Sydney short term with 3 and 2 year old?

[shabbadab]

My husband has been asked if he will go (with us) to work from Sydney from the end of April for between 6 and 12 weeks (may be chance it could turn permenant). We are very excited about giving it a try. I won't be working for the short - medium term. My DC1 had been going to nursery here 1 day a week and we do the usual groups, library, swimming etc. I am just wondering if we do go over there, with it being short term, what type of thing there might be to establish a sort of routine and for my DC's to have other child contact rather than us ending up sightseeing for the whole time!

Also, what will the weather be like? as I guess it will be their autumn/winter?

[chloeb2002]

Play groups.. Library sessions... Kindy gym... Swimming lessons... Once you meet a few mums and dads.. Then play dates.

Easy. I'd say. One thing if didn't find hard when we got here and I was t working was kids stuff! Loads of it! Every where

[Pupsiecola]

Wow. What an amazing opportunity. Grab it with both hands I say!

[BuntingintheSunshine]

It will be Autumn moving into winter, but more sunny days and less rubbish days than in the UK.

[shabbadab]

Thanks - what is kindy gym? Are there any different pre-school opportunities that we don't have here? (thinking outdoor type pursuits etc?

[chloeb2002]

Kindy gym is run at sports centres or pcyc (police and citizens youth clubs). A set up of gym equipment , trampolines, dancing for pre school kids.
Outdoor per suits for little people probably not. Our local council run kids club activities in the local park and these are free.
Shopping mall has story times.
Outdoor activities with little ones involve lots of sun scream.. Hats and shirts.

[shabbadab]

Thanks sounds great!

[Apanicaday]

I'm so jealous - we loved living in Sydney.

Not sure if it's still running, but there's a toddler group in the botanic garden - we went a couple of times and it's lovely. Also, the museums (powerhouse, Australian) often have things on for children. The babies proms in the opera house are also wonderful (although it depends if they are on when you are there).

Do you have any idea what part of sydney you would be located in?

In April/May it will still be fairly warm - think UK summer time! It doesn't get cold in the houses at night though - particularly if you end up staying longer into winter - the coldest I've ever been in a house was in our house in Sydney in august - we had no heating whatsoever!

[Apanicaday]

That should have been it does get cold...

[GertBySea]

You'll find it easy to get along to library groups. They all have them. Swimming should be ok too as fewer people do lessons in autumn term. If you know where you'll be living it's almost worth getting on waiting lists now to be certain, but public pools are good. You could just take them yourself.

There is such a thing as occasional care which varies by area but where you can put kids in for the odd day. We don't have any 15 hours of nursery or whatever it is you have in UK. If you get any inkling you'll be staying longer and will work then get on waiting lists for child are or preschool as they are a nightmare to get into.

We also do gymnastics and ballet. There are football clubs for kids called "Little kickers" too. There may be others too, but you could google and look for a start.

Lots of churches have playgroups that you can just pop along to, without being religious ir having any other contact with churches.

I find the crèche at the gym a lifeline as is v cheap and v good.

Also you'll be fine to go to beach in May if it's dry. It shouldn't be too cold. You might not want to swim by then but it's unpredictable. We didn't really have a winter at all last year.

Good luck!