparents and aunties and uncles places as he's got pictures for all of them. He love his kinda teacher (who he calls Mrs Kinda! lol) and has a absolute ball!

[Charmaine2]

my 3 yo goes to 3 yr old kindy once a week and he loves it ! good for his speech and getting him prepared for 4 yr old preschool next year

[Kazamataz]

I voted yes because I've been told here in WA thats when children normally start kindergarten when they are 3 turning 4.

Its strange over here they do kindy when they are 3 turning 4 and then they do pre-primary when they are 4 turn 5 and then they go straight into year 1.

so it means like queensland they finish school when they are 17.

Which i personally think 17 is too young to finish school. but thats a whole another thread :)

[rowiechb]

Yes I would, but as DD is born in October she is not elegible to start until 2010, after she is 4....:( I want her to go earlier...Can I send her? How?

[OopsieDaisy]

I'm happy to have my 3 y/o home with me for one more year.

[Kazamataz]

Yes I would, but as DD is born in October she is not elegible to start until 2010, after she is 4....:( I want her to go earlier...Can I send her? How?

why do you want her to go earlier?

As far as I know if they aren't born before the cut off then no you can't send them early.

Once apon a time you used to be able to have your child tested (this is what happend to my BIL) and then if they score high enough they can start early regardless of birth date. However I'm not sure if you can do that anymore.
If it's an options maybe something worth looking into.

But it's better in the long run for them to start with people their own age at the right time.

[jaydensmum]

My DS goes to an ABC learning centre. I feel that it has really helped him out. I have seen definite changes with him socially and intellectually(sp) since starting there. :yes:

[TillieAndBug]

My DD will attend Kindy at private school in 2010 at 3.5, before that I will pay for her to go to KindyKids for 2 terms which is a 2 morning a week, 3 yo kindy program with Early learning Teacher. She already at daycare in toddler room twice a week, and goes to Ngala playgroup...
I have no problem with it as if I was home in UK she would be going to school when 4 full time as that is the system and to playgroup (I would drop her there and leave her) where she would learn stuff as well as doing craft and play etc twice a week in the village from 3.

[blubber]

Here in SA you can start Pre-ENtry Kindy when your are 3yrs & 9mths.

DD1 has been doing this this term and when scholll goes back, 28th April she will start 2 fulll days a week as she will be 4 the day that begins.

She adjusted really well and can't wait for two day kindy.
SHe was doing 1 day a week at child care before this and it has many benefits.

She will spend a full year, so until she is 5 then will go to reception for a full year.

I ahve no hesitation in the extended reception.
I never did reception, went to scholl be fore i was 5, finished when i was only 16 and a half and I think that is too young.

My question is what, if you know the fees for Kindy/pre-school etc in you area.

We moved from NSW where pre-school woulod have been $550 a term for two half days:eek: to SA where we pay $20 a term for two full days.

[mummalisciousto3]

IMO it depends on the child. My dd1 who is now 7 and born in Nov, started Kindy the year she turned five, but she was more than ready to start the year before. And ds who is 4 and born in Oct, started kindy this year and definately needed that extra year at home. dd2 was born before 2 days before the 30th June cut off date and will be starting kindy the year she turns 4, but if I feel that she is not ready I am more than happy to keep her home that extra year.

[mel77l]

I am a Primary school teacher in NSW. We're expecting our first (10 weeks to go!!), so I don't know the situation from a parental point of view as yet, but from a Primary school teacher's point of view, preschool is ESSENTIAL for the academic and social development of any child in preparation for 'big school'. The difference between a 'preschooled' child and a 'non-preschooled' child is significant and extremely noticeable when children commence kindergarten. It takes the non-preschooled children a great deal longer to settle into the routine as well as adapting to the social and academic demands of 'big school'. Therefore, I have voted yes, with the full intention at this stage of having our impending child pre-schooled from the age of 3. Although, not necessarily on a full-time basis.:flowerz:

[reAllytee]

Yes.

Boof ( 3yrs) goes to Kindy twice a week & whilst its often 'structured' its all about learning by play which is what im comfortable with & he adores !

He was very ready for starting & we havent had any issues with him going because he loves it so much !

[mumoftom]

I live in QLD and would love to send my toddler to C&K kindy. In January he will be 3 and 3 months, but because there are so few places available they will only accept him in 2010. I've been advised they need to concentrate on the 4yolds to get them ready for prep year... My little guys is so ready to go, but my only option is to put him in daycare, and I have a few issues with that. So looks like he may be stuck with me for another year. Its frustrating. Can anyone give some ideas on other options?

