Mothercraft

Overall, I am quite happy. And yes, the waiting list is quite long, I went on the list when my son was 3 months, and we have started attending when he was 2.5 years old.
Right now the preschool price is 1180 (for year 2012).
The good:
— I find the program to be quite varied, there is an ambudance of good toys and books, that are not just fund, but educational.
— Right now there is Yoga and Music on alternating weeks and library visits for kindergarden group.
— There is a water day every week during summer, when kids get sprinklers and all sorts of water toys.
— most of the staff is great, the children get picked up and physically cared for when they’re upset. They also seem to be quite sincere and genuinely interested in small children.
— some food from home are allowed: we are bringing organic milk, bread and cereal.
— a fair size yard for outdoor play, with sand box and, could be bigger and better of course, but compared to what most daycares have it’s very good. And lots of outdoor toys. It’s a bit too shaded, which is good in the summer, but no sunshine in the winter. I think I have only seen bigger yards in schools, or in a few suburb private schools such as Montesorri or Waldorf.
— Also, weather permitting, kids stay longer outside than mandated minimum for the second outing, which is great!
— GREAT: a report is put up of how much kid ate, when they slept and what was the program for day (this way on the way home you can follow up with your child a bit).
Could be better:
— food — breadsticks should not see daycare even as snack. Neither should wonderbread. It’s better to serve local fruits and veggies — they have more vitamines. Porridges are unheard of here (except rice). It’s not bad menu, but sure could be improved. I also don’t see the merit of milk with lunch. I’m sorry, milk is food, not drink, just like soup. And drinking milk along lunch with meatballs is just wrong by any established cuisine. Morning snacks are cold, which in the winter is bad. Milk is always served right out of the fridge btw. Gee, skip all the GMO corn cereal and serve everyone a mug of organic hot chocolate (warmth, iron, calcium and calories). Or nice oatmeal, polenta or buckwheat porridge (either can be prepared day of or day before and reheated).
— too much sanitization w/​clorine. Better don’t let street shoes and sick kids in and wipe runny noses promptly. And it seems to have been established that triclosane soap (anti-​bacterial one) is not a good thing on daily basis. My sister with PhD in Bio says the same — it just kills all the flora and weakens immune system. Yet, the kids are using this type of soap. We personally have our own — it is allowed.
— it’s a bit chilly in the winter — around 20C
— I’m a bit upset with all the waste with papertowels, especially when there is laundry on site. Although after lunch kids use damp clothes to wipe their faces.