babsi

Kai should be starting pre-school on tuesday for 2 mornings a week.

For a 4 week month it is $209 and a 5 week month it is $260.

Does this seem a lot? I am starting to think it is.

zippadydoda

It's more than twice as much as what I pay in England. Don't scare me!

gryphea

Yes

This seems a lot. In Calgary this year I have paid $140 for two mornings a week. This is slightly above average for Calgary- so what you are payign seems extortionate.

Gryph

iaink

Thats about what will be paying when Offspring #2 starts at the local cooperative nursery school. $25 a morning. I would say its not extreme. $5 an hour for some time alone, its a bargain innit

Realistically its one of those situations where "it costs what it costs"...what are you alternatives...either Daycare, which wont be particularly stimulating, a different nursery school, which will cost the same, or staying at home, which might drive you nuts and wont help prepare junior for the joys of kindergarden and school life.

Maybe alberta has more provincial funding for these programs. In Ontario beststart covers some of the (behind the scenes) expense at some nursery schools I believe, and the Universal child care benefit was intended to help foot this cost anyway, so $100 a month per kid(less tax) is covered through that universal handout anyway.

Oakvillian

we paid around $350 per month for 5 mornings in 2006-07 - I recall there was a sliding scale where the cost per day decreased the more days per week you enrolled, so $209 for 2 mornings is probably about right, but $260 seems high to me. That was for a "Montessori-inspired" preschool - it wasn't registered as part of the Montessori programme, but followed the same principles of ECE through structured play.

Preschool fees are a tax-deductible expense, I think? Can't remember offhand.

iaink

Only if you are going to work as a result. If you are a stay at home mum/dad, then its not deductable as far as I know...

babsi

I did see somewhere for $92 for 2 mornings a week nearby but they were full up, that's why I was thinking this was expensive.

Maybe it is nerves as well, I know he needs to go there but I just feel guilty sending him.

dingbat

Whatever for? I leave skid marks on the floor as I leave so quickly after dropping mine off.

ann m

Me too

minihaha

Here in Lethbridge from Sep we will be paying $ 100 a month for 4 mornings a week set rate.

It it will do him the world of good and hey if you have some free hours to enjoy a coffee in peace then it must be a good thing.

Im looking at heading to our local YMCA and maybe taking on some Yoga via the local Tims of course for me coffee in peace, sounds like heaven to me.

I cant wait to drop him off il be running outta there. My little boy is 10 days too young for Kindergarten so he has to go to pre school so he will be 5 in Jan and to be honest that is driving me nuts. He will be in class with 3 year olds and is big boy anyway .. oh dont get me started.


Enjoy your freedom and watch him start to grow into your little man.

x minihaha x

JLT

I would say that amount is really OK, but guess it depends on where you are located also?

babsi

I dropped him off and probably stayed with him for 10 minutes and then said goodbye but he didn't seem interested in me.

I had to sort a few things out in the office and could him crying but it wasn't for too long, just phoned now and he is fine.

I am a little pissed off with them, Kai hasn't had a nap for ages, he just won't sleep in the day and they are making it that I am doing something totally wrong, I know quite a few kids, Kai's age and younger that don't have a nap. He goes to sleep fine for 12 solid hours a night, I think I am doing something right there. She was looking for her policy on if they are overtired and that it would be a trial period because of this:curse:

JLT

Hi Babsi

Sorry Iam presuming when you say pre-school you talking about your little one being around 3yrs?? Ihave worked with a Canadian daycare franchise and there is no way I would expect my carers to demand the child to sleep especially in the morning..... we would of course ask of them to have a quiet time i.e.for around 1 hour after lunch with a puzzle or book or maybe a suitable little movie just to rest them especiallyif they have had a busy morning... hope my coments help you and again I am presuming his age? .

babsi

Kai is 2 and a half and he hasn't been napping at all this year, it's his choice, he dropped it on his own, and I am not forcing it as it will be a bad struggle and imo it is a step backwards in his development

I got there at 11.45 and some were actually sleeping, I was a little surprised and they work up at 2.30, so getting on for 3 hours nearly, instead of the 2 hours. The reason they gave me was that it was because of staff lunch-breaks and they don't have the cover.

I got there and apparently Kai was crying on and off for the last hour, more whiney than anything and was fine when someone was playing with him. Not too bad for a first day.

JLT

I really feel you need to find alternative care for Kai this is really not a good routine for him to be experiencing. At 11.45am the children should be getting prepared for lunchtime after their play programme and at this age the children really should only be napping around 1 hour maxat this age. Sounds to me something is just not right. What region is looking after their licensing? I had a similar experience in the UK so what I would do is turn up on the spur of the moment to see exactly how the programme was run, they should have a daily programme posted and also hopefully the staff are all ECE trained and certifiedand that the ratio of children to carers is correct. Just a few things to check on but in my opinion you should leave them as it could be not good for Kai in the long run. Do you have another option. If you let me know the area you are located Imaybe able to locate a good carer for you.... Idon't mean to raise alarm bells but Iam just stating my opinion good luck in your choice......