Can daycare replace preschool?

This may be a really dumb question. I am so confused... We will need child care when my DS turns one. DH and I are both teachers so we will not need summer daycare. I am still up in the air about what I will do this school year from March -- June. But I guess that's another story.... sorry for the rambling.

My real question is.... if DS goes to a daycare center until he goes to full-day kindergarten, will daycare be like preschool when he is 3 and 4 years old? If not, how do working parents get their kids from babysitters/daycare to and from preschool?

Thanks so much!

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Every daycare is different. The daycare that we use does have a preschool curriculum at that age. It helps that our daycare is affiliated with the school district. I think this is one of the questions you have to ask each center as you interview.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Our daycare (and everyone we have interviewed along the way) have pre-school programs in house.

The question for us becomes...do we let our son stay at the center for pre-school where the schedule works for us and he knows the kids and staff

or

Do we enroll him in a program closer to home where there most likely will be more kids that he will go to grade school with (including kindergarden)


Some of the BTDT moms might know more about the average time a "day" is defined as - which might help make more sense in terms of how to juggle things.


It is my hope to be home with DS when this time comes otherwise he might very well stay at the center he is currently at.

Message edited 10/7/2008 10:22:19 AM.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

We are debating this now

1- do we allow DS to stay in his daycare when he hits 2 years old?

2- send him to a reputable preschool and basically have 2 kids in 2 differnt locations?

I want a place that is more educationally based but i dont want to go crazy either

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Not a dumb question at all! My words exactly...
We are in the same predicament. I "think" you would have to do a full daycare that has preschool options during the day. Most of the facilities that I have been to provide this. It would be different if it was in home bc then they may not provide preschool development BUT not all of them....some do.
I also cant drop my dd at 9 and P/U at 12.-Also wanted to add...I am not sure that dd will get to that route anyhow bc in home is soooo much cheaper for us. If I went to a facility and had another child...I totally couldnt pay 2000+ a month and still live the lifestyle we do.

Message edited 10/7/2008 10:29:33 AM.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Thanks so much for the replies. So, I guess not all daycares will have a pre-k program. DH and I work three miles from home (one 3 miles east, the other west). So, I guess if I find someplace nearby he could be with children he will eventually be going to school with. And then cost, of course, will be a factor. SO much to think about!

Thanks again!

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Some districts have universal pre-k that is subsidized by the school district. I'm not sure how it works but several moms from my daughter's old daycare got the pre-k program at a reduced rate.

The kids would be in the daycare program for 1/2 the day & then go to the pre-k program.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

I recently took DS out of daycare (that had a pre-school aspect) and put him into a facility that is strictly a school. There is definitely a difference. He is 16 mos and they actually have him on a "class" teaching schedule. At the daycare although there was a learning component, to me it seemed as though it was mostly a sitting service that taught when time allowed. Where he is now has a curriculum, and they make sure the parents are involved with their learning. They offer advice and materials to support lessons at home when needed.

He is a much happier kid in school than in daycare. I truly think that he was bored in daycare. He loves school now and they run from Sept to June. They have summers available, but it is not necessary to maintain your registration for the next year.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

The daycare I had my son in when he was 4 was a pre school. I believe most of them have similar programs.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Investigate everything in your area including Home Daycare.

My DS goes to a home daycare/preschool. The first floor is the school (its a split). There are 12 children at most at one time. All the children he is in school with will be in his elementary school. The kids are watched through kindegarten and then care stops once they enter 1st grade. Our district is half day kindegarten and the school bus goes to her house. DUring the school year she gives pre-k lessons to the older kids when the yonger ones nap. During the summer she has summer camp filled with activities.
Everyday there is a different art project and every week has a theme.
His schedule is:
8-9 - Breakfast/Table toys
9-10-Free Play/Easel
10-1030 - Snack/Bathroom (diaper or line up for potty)
1030-11 - Circle Time
11-12 - Outside Play
1-3 - Nap/Pre K Lessons
3-345 - Wake up/Snack/Bathroom
4-5 - Outside play
5-6 - Quiet play/books color

Places like this are usually word of mouth but I called all the places I found from the NYS license web site and was amazed it is only 2 blocks from my house.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

I plan for day care to replace preschool. Our center has a pre-k room, ages 3 - 5, and the do have a cirriculum.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

My DD just started the preschool class at her daycare in September. They have a great curriculum and I may be biased but I think she is learning more here than she would in a traditional preschool for a few hours a day. However, you need to ask your dayacre because the last day care we were at did not have a program nearly as good as the one we have at her current daycare.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

DD #1's preschool offered a full day program, which is great if your a teacher. They are open according to the local school calendar.

Re: Can daycare replace preschool?

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by smdl

Posted by MsMBV

I recently took DS out of daycare (that had a pre-school aspect) and put him into a facility that is strictly a school. There is definitely a difference. He is 16 mos and they actually have him on a "class" teaching schedule. At the daycare although there was a learning component, to me it seemed as though it was mostly a sitting service that taught when time allowed. Where he is now has a curriculum, and they make sure the parents are involved with their learning. They offer advice and materials to support lessons at home when needed.

He is a much happier kid in school than in daycare. I truly think that he was bored in daycare. He loves school now and they run from Sept to June. They have summers available, but it is not necessary to maintain your registration for the next year.

What kind of school did you enroll him in? I did not know they had "school" at his age.

FM