Hi - sorry I do not know where to post this question, hope it's ok in this section. I would like to get my 14month old girl to socialise more, she loves to play with other kids and gets all excited and giddy even when she see's other kids just out & about while we are shopping etc. We don't know that many people here, and no one with kids the same age. So I have been considering either Playcentre or Kindy, so that she then has the opportunity to play more. Can anyone help me and give your opinion on which is best, as I have no idea! Thanks

day care.. they get to interact with other kids while learning to be away from u

were abouse do you like
i know in wa we have a monkey bars hear that do gym classes and playclasses...good for then to learn new things and play with other kids.

there are quite alot of places to take your 14yrold .

You could join a playgroup you can find out if you have one in your area on here http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/

My 2 year old (and my now 8 year old up to last year) did Jungle Sports. Fantastic fun sports program for children and parents. Think of a sporting wiggles. Inddor venues and reasonably priced. Can't speak more highly of them.

We're in the Hunter Valley, NSW. I know they're also in WA and pretty sure they will be in Sydney next year!!!

check them out at www.junglesports.com.au

thanks for your replies. I am in Hamilton NZ. But thank you anyway smile

Hi there, I'm in Hamilton NZ also.

I have a two year old boy (and now a 4 month old daughter) and was unsure too. I have an antenatal group we catch up with regularly and also have lots of other play dates but I was looking for something more routine, something I had set in stone each week. I looked into both options and visited a playcentre and a few kindys before deciding.

Although my MIL looks after my son one or two days a week, I now have him enrolled in a creche one morning a week. When I return to work part time(when my dughter will be six months), my MIL will have both kids once a week and my daughter the second day. My son will then go into creche for that day. I am getting him used to it now with the morning sessions so that when I need him to be in there for a whole day, he will be familiar with it and happy to be left there!

I looked into a private kindy, a few day care centres and playcentre. My thoughts...

Daycare... Most daycares require you to enrol your child a minimum of two days (for settling them in and to keep them in a happy routine). I didn't want my son in daycare two days a week if I happen to not be working (and I also have my Mother In Law who can have him so this was not necessary).

Kindy... I really liked this idea but again, they required an enrollment of at least two mornings a week. Also, it was very structured and I just don't think he needs that just yet. He's still so young.

Playcentre... This was great. Really social and lots of free play and very well resourced. BUT once you are a memeber you have to attend committee meetings and be a part of the organisational side of things. With two under two and working part time, I just don't have the time for this. The meetings in the evening (although not often) are bang on the kids dinner/bath and bedtimes and the hours of the actual sessions won't suit my new baby and her sleep needs etc.

The Creche/Daycare I have found... GREAT!! They are a privately owned day care just out of Hamilton. I have been for three visits and stayed with my son each time. When he starts in two weeks time I will leave him for only an hour for the first couple of weeks (enough time for him to know he's on his own, but not enough time for him to worry that I'm not coming back). After a couple of weeks, we'll extend it to 3 and then 4 hours. By the start of next year he will be completely fine with being there for a day as he'll be so used to it by then. I don't have to have him enrolled for any set number of days (they can be as few or as many as I like). I can add days if I find he is loving it and I can take himout if he simply doesn't settle into it. But based on our visits, he loves it. All the other kiddies are his age and he gets to have free play inside and out, mat time (songs/stories etc) and morning tea.

Sorry for the novel - I just know how tough it was for me making the decision. There is heaps to consider! I hope this helps smile

thanks for your replies. I am in Hamilton NZ. But thank you anyway smile

Hi. I live near Hamilton and we started taking our little boy to our local Play Centre. He is 23 months now but has been going for two terms. He just loves it. The first few weeks (actually it was probably like the first term) he didn't really play with other kids - just observed but apparently that's what they do at that age.

I work two days a week and my husband does shift work so between us we manage to take him two days a week. I have done the Level One course, which was over and done with in one day with a couple of very small written pieces to complete (observe my child at play and writing down who's who at our play centre etc, hardly difficult). With our second child due in April next year, I've decided to try and get Level 2 done before then. Also, as a primary trained teacher, I have been told some of my degree with cross credit.

Anyway, one thing I did get out of the one day course is that all the play centre's run slightly differently so if you decide to go to one and it's not really your place, do try another one. There are heaps in Hamilton as well as Horotiu, Taupiri etc that are quite close, depending on where in Hamilton you are. Check out the play centre website for a full list of Centres around Hamilton... I think there is something like 23! Our play centre is very supportive and although you are supposed to attend one meeting a term, they don't worry if it is me or my husband who goes and they are certainly not going to throw you out if something happens and you can't make a meeting. They are pretty flexible. We also have the first three sessions free so if you want to check it out, it's long enough to see if it's the right place for you. Term fees vary depending on the centre but ours are only $25 per term and you can attend all four sessions if you want to which to me is pretty good value for money when I see all the things available for my little boy to play with. And it's great on a wet morning to get out of the house and have so many things for him to do and I don't have to clean EVERYTHING up!

As someone else mentioned, it all depends on whether you want your child to also get used ot being away from you (then kindy might be best) or you want to do something with your child.

Also some play centres offer that you can leave your child there one session a week if they are (and don't quote me here cause I'm not 100% sure but I think) over 2 and a half and you attend two sessions a week with your child. That might also be dependent on the funding they have and how many Early Childhood Teachers they have as members.

Another novel, but hopefully something helpful in it.