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Post by Lulu22 on Mar 10, 2012 7:32:11 GMT
o,
I was wondering what the possibilities for childcare are in the compounds. We have a 1.5 year old and will be moving to KSA from the UK in a few months. It is not clear at the moment whether we will be located in RT or Abqaiq. We will most likely make plans to expand our family soon after we arrive. :-) I am guessing that in such a small community, friends/neighbors must help each other out a lot, but outside that I have a few questions about more formal forms of childcare:
1. I have heard that there are crèches at each camp that are open for a few hours per day - is this correct?
2. Is there structured preschool for toddlers?
3. Do families tend to hire part-time nannies, and if so, how is this generally organized?
4. What do couples do if they want a few hours to themselves once in a while or go to a friend's place in the evening? Are there people willing to babysit for a fee?
We are definitely looking forward to the family time life in KSA will provide, don't get me wrong! :-)
Any information would be appreciated! Thanks!
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Post by vpainter on Mar 11, 2012 19:11:30 GMT
Many people with infants and small children here have maids who either come for the day or a few hours or who live in and the employee sponsors them. You can apply to sponsor someone once your husband has his iqama. You will be able to know the procedure for sponsoring a maid after you are here.
There are students who do babysitting.
Friends do help out each other.
There are private preschools and day care in people's homes. Aramco started a preschool program also this year for those going into Kindergarten the next year.
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Post by Lulu22 on Mar 12, 2012 9:43:35 GMT
Thank you for the information. I figured there would be several options.
With regards to education in general, we understand that the Aramco schools only go up to the 9th class. Are there possibilities to enroll the children in a non-Aramco high school after this stage so that they can complete their education close to home? If so, what are the waiting lists like? We have uneasy feelings about boarding school (even though this is a long way off)...
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Post by vpainter on Mar 12, 2012 22:02:58 GMT
Yes, there are options.
The International Schools Group - Dhahran, Dammam, Jubail
You can look them up online and see their websites.
ISG Dhahran is right outside the Dhahran Aramco camp and is located on the U.S. Consulate grounds.
Aramco pays 100% tuition and fees for this school.
Aramco provides free bus service to the Dhahran High School from the Aramco Compounds. About 30% of the Dhahran Jr. High Graduates go to DHS.
Also there is a high school in Bahrain - U.S. Dept of Defense High School. It also has a website.
The students can arrange transportation through the bus office or take private taxi or drivers. They board there during the week and are home on weekends. A small percentage of Aramco students do that alternative.
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Post by cacord on Mar 14, 2012 11:48:50 GMT
We live on RT and I have a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old and here is my experience with childcare.
There are informal preschools that individuals run out of their homes. Typically they accept kids at 2 years old although I believe there is one or two that accept them at 18 months but I am not sure. My oldest attends preschool for three hours four days a week.
There is also the formal preschool for children to attend the year prior to Kindergarten.
Hiring a part time nanny is incredibly difficult and it is a much coveted commodity on camp. There are many people who are looking and would like to have that option and it is just not readily available. Hiring a full time nanny, who will live in with you, can also be done however it is my understanding that you must have three children or both parents are working for Aramco to assist you in sponsoring. Either way, both friends and myself have found hiring a consistent nanny very difficult.
I have finally found a lady who I can call on occasion when I need someone to watch my 1 year old but rarely does she watch both and I do rely on friends to help with watching my 3.5 year old time to time. As for someone watching them both so my husband and I can have a date out or time to ourselves...has not happened in the year we have been here!
You make it work and people are willing to help you out but I have found it more difficult than expected to find consistent childcare in the form of a nanny with only have two kids.
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Post by Speedy53 on Mar 15, 2012 2:10:53 GMT
Well darn! I thought it would be easy to get a part time nanny, doesn't sound like it. We have a 6 month old and will be in RT mid April so maybe we can switch watching kids a few time cacord.  |
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Post by Lulu22 on Mar 16, 2012 19:54:41 GMT
I had the same idea, and would definitely be up for such an arrangement. I have some friends who do this on a semi-regular basis and it works out great for everyone - win-win!
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Post by cacord on Mar 18, 2012 13:48:46 GMT
I am going to send you a PM with my contact information here so you have a contact when you arrive. Also, if you have any other questions as you are getting ready to leave let me know. There are several of us with younger kids (12 months and younger) so you will have lots of new mommies with little ones and can get easily connected before the summer. Look forward to meeting you!
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