Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

DD goes to daycare part time, 3 days a week, she's 18 months

Some other moms I know who are SAHMs send their 2 or 3yr old to pre-school which is 2 hours in the morning everyday.

So one is like school for a short period of time and daycare is longer?

Sorry for the stupid question...I guess I'm not sure what happens between 18months and 5yrs old (when they go to Kindergarten)

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Pre-school usually can start around 2 years old. It's not for the purpose of watching your DC. It's main purpose is for socialization, learning basics (colors, numbers, letters, etc), singing songs, stuff like that. Daycare is a child care provider. You can't send an 18 month old to pre-school. It would have to be some kind of child care.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

This is a great question that I've been wondering myself. We had picked a daycare that we would've sent DS to in September if I was working. We looked into a preschool for next September. They're starting a full day 2-year-old program, and it's less than half the cost of the daycare. So I've been wondering what the difference really is.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Daycare is licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Pre-school has voluntary registration with the NYS Dep't of Education.

Daycare operates to provide care to children for more than 4 consecutive hours per day.

Pre-school provides instruction for less than 4 consecutive hours per day.

My DD goes to a licensed daycare center which provides preschool education from 9:30-12:30, and daycare during the remaining hours between 7AM-6PM.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Preschool is strictly for enrichment, not for basic care such as feeding, changing, etc. Preschool is only a couple of hours 2 or 3 days a week, vs daycare for many hours each day or full time daycare.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

hrm.. Pre-school here is 8:30 - 2:45. She's in daycare the rest of the time.

Diff for us is that although she's always 'learned' things along the way, in Pre-school its more structured. Its more guided to specific goals, draw straight lines left to right, top to bottom, color-number recognition etc. I don't want to say daycare didn't try to teach the same but is almost as its not 'required' so its not a priority to them to be held accountable to where as pre-school it is given that she will greatly improve (all things equal) by the end of each semester.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

For me...
Daycare: You can choose at the start how many days your child will be attending but they are full days. The instructors teach them, sing, color, etc. $253 for a 5day week

Pre-School (2.9yrs): 5 Full Days with a curriculum (taught by a teacher) that they follow and they provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. $185 for a 5 day week

So there are pro/cons but my son will be going to pre-school this coming September.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Also Im pretty sure a preschool teacher needs to have an education degree, excluding private schools, public preschool teachers should have to be certified teachers

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

I'm wondering this too.

I have been seeing preschools that have programs that start at 18 months old.

How do I know which is best for Loey? He would be going 3 days/week and will be 18 months in June (we'd be looking for September).

Are the times for daycare/preschool only in New York or does that apply to other places as well? We're looking here and San Diego.

ETA:

One place I'm looking at has a toddler program form 8:30-2:45 for 3, 4, or 5 days/week for kids 18 months - 3 years old.

Message edited 1/27/2011 8:13:17 AM.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

Daycare is more "nanny" oriented. They do have curriculum to follow for developmental play though. So it's not just open play all day. Especially for older kids. Places like Tutor Time even have after school programs.

Preschool is more "school" and socialization but in a school environment. There are FT preschool programs. So while 2.5 hour programs are the most popular, they have 5-5.5 hour programs. It's usually for 3+ but many preschool started offering preschool for 2 yo.

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare

I can see the difference between the typical preschool that's 2 1/2 hours and full-day day care, but I can't understand how the full-day preschool can be all that different from the full-day daycare. This may be in my case specifically, but DS will be 2 years, 8 months. So they will still have to feed them lunch and snacks, and since the kids only have to be 2 by 9/1 to be in the class, I'm assuming that plenty won't be potty-trained and will need changing throughout the day. (Sorry to hijack the thread )

Re: Stupid question....what's the difference between preschool and daycare