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Kelly's Story... starts in the UK. I tried forever to find suitable child care for my little girl. I had to go backto work and it was breaking my heart thinking I would never find anywhere good enough but, that I HAD to place her. 16 centres later I found the perfect one. It was the largest or the newest it had the right staff!! The staff all left to join a brand new centre (so we left too) and the new place was incredible. Then circumstance brought us to Australia and now I'm in the blessed position of not needing a centre but, would very much like one for my little girl to integrate and basically muck about with kids of her own age. I've looked and to be honest I haven't found what i'm looking for. I need to know she's safe, happily engaged in meaninglful activity and where the staff are hapy to be in work. One centre offered me the payment schedule before I'd had a chance to view anything, one woudln't let me view and the other lacked good hygiene and with a baby at home
 the last thing I want is two poorly children. So i find myself choosing to go without - really hoping I'm doing the right thing for my little girl but, not convinced....


 

Jenny's Story... hi i live in mildura vic i help run a playgroup program called manily music for parents with preschool children, it is aimed at teaching children through music  with parent particaption. we have a thirty minute session of music and movement were a leader sings along and does the moves to the song we use shakers ,scaves,streamers etc. we have kitchen staff to do snacks and refreshment and this allows for everybody's partication. we have snack and play for thirty minutes after music allowing the children to play with others and allows the adults to meet others who have young children also. we run our program through the salvation army with church ladies helping out, one greeting and doing registration and the other snacks . we have between 30 and 40 at a session and have been running  for two school terms. manily music can be accessed on the web. we all enjoy ourselves as it is fun and involved for all

 

Tanya's Story...began several months ago when, for the first time, I began to look into day care for my nearly three year old son. I have been fortunate enought to be able to stay at home with my children, mainly due to my work as a Family Day Care Provider in South Australia, from birth until now. Although I remain at home I am also studying, juggling several projects and  caring full-time for my youngest child and would like my children to experience the social and educational aspects of outside care before they reache school age. I have researched many methods of day care, from educational preschool to long day care offered by many providers and unfortunately I have so far come up short. Most centres offer some aspect of what we are looking for but do not cover all the bases and it has been a heart wrenching decision to leave aside some of our most desired centre qualities behind in order to give our children the social outlet they desire. We are praying it has been the right decision and so far all seems well however it would be nice to not have to be in a position of doubt and uncertainty.