Music Program?

[playfelt]

I know a caregiver that had a music teacher coming and for the first three months the provider paid for the program but asked that they parents pay from there on. All agreed but one parent so what to do. It isn't fair for the provider to pay for the child, the teacher can't afford to give the child the take homes consumables etc with no money, it isnt' fair to the child to exclude them from participating.

I get to cheat in this area because my own daughter is an accredited music therapist and she pops in a couple times a week between clients in the area and sings with the kids which they love. Doesn't cost me much either - grin grin. But I do feel guilty so for September have offered to pay her something. She can use the money as a new therapist just getting her clientele going and we will do it officially so there will be receipts for both of us to claim. A music program is costly and not something a caregiver can do on their own without the parents helping out. Again this is effected in Ontario because we used to combine daycares to have a larger group to spread the cost around more.

[horsegirl]

Daycare is not the same as it was before I started 15 years ago. Parents were more interested in the nurturing quality of care, not so much the educational component. I have always offered a preschool type of program (story time, music & movement, science, and arts and crafts)in the morning, but now it seems that the parents want to have the extra lessons in my home in the afternoon. Centres are starting to do this and I think the parents feel the children need more education and less play time. What a shame, I wish that children could be children and learn through their playtime--not the structured educational system that some parents seem to think that they need. I know a few daycares that get together a couple of times per week at a church room and offer a music or dance lessons to the children.

[Skysue]

I 100% agree with you Horsegirl and mamaof4. At my church I spoke with 2 ex teachers that say play time is the most important. One used to do home daycare when her kids were small all they did was play and they are all honour students. today!

My 3 year old knows her ABC's and can spell out basic words but she does't really like doing it we only do things when she wants to and if she finds it fun. The flash cards sit unless she brings them out! I love her story telling and dancing a lot more!

Today we did a talent show and it was hilarious, we act out story books and dance to the 1950's.

I'm getting really discouraged doing interviews and I'm going to ask way more questions over the phone before letting anyone else into my home.

[mamaof4]

Just my two cents here, but I am all for letting kids be kids. My kids have a music time, but that consists of making shakers, dancing, and maybe banging on pots. Young kids need love and nurturing more than structured lessons

[clep]

I have a musikgarten teacher come in weekly to provide music lessons. I get a great deal from her and I pay for this myself. I do serve hot lunch daily and send out via email every Sunday a weekly menu planner so parents know what their children are eating. The lunch is based upon our dinner the night before so I am not cooking two meals. I make everything from scratch and I do mean everything right down to the pizza sauce for our pizzas, home made soups, pastries, pasta noodles and chicken nuggets and snacks for junk food fridays.

I send out an activity planner every month that details the songs, crafts, activities, rhymes, special days etc on it. I send out a daily helper schedule which let's parents know which day their child is the special helper and compile a newsletter every month.

We do the special days that you mentioned, have a christmas concert at the end of the year, do birthday parties and field trips. In the winter I bring in different people to aid in the monthly theme we have instead of driving the children for field trips in the snow.