Daycare Basel - Information needed

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello

We have been looking into daycare options in Basel and so far we ruled out the following options (most of them are too expensive, we have three kids):

Littlefoot

Tinytots

YLAA

We are now looking into Home from Home or Gymboree preschool playgroup.

Are your kids going there? How is the place/staff? Any suggestions would be most valuable to us. Do not hesitate to PM me!

Busymom

2
With three kids, a nanny may be more cost-effective...supplemented with a programme of 'local' activities which are lower cost than ones targeted to expats...

3
Are you looking for all three to be in fulltime daycare or just certain days in the week? Also, how old are your children as daycare needs can obviously vary depending on whether they are pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or school age.

My daughter goes to a great daycare but it too is very expensive as it opens early and closes late which is the only way when you work fulltime. Also it doesn't close for the summer or any other holidays which is essential for me. I'm not sure my boss would be too chuffed if I asked for 15 weeks holiday a year

4
Hi

We have three under two, so I am not working. We are basically looking for our twins to have some playtime with other kids. But as we don't need full days (more like 10 to 4 pm) I am not prepared to pay the same amount as soneone who drops off the kid at seven am and picks it up at seven pm. But the centers are not flexible about this. A nanny wouldn't do. The twins need interaction with others.

So does anyone know Home from home?

Thanks

Busymom

5
Maybe you need a 'spielgruppe' (playgroup) not a 'Kita' (childcare).

Some playgroups are supervised, where the mums leave the children.

Here's a link for the Basel association:

http://www.fks-bl-fricktal.ch/

If you click on the left where it says 'spielgruppen der Basel/Fricktal' you will get a list of playgroups. Maybe there are a few that are convenient to you that you can try...Most of them have email or web contact listed, which makes it easier to communicate in english if you can't cope with German....

6
Basel Childrens Trust is a volunteer organisation that runs English speaking playground for different ages. Unfortunately it is not full day , eg 11-13.30 on a Thursday, but it will get you out of the house and the kids mixing with others. In terms of cost 85 CHF for the year but as we are now after July it is 45 CHF for the rest of the year.

It is a very mixed group and I enjoy the social contact with other parents.

http://www.baselchildrenstrust.ch/

Hope this is of assistance