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What is the Difference Between Daycare and Kindergarten?
This article explores the difference between daycare and kindergarten and answers some of the questions you might have about them to ease the process of choosing a care centre for your child.
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As a working parent, you need to feel comfortable with your chosen childcare facility. It’s important to know that your little one will be safe, enjoying fun and educational activities while you are at work. However, there are several kinds of early learning services, and this can make your choice difficult. This article explores the difference between daycare and kindergarten and answers some of the questions you might have about them to ease the process of choosing a care centre for your child.
Difference Between Daycare and Kindergarten - Daycare in New Zealand
Years ago, “daycare” was a term used to describe centres that were not considered traditional kindergartens. Today, however, daycare centres provide more than care to children. The teachers in daycare must complete at least the degree at a Bachelor’s level, and they are just as committed and professional as their peers in kindergartens.
What are the admittance age and the schedule of kindergartens?
The main difference between daycare and kindergarten is that you can enrol your child into daycare from birth, while kindergartens admit children from two years old.
Daycare centres can be privately owned, provided by the parents’ employers as a working benefit or managed by a local community.
Many of these centres have working hours between 7 in the morning and 6 in the evening, offering working parents an option for their children’s care and education throughout the day. The children can stay at the daycare for several hours or the entire day, based on each family’s “logistics” – grandparents, other family members, neighbours or friends who can take care of the little one until the parents come home from work.
Curriculum and educational approaches of daycare in New Zealand
Daycare centres have different educational philosophies like Emilia Reggio, Montessori or Steiner and teach children in various religious, language and cultural backgrounds.
Just like kindergartens, daycare centres follow the curriculum of Early Childhood Education (ECE), also known by the Māori name “Te Whāriki“, which means “woven mat“.
The principles, goals and learning results of Te Whāriki focus on the children and feature experiences, activities and events that promote their best interests.
What can daycare offer your child?
A daycare must offer the setting and the tools a small child needs for proper development from cognitive, physical, linguistic, communication and social standpoint.
Examples of elements that a high-quality daycare offer to enrolled children include:
- corners where the little ones can hide while still being seen by teachers;
- spaces where they can play roles or learn about the cause-effect relationship;
- activities that spark the interest of the children and encourage their creativity and curiosity;
- Team games to nurture determination and teach them about problem-solving.
An outdoor setting appropriate to the age and educational requirements of the child, allowing him to climb, dig, crawl, work and experience various materials and textures (dirt, sand, water, snow), enables the child to play, learn and socialise with other children.
Difference Between Daycare and Kindergarten - Kindergarten in New Zealand
Kindergartens in New Zealand are part of a national organisation that features around 25 regional kindergarten associations, about 460 kindergartens, and additional services spread all over the country. These centres are popular among parents because they are usually located near primary schools, the cost of attendance is relatively low, and the quality of education provided to children is high.
What are the admittance age and the schedule of kindergartens?
In general, kindergartens enrol children between 2 and 5, split into two groups: younger and older children.
Most kindergartens have morning sessions for older children five days a week and afternoon sessions for younger children three days a week. However, there are also kindergartens providing service for 6 hours, so it’s best to check the schedule with the facility you intend to enrol your children.
Curriculum and staff of kindergartens in New Zealand
Kindergartens work based on a programme and philosophy derived from Te Whāriki, the country’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) curriculum. Te Whāriki provides flexibility, enabling kindergartens to adapt the methods used in their education process. However, in all these centres, children must learn through play in a safe and dynamic learning environment, guided by dedicated teachers focused on developing the children’s communication, language and social skills in preparation for entering school.
All teachers in these childcare centres are qualified and certificated as Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers. This means they have a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), or an equivalent Early Childhood Teaching qualification, vetted by the Teaching Council of New Zealand.
What can a kindergarten provide your child?
Many kindergartens allow children to choose the activities they want to engage in, such as drawing, building, creating crafts, looking at books or playing with toys. The opportunity to learn through play is more efficiently seized by the little ones when they get to select what they want to do.
Most kindergartens have a generous outdoor space where children can enjoy different experiences like observing and learning about the natural environment and its “habitants”, whether it is caterpillars, butterflies or earthworms.
