Long Day Care - Thoughts, Experiences and Advice

o53djz7qTPY4der on 18/02/2020 - 21:17
Last edited 18/02/2020 - 21:43

I'm returning to work following 3.5 years as a stay-at-home-dad. We're considering daycare two days per week for our 4-year-old.

I, generally, am anti-daycare. However, it may be a necessary evil and perhaps beneficial for our child.

I'd like the thoughts of the community here who send or have sent their children to daycare.

What's good and bad?

Does your child enjoy it?

Do you think it's beneficial cognitively and emotionally?

Do you worry about the long days?

Any childcare workers here? What do you really think of the kids?

I'm sure there's lots more to ask but nonetheless I appreciate everyone's feedback.

Thank you,

XM

Edit:
I don't want this thread to be a anti vs pro daycare debate but rather - have you used it, if so, what are your experiences?

Toys & Kids

Comments

  • wizzy on 18/02/2020 - 21:27
    +5

    Long daycare was great for my kids. They made friends, they had fun, and they were exposed to lots of ideas and activities. I think it helped them enormously socially and cognitively.

    The only negative was that they caught illnesses from the other kids - lots of illnesses. It settled down after 6 months once they had built up their immunity, but for those first 6 months I had to take regular sick leave from work.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 18/02/2020 - 21:35

      Thank you. That's helpful.

    • ESEMCE on 18/02/2020 - 21:52
      +1

      Exactly the same experience for my kids.

      Another option OP could consider seeking out is Family Day Care.

      We have used both large centres and Family Day Care.
      And have recommended both options to friends with younger kids than ours.

    • hymio on 19/02/2020 - 00:32

      Definitely on the social and cognitive benefits! Could also try out kids team sports to start building those teamwork skills and active lifestyle habits from a young age too.

  • Dlw on 18/02/2020 - 21:37

    Why are you anti daycare?

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 18/02/2020 - 21:42
      +3

      There are lots of reason but mostly I just don't believe it to be the right thing for my child. I'd rather raise them myself than pay someone else to do it.

      However, I'm likely wrong. Perhaps my thoughts on it stem from not wanting to let go after so long being together.

      Also, I recognise that there may be benefits I'm missing. As such, I'm considering it and taking on board as much feedback as I can.

      I don't want this thread to be a anti vs pro daycare debate but rather - have you used it, if so, what are your experiences?

  • Dlw on 18/02/2020 - 21:58
    +2

    That’s fair enough, it can be a big change and I’ve heard of parents being the ones in tears on their child’s first day of care.

    I guess you could look at it as a mini investment into their future learning, especially when it comes to socialising. As well as developing friendships and skills such as turn taking and sharing, they can begin to learn life skills such as conflict resolution and problem solving when faced with challenges from others.

    Perhaps investigate some centres near you, if your child was to attend, they could develop friendships with children that will be attending the same primary school.

    There is tonnes of information on the acecqa website about choosing care and you can search how centre’s have been rated.
    www.acecqa.gov.au

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 18/02/2020 - 22:09

      Top response, thanks.

    • ESEMCE on 19/02/2020 - 07:57

      Definitely a social benefit.
      Exposes kids to other social circles that you (and therefore they) might never have observed.

  • chumlee on 18/02/2020 - 22:18
    +2

    $80 a day for 2 minute noodles and some fruit. Germs were complimentary

    • [Deactivated] on 18/02/2020 - 23:04

      Try $145 a day. Don't be stingy with childcare. You pay for what you get.

      • chumlee on 19/02/2020 - 10:24

        Was a few years ago and only 2 days a week so my kids could socialise etc

        Way too expensive now

  • twww on 18/02/2020 - 23:22
    +1

    We sent ours to a montessori daycare. It's a license to print money so they own quite a few around the place and only ever seem to be expanding to justify the fee increases.

    Initially we liked taking the kids there. Over time as staff changed on a regular basis, it became less appealing…staff were relatively young.

    We only had them go 2 days/wk…

    Glad we pulled them out and moved them to a religious affilated preschool when they became of age… We're not religious, just that the preschool is associated with the particular church.

    Over the years, wasn't enthusiastic in having to pay to attend daycare during school holidays.

    Glad we no longer have anything to do with the daycare.

    Oh, Daycares are germ fests!

  • Freakycat on 19/02/2020 - 00:19
    +1

    I sent my son to two separate daycares in Sydney. The first one was dirty and under staff. My son was near 2 years old and didn't enjoy it and he felt so miserable. They asked me to put him to sleep in midday so he could sleep for two hours from 12-2pm, but my son didn't sleep when he was in daycare and the staff got a bit mad about it. Later I found they used a laptop to babysitting kids in the afternoon, with 1 staff to over 10 kids sitting in front of the laptop. I withdrew him from this daycare.

    Then I waited until he was about 3.5 years old and sent to other one. This one had more staff but they didn't care for the 2-days kids. They were super friendly to the 5 days enrollment. I felt my son hated the place. It happened once I saw they left a child crying and laying on the floor for 10-15 mins and everyone just ignored her. I felt so bad. They also charged for Christmas holiday 2 weeks closure, so I need to pay for 2 weeks babysitting at home.

    At the end, I sent my son to a public preschool nearby, 3 days a week for $45 per day. It was cheaper than the childcare and all teachers had years of experience and I sent him to the same school for kindy and year 1. This was the best thing I did. It is run by government and non-profit. It felt so much difference between this preschool and the childcare centres, which worked out to be more expansive than a private school.

    As I was a full time mum, I took him to community playgroups and his social skill improved so much (better than when he was in childcare). If u are a full time mum or dad, I won't recommend sending your child to childcare centres. Take him/her to community playgroups and your local libraries as a regular routine, it was really enjoyable and you know what your child loves. Some loves drawing or dancing, some loves ball games or sports. It was the precious time you will never forget. Your child will have strong bond with you.