[amy o]

hi,
i am in the same boat as you, my girls are born in july and sept. and not due to go to pre prep until they are 4 and 41/2. i would love something for them to do in the year before pre prep when they are 3 1/2 - 4, but there are not many options but day care. I think a kindy class that went fro 8.30 to 12ish a few days a week would be perfect for them and just give them that something else... but what to do?? like you... any suggestions would be great.
Amy:)

[Ffrenchstar]

So looks like he may be stuck with me for another year.

There are much worse things! You are his mum and his best teacher anyway, they learn so much from us.....I defiantely dont think this is a bad thing, Ithink it is a good thing:yes:

[vikki a]

Yes my Ds2 just turned 4 and hes in 3yr old kinder, becasue i felt he needed it. He goes to two 2 hour sesions a week. He will be going to 4yr old next year..

[secondtimearound2]

I voted NO

DD wont be going to 4 year kindy till she turns 5 either. She is a Jan baby. We have the option of sending her as the oldest or the youngest. We chose the oldest...there is no negatives with sending her as one of the eldest. Both kids go to family daycare 2 days a week and on the other days we go to story time at the library and playgroup...for us that's enough. She will be very ready when she does go, she will thrive with enthusiasm and confidence to learn when the time comes.

[Amy91andLilUns]

Ruby is at a play group and she can't get enough of it!
It's actually the same one I went to :)
The initial break-away was horrible but then after like 5 mins she forgot me lol!

Ella and bump will go too

[Sissy]

Yes.

My DD starts Kindergarten (3 days a week pre-prep) next year at 3.5yrs, and then prep (full-time) at 4.5yrs. She will be one of the youngest in her class, but I have no concerns with her attending.

She has been asking to go to school for the last 6 months, so I have enrolled her in child care one day a week, and am thinking about 2 days a week until the end of the year because she loves it so much.

[LittleButton]

I'm happy to have my 3 y/o home with me for one more year.


I agree

[Amy91andLilUns]

I think it's good 4 children 2 break away from their parents before they go to school, get some time 2 make friends and develop communication and interaction skills

[mummymimi]

My daughter would love to go to kindy next year but because she is born in the second half of the year she won't be going until 2010 when she is 4.

[DonnaR]

I think it's good 4 children 2 break away from their parents before they go to school, get some time 2 make friends and develop communication and interaction skills

This is why mine will go to preschool when they are 4 but I find 3 yr olds so much fun so we do things together :)

[mum of six]

My DD will be turning 4 in September,and the school where my other children go they start kinder at the age of 4,but i will not be sending her as i dont think she is ready for school just yet,it is not compulsary to send her either so i will be waiting till the following yr b4 she starts kinder...

She does attend an ABC Child Care Centre twice a wk and i will continue that until she does start school...

[Malibu]

DS1 started kindy at 3 1/2 and was very ready. He was very social and loved it.

DS2 started at 4 and has settled in well. His language and speech has come along really well.

I am very happy with them going to kindy.

[mum2bubba]

Yes I do want my kids to do a year of preschool. Hayley will be going next year (4 year old preschool/kinder) not sure how many days yet. I think its good for kids because it will help them settle in school alot better and also helps them to make friends and they learn alot. I went to little kinder (3 year old kinder) and big kinder (4 year old kinder) when I was younger and really enjoyed it.

[mumtojoshandsam]

I am having Josh go mainly because he needs all the help he can at the moment with getting ready for kinder and prep.

He will be going to ABC Child Care Centre pre-kinder.

[Kaylasmum06]

I was thinking about sending my daughter who turns 3 in Jan for 1 day per week. I dont go to any mothers groups or anything and although she has a cousine who is 6 months younger than her who she can play with all the time, she loves playing with other kids.

[mama2jandh]

I voted YES.

MY DS will turn 3 in Feb 2010, so we will send him to 3yr old kinder in 2011, when he is 4. This will be at a preschool, not a CCC.

As a kinder teacher myself, I would rather my son start a bit later...it's not going to do him any harm having another year at home, playgroup etc.

I would rather him be one of the oldest in the class than one of the youngest.

But that's just me:)

[KaidensMum]

I voted yes, I think it is important for my son to be involved and interact with other children, and then in hope that it wont be as scary for him when he starts prep and school.

[Ffrenchstar]

Lol PP, when's her birthday?

[cassvanm]

I said 'yes' due to the need for socialisation and to assist in preparing them for basic structure. Allowing the kids to know what's expected, and how to fit it to a class-room type setting.
Both my older kids have gone/are going to this.

