Preschools Following MCPS too many days off!

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are having to find another preschool because we can’t come to grips with the ridiculous amounts of days off due to them following MCPS calendar. We both work and realize that when we consider how many days off our preschool takes off, we are paying a lot more per month for preschool care. I know we should have considered this before we started but it is really affecting us. We are looking for a private preschool in the Bethesda area that doesn’t follow MCPS as a result. Anyonelse feel the pressure? If so, how do you come to grips paying for preschool care with so many days off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: My husband and I are having to find another preschool because we can’t come to grips with the ridiculous amounts of days off due to them following MCPS calendar. We both work and realize that when we consider how many days off our preschool takes off, we are paying a lot more per month for preschool care. I know we should have considered this before we started but it is really affecting us. We are looking for a private preschool in the Bethesda area that doesn’t follow MCPS as a result. Anyonelse feel the pressure? If so, how do you come to grips paying for preschool care with so many days off?

You should consider a daycare that has a preschool room. Corporate daycares like Bright Horizons and the like cater to working parents and have far fewer days allotted for teacher development and holiday time.

[Anonymous]

If you need preschool for childcare purposes because of work you need a daycare center. They cater to working parents. Preschools do not.

[Anonymous]

My child goes to The Goddard School off Goldsboro Rd in Bethesda and they do not follow MCPS. They take very few days off that our friend’s daycare centers do. For example, most daycares take off a week or two for Spring Break. Our Goddard takes off two days. It is helpful for our family where we both work. They charge more for tuition, but when you consider how many days they are open than the other centers and the programming is outstanding, you realize it’s a much better deal.

[Anonymous]

You should consider switching to daycare. Children in the Shoe is in your area and is a great place.

[Anonymous]

They are not taking too many days off.

You failed to think things through when you chose the school. Why did you choose them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should consider switching to daycare. Children in the Shoe is in your area and is a great place.

We looked there but didn’t have a good feel afterwards. It’s small and doesn’t have much outside space. Also the teacher in the potential class didn’t give us the impression she understood child development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you need preschool for childcare purposes because of work you need a daycare center. They cater to working parents. Preschools do not.

+1
The kids who go to stand-alone preschool in my neighborhood either have a stay at home parent, grandparents providing care or a nanny.

[Anonymous]

All preschools have tons of days off, regardless of whether they "follow MCPS". Most post their calendar on the website. You need a child care center.

[Anonymous]

Check out The Yellow House School. Minimal days off. Located in the Bannockburn neighborhood of Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess- you go to the preschool at Woodend Nature Sanctuary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All preschools have tons of days off, regardless of whether they "follow MCPS". Most post their calendar on the website. You need a child care center.[/quote

This is absolutely untrue. Certain preschools take off many more days than others and the ones that take off the exhorbitsnt amount of days follow MCPS.]

[Anonymous]

It depends where in Bethesda. Wonders has 2 locations, Rock Spring Children's Center is in N Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All preschools have tons of days off, regardless of whether they "follow MCPS". Most post their calendar on the website. You need a child care center.[/quote

This is absolutely untrue. Certain preschools take off many more days than others and the ones that take off the exhorbitsnt amou5nt of days follow MCPS.]

Those that don't are usually child care centers with preschool programs.

[Anonymous]

Find a family daycare with a preschool program.
Most providers are teachers with CDA for infants, toddlers and Preschool and takes early child development classes every year.
If you want a bigger school, go to a center but kids don't get a lot of attention. But it's your choice. Trust your gut.

Good luck!

Preschool is not a requirement for kindergarten.