Children are taught the importance of a clean environment and how to treat nature gently. Sorting rubbish and feeding the birds in the yard are other examples of what kindergartens teach children who will grow into responsible adults. Some kindergartens grow pets like rabbits to the delight of the little ones who get to pet their fluffy fur.
Meeting people with interesting jobs is on the list of many kindergartens. They invite firefighters, doctors or police officers to speak to children about why they like their jobs and how these jobs help the community.
Some kindergartens organise once or more times a year family events. Whether it’s costume-themed or a tea party, a family picnic or a disco afternoon, these events involve parents who act as organisers and have the opportunity to meet other parents.
Trips outside the kindergarten are highly appreciated, as the little ones are delighted to go to the theatre or the zoo with their colleagues and teachers.
How much does daycare or kindergarten cost?
Aside from the fee per hour charged by the centre, additional costs may arise if:
- the centre is privately-owned or a not-for-profit organisation;
- it includes meals, nappies or other supplies;
- it provides additional, per-pay classes such as dancing, painting, etc.
Some centres charge a fee if you pick up your child late and a different one if you drop your child off early, and others may apply a bond, reimbursed when your child no longer attends the centre’s classes.
You should know that all children between the age of 3 and 4 are entitled to 20 hours of free Early Childhood Education per week, a facility provided by New Zeeland’s government. However, not all early education centres offer these 20 hours, so it’s best to check this before enrolling your child on daycare or kindergarten.
The first years of a child’s life entail extraordinary brain development that, in a stimulating environment, enables them to achieve their full potential. The daycare and kindergarten your child attends in these first years and the quality of the education they provide are extremely important.
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Our Early Learning Centres
Our early childhood centre environments strongly reflects our inspiration – The Reggio Emilia philosophy, from Reggio Emilia, Italy.
We provide a creative and open ended environment that encourages infinite learning for the children and strong relationships between teachers, children and families.
The day’s routines are flexible. At the same time, care is taken to recognise and respect each child’s needs.
Why Choose a Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre?
- Encouraging the use of natural materials
- A strong transition into school
- Teaching team inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach supports your child’s creative potential.
- Healthy, tasty hot meals cooked fresh on site
- 20 ECE hours available/free sessions for 3 year olds
- A boutique, homely feel to our centres
- Strong connections between teachers and whanau.
Here's what our parents say about our childcare centres
We are so happy that our son is a part of the Bright Beginnings family. The staff have been so welcoming and caring since the day he joined here. He has the freedom to explore and experiment as he learns about the world around him. With each passing day, he is growing into a confident and independent young boy, while building friendships and learning important life skills. We are also especially happy that he gets nutritious meals everyday, an important concern for us as parents. Most importantly, he loves it so much here that he can't wait to be back at the Centre every morning! As parents, we can go about our day with the assurance that our son is in good hands within a safe environment. Thank you to the entire BBELC team for that, Devika.
Bright Beginnings has and is a second home to both my son and now my daughter. Amber loves coming to the centre everyday and to see the relationship she has with the teachers is very special. We love everything Bright Beginnings embodies and are thankful to have found this centre.
- Best price
- Best service. From Jade Tavita
I was absolutely blown away by the presentation and the effort that went into the parent teacher interviews. I have not seen anything like it before and it made me feel very comfortable and welcome as a parent. From Darren Masters
Super duper loving, caring teachers. Awesome environment where our boy can flourish everyday. Thank you, Brad and Joanna.
Dillon absolutely loves his new big boy class. He even asks us if he can go on a Saturday and Sunday. Thanks all for making going to school so easy for us. Thanks, Anika.
I love and enjoy watching April develop and grow, I am so happy and grateful that she is in an amazing environment filled with people who care and look out for each other.
Beautiful Daycare. Thank you all.- Best price from Zara.
- Best service
Cherry: Our family is very grateful that we found BBELC. So far it is the best daycare we have seen. We are glad to enrol our kids here. Having peace of mind that our kids are safe, well fed, looked after and enjoy activities with the teachers and other kids is PRICELESS!!!
THANK YOU for helping my kids explore new things. You are all amazing. Like what I always say to the teacher, I don't know how you all do it but the teachers here at BBELC are SUPERHEROES! As parents we feel your passion, dedication and love.
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