Unsure about the place.....?

Question

I recently visited a nursary (Leapfrog) (Uk) and after seeing there advert on the internet and looking at their website I was a little disapointed, the rooms looked glorious and fun and inviting on the pictures, when in reality they where dull and the room my daughter would spend most of her time in did not have any natural light,
The children where running round and seemed happy enough, the manager showed me round and the staff all seemed nice and friendly, they showed me their offstead report, and it looked fine, but I just had a gut feeling, im not sure, the toys all looked suitable for her age, and they have a soft play area with cushions and soft toys to relax with etc, but they again seemed grubby?

The activities where too simple, painting etc, not a challenge, I like to teach my daughter (21 mnths), she knows the full alphabet, she can count upto 15 and backwards, and she speaks better and clearer than my friends 3yr old. I think I was expecting more from the place.....

Just to clarify, I dont need childcare for work etc, my mother and mother-in-law help with that, its purely just to get her more stimulation, Im just worried as I dont have other kids that she needs more contact with kids, plus in nursary I thought they would teach her things, not just playing in a sand box etc.....It may sound daft but after looking round the place at what the kids in different ages do, she is more at the level of pre-school and they would be putting her in pre-toddler, 2 ages down, it just seemed to easy for her....

Just to clarify, I dont need childcare for work etc, my mother and mother-in-law help with that, its purely just to get her more stimulation, Im just worried as I dont have other kids that she needs more contact with kids, plus in nursary I thought they would teach her things, not just playing in a sand box etc.....It may sound daft but after looking round the place at what the kids in different ages do, she is more at the level of pre-school and they would be putting her in pre-toddler, 2 ages down, it just seemed to easy for her....

Hi,

She has learnt herself, she loves numbers so I started counting on the way to bed (she hates going to bed!) to make it more fun, she started copying me, then I do it in the morning coming down the stairs, again she copied me, I though ok, she's clever remembering it, but when she plays with her toy money or sweets or something she actually counts them out, and if she has 4 dummies on the table and I ask "how many dummies is there on the table lily" she counts them 1.2.3.4.....she just does it, I dont teach her much, she pics things up SO quickly! its cool sometimes as she called my mum using speed dial and I walked in on her having a conversation! She says "how are you" and then replys with "im fine!" its so cute!

Im not clever (note the spelling!) and neither is my partner, but she's like a little sponge soaking it all up!

Oh and we do paint, and bake, and draw (messy play is her fave) but I can do that myself, I wanted more from someone I was paying to take care of her..

For a response to FARFROMHOME,
Thanks for your comments, yes my house is spotlessly clean, but I only have 1 child and only work part time so Id be a lazy ***** if it wasnt wouldnt i!

And to your comment about why dont I give up work completely? And how would the bills get paid? I KNOW! I could be a lazy lay about mum that all the media slags off! WOW! Please let me be a slob!
No sorry I like to work, I love spending time with my daughter and we do go to cultural places which she enjoys, I certainly do not need to quit work?
Are you living in the dark ages? I bet your husband/partner goes to work and you sit at home with your babies being the kept woman! Either that or your a doleite with no job and 6 kids around your ankles in second hand me down clothes!
Come on you really cant be serious!? Your suggesting I give up work full time and live off the state? Or how about make my fiance work weekends as well as his 45hr week! Just so I can take my daughter to more museums? lol!

Answer 1

Go with your gut feel..... I didnt put my son in one of the best nurseries (supposedly), because it just didnt feel right to me.....

Answer 2

You're baby sounds very clever, I can see your dilemma. All four of my kids are very precocious, and always seemed (to me)to be smarter than other kids their age. Because 3 of them had august birthdays, they always ended up being the oldest kids in their classes, which always upset me, because i thought they would get bored. However, a predilection for remembering facts and a keenness to learn don't necessarily mean that the child is emotionally above other kids. She probably enjoys the company of babies her own age, and would find that stimulating enough. Also, if you look to find fault in anything to do with your child, you will certainly find it. Ive never liked a school or a teacher yet, but you sound really picky. You don't mention if you have any other children? I assume your house is perfect and spotless and you have really high standards for yourself as a parent? I mean all this in the best possible way, but it sounds like maybe you need to relax a bit.......I don't fancy daycare myself, I don't even think its appropriate, unless absolutely necessary for moms to work at all when they have young children. There are numerous things you can do to "stimulate" your child, but if your worried about her getting "dumbed down" by a lack of natural light and stupider toddlers, why don't you quit work all together and spend your days taking her to museums and art galleries and other cultural fineties???????

Answer 3

wow, that's amazing what your little one can do!!!
just trust your instinct, that what i should've done when i took my tod to a nursery. some acquaintance were saying really good things about that place. I visited, talked to the manager and saw the rooms and the garden with pool. Unfortunately that was during summer break, so I didn't meet the carers. I enrolled him anyway foolishly, (even though i had this funny feeling that i didn't see the people meant to look after him). He started in September. Many times when I went to pick him up they were playing in the back garden, he still had his sandals on what they meant to wear only inside the building, i asked them to Please put his trainers on while his out in the garden as I didn't want him to catch cold. He started coughing, which went about for a week, than he had such a high temperature that we had to call the ambulance. He is at home now, recovering from pneumonia and acute bronchitis. I will not take to that place ever (sadly I had to do it in the first place because I had to go back to work and had no one to take care of him.)

Answer 4

Go with your instincts on this one - they are always best.

Though I also recommend you relax a little - children are remarkably resilient and can grow and flourish under a huge variance of conditions.

There is no such thing as the ideal environment for the perfect childhood - so relax a little - by trying to get everything right to the nth degree it may be possible that the stress of doing so counteracts your undoubtedly honourable intentions.

Answer 5

Your gut feeling is more than likely right. If you do not feel totally happy with the place do not let you daughter go there, it will probably undo a lot of the things you have taught her already going by how well she is doing now. Find somewhere you feel happy with and talk to other parents there for feedback.

Answer 6

Trust your gut. I know what you mean though. I live in Australia in the central coast and the best Child care option i think up here is a place called foot folly farms. they have nursury animals that the children learn about and look after. it is a big property and they are really so cool, but there are a lot of really good options here in Australia.

Answer 7

I don't believe in daycare/nursery. You can never be 100% sure of those places and frankly I don't want strangers raising my children. Is there anyone else you could get to watch her like a relative or a nanny? If you have a bad feeling then I wouldn't put her in that nursery. People don't have bad feelings for no reason.

Answer 8

If you don't absolutely need childcare due to going back to work, I wouldn't bother, they cost a fortune and you can never be sure of the quality of care.

Take her to Toddler Groups, most of them are free or have a small charge to cover tea / biscuits, there will be lots of toys and activities, and she can socialise with other toddlers too. Your GP surgery or library will have a list of local groups.

Answer 9

i think you are just disappointed to find out that won't teach to your child specifically. If she is put in a class of two year olds you can't expect them to teach the other children things that are above their expected level. Maybe you should have had your child perform so they understood that she is advanced because most parents think their child is a genius and they aren't.

Answer 10

ask your mother/ mother inlaw when they look after your daughter to take her to a play group, or a wacky warehouse! if you wernt comfortable in the nursery then dont send your daughter there!

p.s. how did you get your daughter to count and say the alphabet? my sons the same age and we always read together and talk but he is only just counting to 10 with help!

Answer 11

If you have a weird feeling about the place don't send your child there. Do a little research and visit some other daycares and compare them.