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LJsmum 
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Joined: 13 June 2007
Location: Auckland
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 Topic: play centre
Posted: 03 November 2009 at 4:39pm |
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just wondering what everyones experience of play centre has been like?
thinking of joining one....
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kriss
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Joined: 10 September 2007
Location: Homesick Kiwi's in Perth
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Posted: 03 November 2009 at 6:26pm |
Me too, Milo.. will be watching this thread with interest 
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freckle
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Posted: 03 November 2009 at 7:44pm |
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I've been taking my DD2 to playcentre for about 7months now and she absolutely LOVES it! I have found it well resourced and has a free play philosophy which I think is great... We were new to the area and I wanted to do something with her and meet some of the locals so it was ideal... as we're in the country my playcentre only has two sessions a week and we only attend one so it's not too full on... from what I understand some require you to attend at least 2 a week... you have to parent help some sessions (and stay for all sessions with under 2s), unpack and pack up at the start and end of sessions and complete some very basic courses. It is also kinda expected that you help with fundraisers, working bees, and attend some meetings.... So it can be quite involved... HTH
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mum to 3 lovely girls :D
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lizzle
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Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 03 November 2009 at 8:08pm |
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we went to playcentre in gisborne and LOVED it. but have had friends with different experiences. can be cliquey. Ours wasn't at all, but I could see how it could be. it also was a huge time commitment, one that was fine when i was a SAHM, but now I work fulltime it is too much. loved it and cpouldn't recommend our centre enough.
GO MANUTUKE!
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myfullhouse
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Location: West Auckland
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Posted: 03 November 2009 at 9:01pm |
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Our playcentre is great but then it is quite relaxed, we only attend once a week and I am only just about to start my course work and this is our 3rd term. A friend though goes to a different playcentre and they are stricter on getting course work done quickly, attending meetings, going to at least 2 sessions a week. I would suggest checking out how much commitment they require and see if it matches what you are willing to give. I think they all allow you to attend 2 session for free to see if you like it
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gypsynita
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Location: Hamilton
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 8:15am |
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We've been at playcentre since Cian was only a few months old - started out in the SPACE programme and will be moving into "normal" sessions next year. We both love it! he's grown up with the kids so has lots of little buddies and i love it cause it's a bit of time out with other mums every week. ours is really well resourced and we really get into all the crafty things like making texture boards and getting the kids into finger painting, etc...
SPACE is free, but i think you've got to pay for the other sessions...
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Anita
Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10)
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Babe
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 8:28am |
We absolutely HATED it. It wasn't organised and very slap-happy. I found it really hard to spend much time playing with Jake, the other parents kinda took a step back and left the kids too it.
It was super SUPER clique and I most definitely didn't pass the 'cool' test 
Jake got along but he compared to how excited he gets over going to daycare its obvious he never really got into it.
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myfullhouse
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Location: West Auckland
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 8:33am |
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Our playcentre is $30 per term per family whether you have 1 child or 5! So it's pretty cheap.
I can imagine that it can be like that Babe. We joined our when we moved to the area and it has been great as I have met lots of people. The parents all take an active roll in playing with the kids and coming up with new activities for them. I suppose we have just been very lucky in getting a great bunch of people at ours.
ETA: Milo1 which pc where you thinking to go to? Maybe someone can give you specific feedback about that one
Edited by Linzy
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Bizzy
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 9:21am |
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my sister was big into PC... she took both her kids till they were school age and her oldest is now 11 and she went to a PC reunion the other month. However she did try a couple before she found the right fit for her and did say they can be a bit cliquey!
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Febgirl
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 10:16am |
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I briefly looked into our local one, but the amount of parent committment required (doing courses, attending sessions etc as lizzle said) was a lot more than I was prepared to do, seeing how I work out of the home 3 days a week. If you were a full time SAHM I could see it being valuable though.
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Two little girls under 2!
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clare00
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Joined: 15 January 2008
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 8:23pm |
 Febgirl wrote:
If you were a full time SAHM I could see it being valuable though. |
Definitely this.
It sounds like not all Playcentres are the same, and what some people like, others will not.
I totally love my Playcentre-very realxed and friendly mums, but hard workers who all play with the kids. It does take some commitment though. It definitely pays to check out a couple before you pick one, if you have that luxury!
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peachy
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 04 November 2009 at 9:58pm |
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Have just bumped an old thread for you on playcentre. Its in the toddler section.
ETA: Sorry its in the First Baby section!!
Edited by peachy
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play centre
Little Angel, April 10
