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Original poster

moving from childminder to daycare nursery

14 replies

AliJ · 23/09/2002 08:50

Does anyone think that 3 is too young to start full-time day care? My dd has been with a childminder who she really loves since 6mths. We have moved house and she has a 45 minute car journey each way meaning a 7:30am start. She really does not enjoy the journey. The childminder now has 2 other younger children and I feel that my dd is perhaps not getting enough stimulation. We took dd to see a nursey last week and she seemed very keen but I am worried about her becoming institutionalised! Help! :-(

OP posts:

Tissy · 23/09/2002 08:59

Institutionalised? Help!!

My dd has been at nursery since she was 4 months old, and loves it! OK, she is only 8 months old, and that is a big difference from 3 years, but the older kids seem to love it too. My GP's 3 year old goes to the same nursery, and I regularly see them at home time, him clinging on to the nursery nurses leg and refusing to put his coat on! There will be loads of kids to play with, more toys than she can dream of, trips, singing and dancing, messy play, outdoor play etc, etc,- go for it!

GillW · 23/09/2002 09:13

AliJ - if you're at all worried, why not look for a small nursery? The nursery my DS goes to only has about 18 children at any one time, and a low staff turnover rate (hasn't changed in the 9 months he's been there) so the staff and children al know each other and it's more like a big family.

On the other hand there's a nursery in one of the towns near us (one of the national chains) which is licenced for 100 children. Now that is too many if you ask me.

At 3 she'll probably thrive on having plenty of other children to play with, and it'll be a good transition step between home/childminder and school in a year or so's time. Go for it!

kkgirl · 23/09/2002 09:17

I think there comes a time when children needs more interaction than they get with a childminder. My ds moved up to nursery (only part time because I worked three days a week) when he was 18 months and it was just right for him because as in your situation the childminder had two younger girls and he needed to be with lots of children. It was good for him.
You seem to have some reservations although you haven't specified what exactly, but depending when on when your dd will start school it is helpful for children to get used to a bit of structure. Go with whatever you feel is best

bundle · 23/09/2002 09:48

AliJ, I would thoroughly recommend a day nursery - my dd has been in one (28 children tops) since she was 7 mths and loves it. she goes there 3 days a week and has formed close bonds with both carers and other children. the ages mix together quite a bit and there's more structured learning through play for the older children. I agree with all the other positive stuff others have posted too. I know it might sound a bit daunting, but I'm sure she'd get a lot out of it. good luck

Ghosty · 23/09/2002 11:15

AliJ, I too would recommend a nursery. I am now a SAHM but when DS was 4 and a half months he went to nursery until I gave up work for good when he was 2 and a half years. I never wanted him to go to a childminder because I felt that he would get a much more structured day at nursery and that the carers are qualified in early years childcare or on the way to being qualified. The nursery DS went to was a lovely small one - total of 20 children aged 3mths to 5 years. Lovely caring staff who didn't mind if I phoned 10 times a day, were happy to talk about DS for as long as I wanted to and they clearly loved him very much. He learned so much when he was there. Even though I am glad I am not working we miss nursery very much!

angharad · 23/09/2002 11:22

More to recomend day nurseries, mine have all loved/love them. Can I suggest that you do look at ones that aren't part of a chain? I think that lots of people feel safer with a recognised "brand name" such as Jigsaw, but these are often huge. The nursery I use has a total of 24 kids and only six in a group. They are very flexible about different times for dropping off and picking up, happy for parents to telephone etc..They still do all the activities and the preschool groups (3-4,4-5) have a qualified primary teacher come in to work with them on basic literacy and numeracy.

Original poster

AliJ · 23/09/2002 12:40

angharad - I have visited about 4 local nurseries and stangely enough Jigsaws seem the best! Although big it had a very warm, friendly atmosphere and a lot of interesting activities..

OP posts:

angharad · 23/09/2002 13:10

Fair enough! I think it could be local bias on my part as the "big names" are all in purpose built places and although they keep correct staff ratios they have huge groups in the space. Honestly though I expect your dd will thrive at nursery!

Alibubbles · 23/09/2002 13:29

I'm a childminder and iI think that you have given your daughter the very best start she could have, being in the home environment with the same carer for that length of time!

She should be quite confident and capable now of taking on a full day at nursery, she is ready to explore all the avenues and opportunities that a day nursery can offer, that possibly the childminder can't due to restriction on her time with the younger ones.

It will be lovely for your daughter to start to make friends with other children her age. Don't worry, I am sure she will be fine. I love it when my minded ones go off confidently to school nursery etc, and I feel very happy and proud that I have helped a child on their way.

Crunchie · 30/09/2002 09:37

Nursery is really good, another vote for it here. I had a childminder who was brilliant (and ho used to work in a nursery) but now my 3.5 year old goes to pre-school and loves it. I have found she is learning so much more as it is that bit more structured. We don't have a full day, as we have a nanny the rest of the time, but she loves 'school'

Original poster

AliJ · 30/09/2002 09:55

Thanks everyone for your replies - you really helped! I have enrolled dd into nursery 4 days from Jan and she will stay with the childminder one day.

OP posts:

pluto · 16/01/2003 20:31

DS is 3 yrs 3 months. He has been with a wonderful childminder since he was baby for 3 days a week and my mother has looked after him for the remaining 2. As my childminder works alongside her husband several children are able to be cared by them, it's almost like a mini nursery in terms of the numbers and activities the children do. He will be starting school in September 2004. He is very happy in his routine. I feel it's probably time that we loked into sending him to a nursery because that seems to be what is the "norm" - but certainly not full time although I would be aiming to build up his time at nursery. I would be interested in hearing opinions as to the "educational" value of nurseries as well as the social aspect. How much do nurseries prepare children for school in terms of the daily routines, or is this something that reception teachers would see as a large part of their role? Can anyone advise me on the kind of things to look for when I visit potential nurseries beyond the obvious such as space, staff and cleanliness!If anyone has experience of Montisorri (sp?) I'm curious about this too. How does the vouchers scheme operate? I'm probably going to wait until next January, when he will over 4, before changing his routine - thoughts on this also appreciated. Thoughts from early years experts particularly welcome...is there any research to suggest children who have been to nursery do better in the first year or so at school?

Jimjams · 16/01/2003 21:35

I'm with angharad. DS1 started nursery with a big chain when he was 18 months. For reasons I won't go into it was a disaster. I am still picking up the pieces from their mismanagement now he's three and a half. Whe he was 3 I decided he needed to go to nursery (again for reasons I won't go into). He now goes to a small one (24 children per session) 4 mornings a week. The owner lives on site and runs it and really really cares about the children. The facilities were better at the chain but the care and education was nowhere near as good.

Angharad am I right in thinking you are an Ed psych? Can you come a work near me please- you're the first ed psych I've "met" who seems to undertand anything at all about children!!

Lulu41 · 17/01/2003 13:26

Hiya AliJ I definately think that 3 is not too young to start nursery my ds started off with a childminder but was offered a nursery place after only a fews months and I was torn between childminder offering a more homely environment but couild see that in the long run nursery could offer him more so I would say go for it she is way old enough and I bet she loves it

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