Average price for preschool? How do people afford it?

[Anonymous]

How do people afford pre-school and childcare? We have a nanny right now because we have a newborn and a two year old and her salary is about the same as daycare for two babies at that age. But with the two year old turning three later this year, they will need to start preschool, at least part-time. I had no idea part time preschool costs nearly 2k/month! We are in Bethesda, so no free options like DC. What do working parents do? Is 2k/month the norm?

[Anonymous]

We sent our kids to a daycare that had an excellent, NAEYC-accredited preschool program. It was pricey but it was also full-time, with daycare hours. This was in downtown Bethesda.

$2K/month for PT is insane.

[Anonymous]

We spaced out our kids so it is more affordable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do people afford pre-school and childcare? We have a nanny right now because we have a newborn and a two year old and her salary is about the same as daycare for two babies at that age. But with the two year old turning three later this year, they will need to start preschool, at least part-time. I had no idea part time preschool costs nearly 2k/month! We are in Bethesda, so no free options like DC. What do working parents do? Is 2k/month the norm?

No, that's pretty high. Look into church run preschools or coops.

[Anonymous]

We paid 15k a year and treated it like pt childcare

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people who don't send their kids to preschool. They stay in daycare until kindergarten.

But also, there are cheaper preschools.

[Anonymous]

Does your Nanny take the kids out? Do they go to parks, playgrounds, story time at the library, etc? Assuming your Nanny is doing these things and engaging your children they don’t “ need preschool” at age 3. Hold off and look for something PT the year before K.

[Anonymous]

There’s no reason your child must attend preschool.

[Anonymous]

That is crazy op where are you looking? Part time preschools in Arlington ranged from 300-700 a month

[Anonymous]

I'm in DC, so thank god we don't have this problem.

In your position, I would either skip preschool (at least this year) or move to a nanny share and put my older kid in daycare. Daycares generally have preschool curriculum for the 3s and 4s.

Honestly, if things are going well with the nanny, I'd probably ride that out another year, and then next year put both kids into daycare.

[Anonymous]

That’s high. Find a 2-3 mornings a week part-time preschool for your child. In bethesda there are definitely options. I know Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Preschool is way less than $2k a month. I think I paid $800 or 900 for 5 mornings a week there.

[Anonymous]

What?! That sounds incredibly high. In NOVA I’ve found most of the church and county rec center preschools cost about $300-400 a month for 3 mornings a week.

[Anonymous]

Cheaper housing, lower expenses, don’t go or go to a cheap coop.

[Anonymous]

PT is almost the same price at FT because they are holding the spot for you. You really don't save much money this way.

[Anonymous]

Even in McLean the part-time places don't charge that much (except maybe the Montessori schools). You should keep looking. The church-based preschools can be pretty good and have reasonable costs.