Should stay-at-home mums be banned?
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Should stay-at-home mums be banned?
Part 1.
The time had arrived. Our paternity money had run out and our bank manager thought it best that we both return to full-time work. It was time to look at day care options…
In Sweden there are a variety of day care facilities to choose from. Day care’s run by the local government, daycare run by private enterprise (but that is still government funded) and family day care.
Most centres are based on the teaching methods of Reggio Emilia but then there are few in the bigger cities that specialise in different methods like Montessori, Waldorf, bilingual schools and “I Ur och Skur”. “I Ur och Skur” is daycare where the kids are outside all day. Yes, in Sweden. Yes, all year round. Yes, in the snow, well at least until it hits -10°C. TSH along with the rest of Sweden thinks these are a brilliant option noting the benefits of children being at one with nature. I don’t. The nature bit is fine, but all day? Plus, in my home country, nature can kill you.
I did think however, sending her to a bilingual or music day care would be rather wonderful.
We looked around and were lucky enough to have both in our area so we signed her right up. Just like every other bastard in Stockholm. Yes, we were disheartened to find out that there were massive waiting lists for all day cares, specialised or not, and that she would likely get a place by the time she was allowed to vote or drive a car.
Jesus loves you but I’m his favourite. Yes, somehow after being told we were 147 in cue for the fabulous music nursery, we were offered a spot the next day! Just saying.
And as everyone knows, if you teach your kid music from a young age, they become a genius. The research is clear. Children who play or sing music regularly from an early age perform better in reading and math when they begin school and in later years, are much more likely to win a Noble prize in nuclear physics.
So we were pleased to find out that at the singing nursery, music, dance and movement are the core themes that underlie their pedagogic thought. They provide an environment rich in music and movement and other cool stuff for kids. They are also out in the forest a lot and of course, at her age there are whole Wagner length operas with ‘free play’ as the leitmotiv.
And she loved it right from the first day. Thank God. No tears, no tantrums, it was more like we were the embarrassing parents who wanted to hang around and she just wanted us to leave so she could get on with learning Susuki violin.
To find out if our toddler will win a Grammy and if stay-at-home-mums should be banned, please stay tuned for part two.
What day care options are available where you live?
loulouloves 
That is fantastic!!
Thanks! and wait there is more….
What a great concept!!! And Jesus does definitely favour you. B*tch! 🙂
LOL
Love the music / creative based day care idea but nothing like that available here (but we do go to English daycare once a week). Waiting list was “Sign-up 2 years before birth” kind of thing but, like you, we were very lucky and got accepted, to not one but 2 different places close by. My wife was a little embarrassed going to the government office to say we do not need this one when everyone else there was crying / complaining of not having a placement (geographical fluke we got the 2). … ah fun and games.
Ha, sign up 2 years before birth, love it!!!!!!!!! How funny is that to get accepted into 2 places after being told of the long wait….
Nice that you have options. I’m with you on the outside all day school. We live in the southern states which has mild winters but the summers would give the kids heat exhaustion! How lucky you are to get to the top of the waiting list!
I know, we were so lucky and she can be inside. Too good!
Intrigued for part 2! My kids have attended a good ol’ fashioned “developmentally appropriate” daycare here in the U.S. that is certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Considering there are NO national standards for daycare in the U.S., I’ll take my center’s NAEYC certification. I’m not sure what their music pedagogy is, though, so fingers crossed that my kids don’t end up in jail by age 16. Congrats on the upcoming Grammy!
LOL.
We got on a wonderful school’s waitlist when we first started looking at daycares. We got a call 3 days later that he was in. But it wouldnt be until 3 months later that he started (FALL). Nevertheless, it is in THEIR best interest to fill-in spots, even midyear, even when you don’t think your child is ready to “graduate” from the crib to the cot. We started off in the cot-room, but my biggest concerns were that he HAD to go to a 1 nap schedule and wear shoes all day. The price (both literally and figuratively) we pay for top notch care. We love our daycare even if it costs us an arm to send him there. I wouldn’t want my kid to be outside ALL day either. They are only outside 15 min in the AM and PM depending on the whether. J and I get plenty of outside time on the weekends, anyways. CONGRATS on getting into the music-centered daycare. She’s gonna have rhythm and definitely be smarter. I mean, just look at you. Using words like leitmotiv ;). Can’t wait for part 2!! Glad there were no tears during 1st drop off. There were tears for ours – MINE! Sobbing actually…
I sent the husband for first drop off! I totally cheated, but it worked, all his girls were happy.
She had to start off with 1 nap too so we trained her in a bit before – this didn’t feel so good because I could tell she still needed 2 and it was the first time we had actually gone against what felt natural for her.
Only 3 days before you found out, that is excellent!!!!
it’s always great to learn how other countries run their childcare programs. looks like you found the right one, and yay, for no tantrums and blending in at the center, effortlessly. 🙂
hope you have a great day!
jasmine