What to do with a bright toddler re: daycare

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:14 pm

I have a very bright 20 month old child and I am running out of things to do with her at home.

I am looking at sending her to some form of pre-school for two mornings a week starting from the age of 2. Can anyone recommend an English speaking daycare/pre-school/nursery that will take her from the age of 2. I'm not looking at Finnish daycare for various reasons that I cant write here.

We do all the usual painting, playdoh, art, walks, outdoor play, water play, pretend play, book reading etc at home but she needs something more. She loves to learn and her current passions are reading (she can read over 60 words, has known all phonics since 15 months old), jigsaws (can complete 50 piece ones unaided in a very short time) and pretend play....and talking

!

Many thanks

Hannah

PS I can travel to Helsinki and Vantaa from Espoo if needed.

**Sponsor:**

Karibu · Post by **Karibu** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:34 pm

If 20 months old girl really can read up to 60 words or so (or even recognize alphabets), she must have extraordinary high IQ. Even though other children in Finnish daycare aren't reading at that age, there is skilled stuff, nutritious and tasty food and lots of things to do for children, such as children's books. Also, she would get used to company of other kids too. I would consider finnish daycare very good one (been there myself as a kid). Not knowing your reasons, I say you could give them a try.

Also, you can always seek for a private teacher, though they are expensive here. This reminds me, I have seen several announcements in this board that many foreign Au pairs/students are seeking baby sitting job. They would be cheaper than private teacher.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:39 pm

First of all, no I can't recommend a daycare that starts age two (my youngest was 5 yrs when we arrived here).

But. Just my thoughts out loud.... while you may not wish her to go to a Finnish day care, have you thought about some other kind of language immersion? There are French pre-school clubs in Helsinki and Espoo (Club des Cinq, my youngest went there) and also German, not to mention Swedish. There are volumes of research that show how kids who develop in a multilingual environment have better academic grades and also, often, better social skills (because a kind of "openness" and appreciation of cultural differences in their peers). Eg: Kids who learn Welsh in Wales have better grades in English than the ones who don't. My understanding is that you are monolingual at home.... so a new language at daycare would certainly not pose any threat to her mother-tongue. IM(humble)O it is something you could think about.... long term it could have big benefits, even if you return to the UK soon.

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth.

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:13 pm

Are there language immersion schools for 2 year olds or do most start at 3? She wont be 2 until March so a place that takes from 3 wont even consider her until nearer the time. My main preference is English though.

Karibu- http://www.dropshots.com/hannahq for some videos of her doing her 'stuff'!
My post was not meant to be a brag post as most of the people who read this will be M and M-ers anyway so know Sophie.

Hannah

karen · Post by **karen** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:29 pm

Hannah, I've been using the Dolch sight words to teach my little 6yo pupil to read. She's got the complete set of 220 now and she's able to read a lot of books (kid books, of course). Maybe you could introduce Sophie to those words while you're waiting for a spot to open up. I printed the flash cards and gave her one set at a time. Once she had learned most of them, I gave her more words. I gave her the first set in September and the last set a couple of weeks ago. I'm about to introduce my 5yo to them.

http://www.mrsperkins.com/dolch.htm

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:58 pm

Thanks Tad's Mom- the words look good, but I've never used flashcards before (even when teaching). I just go with what she wants me to write on her magnadoodle- 'write äiti/daddy/cat/airplane' etc is what she says so I write the words and after a few days she just seems to know them and spots the words in her books. Today she read 'daddy, äiti and sophie go in a boat' which I am quite proud of!

Hannah

Karibu · Post by **Karibu** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:14 pm

Hannah aka. Scoobymcdoo, my post wasn't meant to mock you. My apologies. My way to write is somewhat direct and often seems little brute. It came to my mind that if a child is quick to her age, other children of same age may be too slow for her pace of doing things and older ones might simply leave her out of their games because she is younger (kids do that, unfortunately) so she would be on disadvantaged position in either case.

I wish you good luck finding something to do with your daughter.

happymum · Post by **happymum** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:34 pm

oh what a bright little girl!!
sunrise kindergarten takes kids from 2 years old http://www.sunrisefinland.org
also I.C.E.C dunckerinkatu also take kids from 2 years old but 2x a week. tuesdays and fridays http://www.play-learn.com don't know any one in espoo.
all d best!

Post by **neil** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:50 pm

I doubt they will give it to you, but you might try to ask dropshots for the IP of the person who made the comment.

I will run it against the DB here and see who has been posting from that address.

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:27 pm

Thanks Neil, but I managed to delete the message last night so it is gone. Thanks though and Merry Christmas to you, H and M.

Hannah

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