Childcare & Education

On the blog

Why More Schools Are Switching to a 4 Day School Week: And What It Means for Parents

Tassia O'Callaghan

The Juggle: Childcare Options for Working Parents

Tassia Agatowski

The Savings: How to Get the Most Out of Your Childcare Budget

Tassia Agatowski

The Benefits of Childcare for Working Parents (& Kids!)

Tassia Agatowski

Top 10 Tips for the First Day of Preschool

Tassia O'Callaghan

Key Signs of Diabetes in Kids

Keshia Sophia Roelofs

When Do Girls Stop Growing? Height, Puberty & Brain Development

Tassia Agatowski

What Age is Preschool? Preschool Age Range

Tassia O'Callaghan

How to Have a Happy First Day of School: 60+ Books, Quotes & Tips

Tassia O'Cakllaghan

How To Get a Toddler To Take Medicine

Team Peanut

40+ Essential Nanny Interview Questions

Deborah Vieyra

How Much to Pay a Babysitter

Alicia Wallace

What to Know About Childhood Sleepwalking

Team Peanut

How Much Does a Nanny Cost?

Deborah Vieyra

When Do Kids Stop Napping? How to Stop Napping

Team Peanut

100+ ‘Would You Rather?’ Questions for Kids

Team Peanut

From the community

Recent discussions

How is everyone finding reliable Babysitters???

Hey! Curious we are struggling to find reliable babysitters. We currently don’t have family around us. We also have asked so many people from young adults to high schoolers.. nobody wants to babysit. Is this a trend with high schoolers and young adults?

We used care.com as well and are comfortable paying $20-$25/hr which I feel is high but is what all the sitters are asking for in our area!

School and SEND

I know this post may be controversial but I'm looking for open discussion not arguments please. This is not meant to criticise.

I seen this today on FB and as a teacher (over 20 years) I have taught children with varying SEN needs over the years. Some have needed different planning and resources, some 1:1 support, some part in school, part in PRUs.

However, there has been a rise in SEN diagnosis over the years and alongside this huge cuts to support - meaning sometimes you will have numerous pupils who have different needs that clash. In one tiny classroom. Often with little to no support.

I'm curious as to what people think would be the answer(s) ? Obviously, you can't say that every SEN child would be better off in a specialist school as that simply isn't true.

I see many parents of SEN children (influencers on FB) saying school is just not fit for purpose and teachers need to adapt their classroom and teaching for their child. Which is true, and every parents needs to advocate for their child, but with 1 teacher to 30+ children, no lesson or teaching style or technique is ever going to be perfect for all of those every single time. You can do your best to follow the EHCP and implement. So what would you change to ensure inclusion?

Would it be to reduce class sizes? Overhaul the curriculum?
Remove testing?
Flexible timetable?
More adult support (TAs)
More specialist support (e.g learning mentors, child psychologists)
Train teachers more - often we have done a couple of days worth of training on specific needs - if that. Also, I find a lot of the training is about the need , not how to support the child in real life situations like the post details here

I don't know if people know the reality of what schools are like in the UK now. Teachers have been trying to fight these cuts for year and the media just pits us against parents telling them strikes are about pay.

And now some children (and parents) are at more than crisis point because they're not getting the support they need.

Anyone who works a 9 to 5 with their child in childcare do you get enough time as a family together? How does this work??

Considering you are home around 6-7pm then you make dinner and go to bed then repeat you basically only get your days off if you and your partner share the same days together as a family

Nursery!!

Has anyone had their LO not settle in nursery?! My one is 6weeks in and she’s still not settled and I’m at my wits end and don’t know what to do. Can’t afford to take her out and I’m just blah

Homeschooling as a single parent

Mamas with no village doing it alone . How do you go about homeschooling your little ones ?

Baby sitter

I will need to find a babysitter by next week any good babysitter in Greenville

Preschool

I only wanted to put my lo in for 2 mornings a week but I’ve been told 3. Just wondering what plans everyone has?

Whos looking after your LOs while in labour?

Just collecting some thoughts! I've only ever had my mum for childcare, and she's travelling when I'm due, so I'm wondering what alternatives people are using for childcare for the existing little ones when you're due your next! We'd book a babysitter but not sure if we could just call a sitter last min when the baby's decided to arrive!

Thank you :)

Nursery's or childminder

What's the pros and cons of nursery and childminder

I'm not sure sure which one to send my child to and want to hear some options from other moms

Ewan the sheep

Would you recommend? I didnt have one with my daughter but looking for things to make life easier i have brought rockit zed this time round

What’s the best age to send kids to nursery uk?

Is 2 1/2 to lo early? I take my 2 year old to playgroups every week but he hates being out and between people and always clings to me and doesn’t wanna play with anyone or starts crying when someone tries to speak to him. I’m worried he won’t like nursery when I send him at some point

Elementary school recommendations

Hi! I’m new to the Kissimmee area (around vine st) my son turned 5 this year so I need to start looking at elementary school for kindergarten in August. Can anyone recommend any? I’m extremely nervous about putting him in public school as my baby is a sweet soul and doesn’t understand when someone is bullying him 🥲
and he has adhd so I need a school that will give him the patience he needs.

Photo of my goofball 🥰

Does your nursery offer a sibling discount

Hi all,

I'm pregnant with baby no. 2 and already thinking about nursery fees!

When baby no. 2 starts nursery they will be 1 year old and my toddler will be 3. So the then 3 year old will be in pre-school which is attached to the nursery.

Am wondering if your nursery offers a sibling discount? If so, how much?

Going to talk to our nursery about it tomorrow but no discount is advertised on the website. Curious to know if others had to ask for one or it was advertised/obviously available?

Many thanks!

Book recommendations for kid starting nursery

Hi! Does anyone have any book recommendations for my 3 year old who will be starting nursery in September?

I'd like to get some more books around the themes of making friends, kindness, feelings, body autonomy etc! Things that can help him generally but also will be very useful starting nursery. Thanks! ☺️

Anxiety about Nursery

Is anyone else feeling so anxious about their little one starting nursery. I just can’t imagine handing her over to a stranger and leaving her. The thought of it makes me feel sick.

Visiting day nurseries

I am visiting a day nursery on Monday which will potentially be where my son will go after Christmas when he is 11 months.
What questions would you definitely ask? Want to go in prepared.

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