Playcentre

I was a playcentre kid. I know my mum really enjoyed it, but she did know a few of te mums that were there as well as there ws 3 of us that grew up for the first 4 years together.

I thought children had to be older to go to playcentre (or have things changed).

Things have changed. I went right up until I was 5 and my mum came along to most of the sessions.

Ummmmm, well you asked for good OR bad...

I started taking Maya when she was 11 mths old to meet some other Mum's in teh area, and spend quality time with Maya since she was in daycare 3 days a week.

She loved it, and to start with so did I. But I got a bit of negativity from some of the other Mum's for having Maya in daycare as the whole PLaycentre philosophy is very anti daycare/kindy/preschool etc. and also because I was on my own with Maya at the time I couldn't go to all the meetings etc. as I didn't have a babysitter (and there were a lot of meetings).

We stuck it out tho, I completed my course 1 training, but I was getting abit sick of the politics. Then we went thru a really rough patch with Mona where I really needed support but instead I got told off for missing meetings. In the end Willie basically told me I had to chuck it in, coz even tho Maya loved it, it was doing my head in.

We lasted 18 mths there tho - Maya was 2 1/2 when we left, and I did make friends with two other Mum's with girls a similar age to Maya, so it was worth it just for that. The training for me was a bit of a waste of time as Maya was getting most of her 'education' from daycare, but I can see that it would be great for learning new things to do with your kids if you have them at home. My aunty started off doing playcentre training when her son was young and from there decided to do a degree in Early Childhood, so it can be a good starting point.

I think if you want to give it a go then go for it, especially if you are a SAHM and have the time to dedicate to it (which I didn't as a single working Mum) but be prepared for politics, a heap of PMS hissy fits, and quite a hardline attitude towards other early childhood education options.

my sister was a playcentre mum - but some of the first ones she went to were very clicky. when she found one she looked both her kids went there till school age. when they got older they used to hold an occasional day where the mums didnt have to stay, but otherwise she had to be there. you also have to help out with cleaning up and setting up too.

I so agree with you Angelnz i didn't even last a term. To much pressure to do things like meetings, course's, mother help and all the other stuff that goes along with playcentre, for my liking and most of the mums are so in to it there whole lives revolve around it and thats just not my thing.

Me too, quite curious now !!

Lol its almost like a cult. Ha ha.
the playcentre i went to was VERY anti kindy.
you have to do your first course booklet when you join. Which goes over basic stuff. And part of it is attending meetings and getting materials for collage etc.
I found also with mine that they were very anti you starting late and leaving early. So this is very hard for young ones that need a sleep.

But like i said prev every centre is different. My mum ran playcentre when i was a kid and loved it. So if you think it may be something your interested in. Check it out. Go for your free sessions and see.

Thanks for all your comments ladies!

I don't know what I will end up doing but I am tending towars not starting up... The centre we went to yeaterday was pretty dirty for starters and I also would prefer a BIT of structure to the day, also the mums I met there were all a bit fanatical, hehehehe

Will still go for my two free sessions though, heheheh

LOL Nikki, I like where OHbaby! comes in that list...

I've heard that Auckland Association (which is what we came under) are one of the strictest, and I certainly met many a PLaycentre Nazi, whereas a friend who went to a Tamaki Ass. centre (east Auckland) said they were way more laid back.

They are fully anti kindy tho, and if they even THINK that you are going to put your child in kindy when he or she turns 3 they will completely ostracise you.

wow, I can't believe people are so anti-kindy Emma. I think half of ladies at my centre have kids in either kohnaga or kindy.

It's been great as Jake has met a little boy JUST like him. Jake gets angry and pushes Tim, Tim pushes back and give him a kick. No tears yet, but finally Jake has someone who will fight back. Not that i encourgae violence, just that erveryone else lets him get away with stuff...Oh i hope someone gets me!!!