ecole maternelle

[Nenya]

Hi!
I've just put my 3,5 year old in a mixed petit moyenne maternelle, she will only be staying from 8.20 -11.20 we have problems with naps. What I would like to know is how long, approx, your children have needed to start to fit in and use a bit of French? My daughter is very flexible and adaptable but I'm a little afraid since on the first day I have found her in the books corner while everybody else was doing a group activity with the teachers. Also, maybe a bit strange, is it possible to get asked to take your child out of maternelle? For any reason other that you bringing a sick child to school?

[Nenya]

Oh, I also have a 2 year old, they told me at the mairie that creche is a looooong shot so can anyone tell me what to do if I get a part time job? How much does a nanny cost? If i understood correctly halt garderies can only be used a few times a week.
Thanks

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Nenya

Hi!
I've just put my 3,5 year old in a mixed petit moyenne maternelle, she will only be staying from 8.20 -11.20 we have problems with naps. What I would like to know is how long, approx, your children have needed to start to fit in and use a bit of French? My daughter is very flexible and adaptable but I'm a little afraid since on the first day I have found her in the books corner while everybody else was doing a group activity with the teachers. Also, maybe a bit strange, is it possible to get asked to take your child out of maternelle? For any reason other that you bringing a sick child to school?

I wouldn't worry too much about your daughter keeping to herself on the first day. It's a bit overwhelming at age 3.5.

The son of a friend of mine had to be dragged kicking and screaming to nursery school for the first couple of weeks - up to a month or more. The family was Chinese, and the boy had only ever been cared for by his Grandparents (who spoke only Chinese). None of the teachers spoke Chinese.

By the end of the third month, he was babbling away in English (this was in the US) like a champ. Kids take a while to adjust and find their way.
Cheers,
Bev

[wendyj]

I'm English and husband French... she speaks both - but she didn't utter a word for the first 10 months of maternelle... she was at school for 3 months before she turned 3... it depends on when your birthday falls... assistant maternelles in town cost about Euro5.80 / hour.

[katerinaver]

Originally Posted by wendyj

I'm English and husband French... she speaks both - but she didn't utter a word for the first 10 months of maternelle... she was at school for 3 months before she turned 3... it depends on when your birthday falls... assistant maternelles in town cost about Euro5.80 / hour.

how do you find assistant maternelles through the mairie as well? Are parents required to pay any additional fees like health insurance, social security, anything beyond 5.80/hr?

[wendyj]

You get a list of assistante maternelles through your mairie or the PMI.

There is something like Euro2.80 a day for cleaning / electricity and then a charge per meal if they provide meals (some do some don't) and that's about Euro3 and both these figures are set by the CAF, not the assistante. The hourly rate is set within guidelines from the CAF.

[katerinaver]

Originally Posted by wendyj

You get a list of assistante maternelles through your mairie or the PMI.

There is something like Euro2.80 a day for cleaning / electricity and then a charge per meal if they provide meals (some do some don't) and that's about Euro3 and both these figures are set by the CAF, not the assistante. The hourly rate is set within guidelines from the CAF.

thanks again wendy!

[GALLUS]

Fully potty trained child is the requirement, the other compulsory obligation is vaccine against Tuberculosis which the only one compulsory for school, although school head masters will happily accept children with vaccine exemption (medical reasons or philosophical reasons, but medically approved, which means Certificat du Medecin) . Jehovah Witnesses refusing vaccination for their children for instance will be referred to the Direction Departementale des Affaires Sanitaires (School Medical Doctor) for counselling.

Some school directors ask for a full vaccination scheme but in fact only TB is required by Law. You might be able to get this confirmed by your local GP.

On potty training, it is self declarative "yes my child is clean" but many parents try to hide the fact that the child is still imperfectly clean, with some "uncontrolled accidents". just know that such "accidents" will be accepted by the school provided they do not exceed once a day, and twice a week rule. If it is twice daily, everyday, you will be asked to take back your child.

Schools have also nocited parents trying to hide the fact that teh child wears pampers, with all sorts of strategies. Please note that the first you child does when he arrives at maternelle school, is go to toilet with the help of an assistant. This will be noticed immediately.

Potty training can start before 12 months and be achieved with reasonable results within 4-8 weeks.


good luck

[Nenya]

Could the admin pleas refer me to the thread for potty training?
My oldest is fully trained, but I'm having a seriously difficult time with my 2-year-old. She can stay clean and dry the whole day (I have to warn her about every two hours), except for naps and nights when she still wears dippers, then in the evening she will wet her pants.We are not pressuring her, I just can't understand how she seems to understand and know when she has to go (she sometimes tells me herself she has to go), and then just forgets. It also happened that I put her on the toilet, she says she doesn't have to go and then 10 seconds later goes into her pants. I don't think it's too early.
Gallus any helpful hints will be most welcome.
Thank you

[GALLUS]

Replying to Nenya

I am not an expert in potty training, but you are on the right path apparently.

What matters is (in our experience)
- relaxation for the exercise (calm moment), maybe a sense of isolation (children are shy) or closeness with one of the parents
- assistance: with one of the parents or any other person, preferably always the same adult or older child, not advised in public (hygiene + ease)
- location: not necessarily in the toilet, but could be in the passage to the toilet or in the bathroom (or in the child's room, at first)
- equipment : on a nice potty or an adapted toilet, with a step to climb on and off (comfort is essential),
- time: regularity is key to success : morning before bath, before going to sleep and naps, 3 times a day and upon request
- regularity and comfort: carry potty or adapted toilet tool wherever you go, prepare the bed to be covered for accidents at night, avoid huge fluid intake before night
- play or not play during the exercise? playing distracts the child from the main objective, but reading a book on hygiene and potty training (they abound) is of great help. Putting a doll on potty training as well might help.

good luck