Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Those who have (or had) a three year old or four year old in full-time daycare/preschool, what do (or did) you pay? And what was the 411 on all of it -- how many days did they attend, what did they do all day, where was it, etc??

Basically - it appears there are two "types" of places for a three year old or four year old... The centers and the preschools. I'll explain! (I've been driving myself nuts researching LOL)... Up until the child turns three they are considered daycare. So, that's a certain price and most places are pretty comparable -- depending on where you live. Fine. My son has been in daycare since he was just shy of six months old. It is more of a playtime with a little learning... Because, I mean, they are really young.

But in September he will turn three and that "changes" things, apparently. Now, he is going into "preschool". So, there are preschool places but the issue with them is that most of them offer short hours. For me, I work full-time, I need like a daycare schedule. Many pre-schools are from say, 9am until 3pm. And are closed pretty much every holiday or school vaca - not just major, all of them. And then summers. They work on a school schedule.

So, then there are the centers -- like a Tutor Time or KinderCare or Kiddie Academy. Those have the hours to accommodate people who work... but I have no idea about their "programs" for three and four year olds. Like, the learning that goes on. And they are open over the summer as well? They keep the same kind of, learning environment all year long? And once the child goes from prior to three -- when it is more play than learn... Once they make that transition, DOES it really go to more learning than play?? Because, of course, like any mom I want him to be prepared for Kindergarten.

And then there are the "in betweens", as I like to call it. Places that are daycare and then transition to preschool and offer a "full day plus" program. Here's a description from the place my son has been attending for daycare.......

"The new Full Day Plus class offers a day care schedule combined with the academic advantages of a superior education. In the past, working parents had to choose between day care and schooling. Now, your child can experience both. With day care hours (extended hours available), open most school vacations, and year round options, children will have plenty of time and opportunity to engage in activities that support their natural interest in letters, books, numbers and the world around them. In addition to enjoying our beautiful playgrounds and campus, children in the Full Day Plus program will participate in extra sessions of creative arts, music, Mandarin, physical education and gymnastics."


...That is from the place my son currently attends. But that shit aint cheap and as he got older, I just assumed it would get a little cheaper as he needs less people to care for him, etc. But, apparently, once they enter that pre-school experience the learning goes into overdrive and they really pack a lot in and it's much more like school, etc. So it is more money. Whatever.

I found three places in my area that are SIMILAR to the "Full Day Plus" situation -- preschool and daycare combined. They are all around the same amount of money but one does not offer anything for school vacations or summer.

So, until this kid starts regular school I have two years left LOL two years!!! I need to do something for these two years. I'm thinking that I'll bite the bullet, pay the money to the place he is at now and has been at -- he loves it, after all, but I want to ask -- for those with kids or had kids that are three or four. WHAT DID YOU DO for those two years before school? This is, of course, if you work full-time.

And if you don't mind, can you give me an idea of cost??

For the program quoted above -- it is $1410 a month, that includes early drop off which I need... and that is Monday thru Friday. With the early hours it is 7:30am until 4:30pm.


Any info you can give, so I can compare, is SO beyond helpful!!!! Ex-DH and I have been going together touring places and doing research and trying to come up with the best solution for Julian. THANK YOU!

Message edited 1/6/2016 9:15:18 AM.

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My son goes to New Beginnings in Kings Park. He goes from 8:30-4:00 they have before care and after care as well. He started in the 3 yo program when I went back to work full time so I needed daycare/preschool. (worked p/t prior to that with family/friend watching him at home) The 3 yo program is more learn through play but also do academics they did prewriting skills and after Jan they started tracing letters and their names. The 4 yo program this year is much more academic based. Writing more and more math skills. They are going to start sight words as well this month. His teachers in the 3 yo program were awesome and it made me very comfortable returning back to work full time knowing he was in their care. His teacher this year is good too but I don't have the relationship I have with her as I did his 3 yo teachers but he loves her and he is learning a lot so that is what matters. Oh price wise I pay 907 for those hours. I think he is definitely prepared for kindergarten. They are open more than preschool but still might be closed a little more than some daycare centers but most days he is off I am off. Christmas break is there longest time closed but my company is shut down then. They are open during Feb. break. Winter snow closings they do follow KP school district which I don't love but most of the time it is closed I don't want to drive into work myself. Hope that helps. If you need anymore info fm me.

Message edited 1/6/2016 9:41:52 AM.

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My dd went/goes to St. Marys in east islip for nursery (3) and prek (4). When she was 3 she went 3 full days and niw that she is 4 and in real prek she goes 4 full days a week. This is a catholic school that us for nursery (3 yr olds) up to 8th grade. I pay $440 a month for the full 4 days from 815-215. They have before care and after care they offer for very very cheap

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My DD who is turning 4 in Jan is in a program that sounds like your son's.
I also do after care & cost is similar.
It is amazing for her. Well run & she loves it. I swallow the cost (childcare eats my entire salary). I had my son there & will have my 3rd there when she's old enough (unfortunately that is in 2 years).

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My kids have been in a larger chain since 11 weeks old. They have a specific curriculum for 3 and 4 year olds (pre-k).