    Childcare isn't for all the kids. If your kid is very quite and need to push to participate in activities, you should spent a bit more time with them.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 19/02/2020 - 04:49

      Thank you. Great feedback.

      As I said last 3.5 years I've been with her full-time. We're busy with libraries, playgroups, playdates etc etc. That's all good.

      Your experiences are, frankly, some of my concerns.

    • ESEMCE on 19/02/2020 - 08:10

      If your kid is very quite and need to push to participate in activities, you should spent a bit more time with them.

      Disagree with this logic…
      If the child is already insular, protecting them from socialisation isn't going to help!
      Exposure to other kids without a parent to protect/distract may help them to come out of their shell.
      Provided of course the child can enjoy their time in an environment that is clean and with professional staff.

      OP, do your homework, get some recommendations from friends/colleagues on places to check out. This is the first step.

      • Freakycat on 19/02/2020 - 22:46

        leaving a kid at a childcare centre not necessary gives the result you expect. Obviously this is what most parents hope for but in reality it isn’t. Not all the childcare has clean and professional staff you expect. You should go and check the rating of the childcare centres. There are 1300 childcare centres in NSW failed the national standard.
        https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.kidspot.com.au/news/more…

        Ask local parents for opinions before sending your child to daycare or check the daycare review on www.careforkids.com.au. In my opinion, preschool is definitely better than childcare as it helps the child to be more independent and school ready.

        • o53djz7qTPY4der on 20/02/2020 - 06:13

          These links are excellent!! Thank you

        • ESEMCE on 20/02/2020 - 09:13

          Absolutely pre-school is better in that it's significantly cheaper for a far higher level of input, but it's only an option for kids above a certain age.

          For younger kids, find a recommended Centre or, as mentioned above, a Family Day Care alternative. There are good options out there, you just need to find them.

  • Austaurean on 19/02/2020 - 09:04

    Long day care is great for kids socialisation and learning how to behave with other children, making friends that they will then have in school, that makes that transition easier on the kids.

    Our 2 kids went through this and it was a great experience plus knowing other parents with similar aged kids is good.

  • Archi on 19/02/2020 - 09:41

    really dependant on centres. enrolling our kids into a learning centre rather a day care centre was the best thing, even though we only did 3 days a week you can definately tell the progression in social, cognitive and physical developments. there some things we just cant teach at home and definately there are things we do better than a centre.

    our centre has a middle eastern carer that cooks alot of middle eastern food and we are asian, i didn't think my kids would like the food but they miss it on their days off and the older one that goes to school wants to go back to day care just for the food.

    singing, dancing, yoga, soccer, martial arts, arts and craft, class room style learning, free play, nutritious meals and school preparation was all part of the centres stardard offerring.

    again its all dependant on the centre, as @rowdyalfa mentioined above you get what you pay for.

    what city are you in maybe people here can recommend you centres that they have experience with or avoid

  • Jazza2400 on 19/02/2020 - 18:47
    +1

    Have you considered early kindy? It's five days a fortnight, school hours, and there are many run by not for profits. $40 a day and byo food. Our kiddo is a good deal smaller than most other kids but seems to have no problem communicating with them.

    Our 3.5 year old will do two years of kindy - early kindy this year and same age as other kids next year. We are expecting the 'germ' hit to come soon (6 months of on off illness), it's inevitable, and I recall reading some research along the lines of if your kid gets the germ hit before school, it is less worse at school (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-12/childcare-is-making-y…).

    She seemed emotionally ready and a few weeks in she still tells us 'you go now' when we drop her off in the morning and linger for too long, no tears which has been a blessing.

    The early childhood educators are fantastic and offer so much activity wise. I struggle to offer the same as a stay at home parent (despite us being multiple playgroup connoisseurs, library reading sessions, pcyc and such) and can see how much of a blast she has with the other kids. Same staff every week and every day different activities are out for the kids to do.

    We would never hold childcare against anyone but it wasn't something we were keen to pursue ourselves, and had the privilege of ensuring the early years for our kiddo had a low child to adult ratio. Not everyone gets this choice.

  • zoinks on 25/02/2020 - 22:48

    I’m in Geelong too. The most popular centres having waiting lists. Prices range from $110-$145 per day.
    My kids have done family daycare one day per week and long daycare one day per week and 2 years on are still sick every month or so.
    I preferred family daycare as I got photos, they were encouraged (not forced) to do craft activities together, and I’d get more feedback each day on how their day was, but as my family daycare moved house and my son started kinder we couldn’t continue going there. At the long daycare my kids attend it’s child led based and I’ve had 5 pieces of artwork in 2 years/nothing to show for the fees paid. My friends kids go to other centres and get photos, feedback online, my council run centre is a few $ per day cheaper but doesn’t offer this.
    You can tour any centre in Geelong, it’s best not to call ahead so that you can see them for yourself without staff being prewarned. It would probably be busiest between 9 and 3 so you can get a feel for the interaction side of it

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 26/02/2020 - 05:02
      +1

      Thank. All very good advice.

      We've done found somewhere we're comfortable with in Geelong. Hopefully, all goes well.

  • tomoneil43 on 16/03/2020 - 18:09

    There are other child care centre Springfield that is worth considering. You have to study and research daycares that can fit your need for safe and healthy. Check out https://eskaykids.com.au/our-programs/ for programs that might help you on what child care service you need.

  • Euphemistic on 22/03/2020 - 09:38

    Daycare or preschool? Your child is old enough to need some practice before 5 days per week at big school. Social interaction is the most important part.

    Why long day car? Do you need o go back to work? If not, the preschool hours are more friendly for kids.

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