[troyandtaliahsmum]

DS has been going to pre-school since the beginning of the year for 1 day a week even though he was only 2 at the time he started. He is now 3 and going 2 days a week & I plan to see if I can get him in another day in preparation for big school in 2010. Because he was only 2 at the time I had a lot of " he's too young to go"but I think it has done him the world of good.

[amandariley]

Enrolled mine in preschool a few months after he was born, there is a waiting list of about 3 years, so i felt that was the right thing to do, unfortunately, we have moved state since then and wont make it back in time, so we have to now start looking for another quick smart!

[chrissa28au]

My DD2 is 4 now, but yes she attended pre-kindy/daycare at 3 years of age and she still goes to daycare. Even my older 2 kids attending pre-kindy/daycare at that age. DD2 goes 2 days a week same as what my 2 older kids went. I think this is what you mean:D

There was no wait with any of my kids getting into kindy/daycare

[Leisa21]

DS wont be going to kindy:no: I will be able to give him plenty of interaction with other children of his age as i have a great network of friends with kids. Even if I didnt I still wouldnt. I went to school at 5 for pre school and that was half days!!! I had never been to kindy and was excited about pre school I remember my first day and I fit in great. It didnt matter that I hadnt been to kindy with these kids. I dont like the idea of how it works now that they go to prep which is full days and much different to how it used to be. 4.5 just seems too young to go to school from 9-3:(. We are currently looking into what to do as far as home schooling or sharing that first year of prep as I just think they are too young. JMO tho;)

[DonnaR]

It amazes me that there are so many 3yr olds going to preschool (NSW) My little girls just turned 3 and already I am being asked if they are going to preschool next year.

I answer NO as they aren't going to start school until 2011. They will do a day or two of preschool the year before they start full time school.

We already have a good social life with Music class, Mum's group and playgroup so they are happy with that. I'll also be honest and say that I am not ready to let them go into the world without me, there's time enough for that when they have to go to school

This is just my opinion on what works for my family:)

[Ericasmummy]

yes, she does't go to day care and needs some form of social interaction as well as she gets bored rather easily and this will give her something to do!

[BJelly]

My DD started kindy when she was 3 - she goes one day a week and next year she's enrolled for a 5 day fortnight. The following year she'll be at prep which is a 5 day week.

My husband was keen for our DD to go into some sort of childcare or kindy since she was two because we were the only people he knew apart from one other family that didn't have their kids in childcare and he felt she was missing out on what other kids were experiencing.

I felt strongly that I didn't want her in childcare or kindy until she was three - when she could communicate clearly and she was able to toilet and dress herself. Also by then she was starting to get bored in the house with me and our baby son - we weren't doing painting and playdo play as we did when I didn't have the baby.

She's really enjoyed kindy and she's enjoyed making new friends and interacting with the teachers there. I also wanted to gradually increase her time in formal care so school wouldn't be such a shock.

With so many kids going to daycare etc these days, I didn't want her to be the only one who wasn't used to cooperating in groups and following instructions - she had a tendency to do her own thing and not follow what other people were doing - which isn't a bad trait, but one that may have caused her to be labelled a problem child once she got to school.

[jaq]

Annika starts Montessori Cycle One (3yo, 4yo, 5yo mixed age group) next year.

She does 9-12 five days a week, working up to 9-3 by the time they are 5yo.)

I also applied for traditional 3yo kindy, but was so glad we got into Montessori because it was only 5 hours a week - not nearly enough for Annika. She is extremely social and very learning oriented.

Sofia is a March baby, so we'll probably hold her off a year. She'll go into Cycle 1 in 2011 rather than 2010 - ie closer to 4yo than 3yo.

I'll have a bit more time to spend with Sofia, too. Its not really fair on Annika to be at home when she has to struggle to get my attention .... when she wants to show me her reading or counting or something ... I'm too busy stopping Sofia from climbing onto the kitchen table or swallowing 10c pieces. (Both real life examples from the last 3 hrs .:hair:)

With the heat today they are both asleep .... Sofia's nap is generally the only time Annika and I get lots of one-on-one time.

[NibbleCurlynBun]

Bugger, where was Ffrenchstars response!!

I had my :iagree: sign ready (as I do when it comes to education) but found only replies to other people.

Never mind. I agree with whatever Ffrenchie says. :)

[ardora]

Yes, I think that kindy is great for the development of 3yo. I wish that it was a fully subsidised part of the public education system as it is in other countries (not compulsory but fully subsidised).