The price decreased at 18 mos and then again at 3.

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My DS is 4. He is in the Pre K program at Kiddie Academy. He has been there since 8 weeks. He is there 730-530 5 days a week.

There has always been learning going on in any of his classrooms. But in the pre K program they really stress independence and skills to get them ready for K. So while it is daycare there is way more learning going on then even possible in a 3 hr program. Summers there they do camp. So while there are still learning activities there is more "fun" than the "school" year.

This works best for us since he has been there forever and the hours work best. It is more expensive than the free universal Pre K through the district but since that is only for max 3 hrs what the heck would I do for the rest of the day?

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Not sure if this is helpful but I will share anyway. DS is 4 and in a full time preschool program. The hours are 9 to 5 pm (but you can drop off as early as 7 for no additional cost). Hours past 5 are not available. They also follow the local school calendar for closures. The cost is 1,100 per month. In the summer, they have "camp". It's at the same school, same price and same hours. More fun stuff and less intense learning.

We love the school, but unless you are a teacher, the hours really don't work for full time working parents. We are thinking about switching our younger son next year to more of a daycare setting with hours that fit our work schedule (he will be 2).

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

I would just go with whatever program works with your budget and schedule and not worry about the "academics." Kids this age learn through play and that should be the biggest part of their day. Too many parents get caught up in the learning and wanting them to ready for kindergarten, but honestly it's not necessary and can actually be harmful.

My DS goes to to daycare 3 full days a week. He's in a combined 3/4 year old class.

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Our LOs are about a month apart. In Sept, she will be in school 4days/week (bumped up from two this year). Hours are 9a-1:45p. We pay just under $10k for the school year from Sept to June, so it's approx. $1k+/mo. It includes transportation (bus), lunch and snacks. There are longer day options but we're lucky that she will be with my parents when she's not in school. I have baby DS and it's just too much for my parents to have both and DD needs learning and socialization.

DH is not happy with the cost. We had a serious discussion about keeping her there (she attends now and does summer camp there too) but I would rather cut in other areas to keep her there. She's happy and the teachers are great. I need that peace of mind.

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

DD was in Tutor Time from 8 weeks to 5 years old.
She did all her "pre-school" and Pre K programs right there.
I would drop her off at 8 am and pick her up at 6 pm 3 days a week. (the center hours were 630 am to 630 pm though, with no extra charges for early or late so if i had to go to the city and get on a train, i could bring her as early as 630 am)
There were no holidays except the big one's like Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th. It ran all summer long.

The learning took place within those hours somewhere, the rest was child care.

The Pre K program was excellent and when she went for her Kindergarten evaluation last spring the evaluators asked us where she attended Pre K because she did so well. They were impressed with what she learned there.

I did not have the patience , time or inclination to pull her from Tutor Time for preschool or Pre K and then have to shuttle around and deal with 3 hour programs etc- that to me is for SAHM's not working moms. Universal Pre K in my district is a lotto and it's 3 hours a day I think. No way in hell would that work for a working mom


Keeping her at the daycare she was since birth was simple, easy, painless and there was no transition.
Was it cheap- heck no!
(As you are aware, I paid a SHITT TON!
)
But time is money and convenience is money for me.

Message edited 1/6/2016 2:37:46 PM.

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Dd is in daycare and they have a preschool curriculum. She loves her school and I'm not switching her out till she goes to kindergarten.

Why change it? Extra layer of stress not needed.

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Posted by NervousNell

(As you are aware, I paid a SHITT TON!
)

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

I worked at a day care center from infant-5 years of age. Nothing changed except the content taught and as they got older more school like but the parents paid less as they got older but still had the benefits of the full day. I wouldn't change. Pre-school hours are more for SAHM's or people with Nanny's/sitters that can get them after a few hours

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

My daughter is 3 and goes to holy family in Hicksville she goes half day but they have full day 8:45-235 with after and before care. Full time I think is 350 a month it's a great school we love it

Re: Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Mine go to a "school day" program in a center. It's not a chain, but it's a large daycare center that also has nursery and pre k with the option of extended hours till 6pm. I pay $625/month per child, mon thru fri, 830-230. Extended care there is insane which is why I am only working half days right now.

Next year I want to want to work full days and I am putting them in a catholic school because their after care is extremely cheap - $21 per day for THREE kids till 6pm. Can't beat it. I've heard that aftercare is generally cheaper at catholic schools.and the tuition isn't bad when compared to daycare centers. I'm putting them in public for kindergarten but this was the most economical option for us for next year.

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

No advice, but my son is in a daycare setting now (from 7am to 4pm). He is 18 months. Next year I am looking to put him in more a pre-school setting with extended hours. It is very confusing though. I'm also not sure which route to take.

Daycare/Preschool for 3/4 YO's Specifically:

Did you check out BEST Learning Center? It does run more on a "school schedule" with weeks off during breaks, but they do have a summer program for most of the time. My cousins kids went there and my nephew goes there now. They all said the pre-k program is awesome and well worth it. They have extended hours for working parents.