Which of these childcare set ups would you choose?

[Anonymous]

We are restructuring childcare because I got a new job and our DD will be ready for preschool next year. She is 3yo now and has been at an in home daycare since she was 6 months old. Here are my options:

1. Catholic preschool 1 block from our house + aftercare $1250/month
Pros:
Our older DD went there so we know the teachers and some of the families
I absolutely cherished the walks to and from school everyday with my older DD
Our neighbors and best friends also have a child going there next year
Cons:
School goes from 7:45am-2:45pm and then we'd need aftercare until 5:15 which seems like such a long day for a 3yo
The school breaks do not align with older DD's public school schedule
School doesn't start until late Aug so she'd be at the in home daycare all summer still and I feel like she's aging out

2. Morning preschool 3x week + going back to in home daycare after $1300/month
Pros:
Her 2 other buddies from the home daycare will be going there, the daycare lady will walk them there and then school is 9-12 and she will pick them up for lunch, nap, playtime.
She would be going back to her "second home" after school
Cons:
The preschool is only 9 hours per week and I feel like she will crave more than that at 3.5yo when she starts.
Two days a week she would still be full day at the in home day care and I just feel like she's aging out/going to be bored
School doesn't start until Sept so would just be full time day care til then

3. Montessori school $1525/month
Pros:
It's in one place with drop off from 7-8:30am and pick up from 4-5:30pm
It's on the way to older DD's schools so morning drop offs would be much easier
I really think she would flourish there- be stimulated, they do outside time 3x per day, she loves playing with kids of different ages
Cons:
Cost (we are not dcum rich HHI $250k and we've never paid that much for childcare so it just feels like a lot)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are restructuring childcare because I got a new job and our DD will be ready for preschool next year. She is 3yo now and has been at an in home daycare since she was 6 months old. Here are my options:

1. Catholic preschool 1 block from our house + aftercare $1250/month
Pros:
Our older DD went there so we know the teachers and some of the families
I absolutely cherished the walks to and from school everyday with my older DD
Our neighbors and best friends also have a child going there next year
Cons:
School goes from 7:45am-2:45pm and then we'd need aftercare until 5:15 which seems like such a long day for a 3yo
The school breaks do not align with older DD's public school schedule
School doesn't start until late Aug so she'd be at the in home daycare all summer still and I feel like she's aging out

2. Morning preschool 3x week + going back to in home daycare after $1300/month
Pros:
Her 2 other buddies from the home daycare will be going there, the daycare lady will walk them there and then school is 9-12 and she will pick them up for lunch, nap, playtime.
She would be going back to her "second home" after school
Cons:
The preschool is only 9 hours per week and I feel like she will crave more than that at 3.5yo when she starts.
Two days a week she would still be full day at the in home day care and I just feel like she's aging out/going to be bored
School doesn't start until Sept so would just be full time day care til then

3. Montessori school $1525/month
Pros:
It's in one place with drop off from 7-8:30am and pick up from 4-5:30pm
It's on the way to older DD's schools so morning drop offs would be much easier
I really think she would flourish there- be stimulated, they do outside time 3x per day, she loves playing with kids of different ages
Cons:
Cost (we are not dcum rich HHI $250k and we've never paid that much for childcare so it just feels like a lot)

I'd go with #2 for another year and look for something 5 days a week as a 4 yo. I wouldn't do Montessori, however, as they usually expect you to stay for the kindergarten year.

[Anonymous]

I’d do option 1. I love walking my kids to school everyday and it feels good to know they’re close to home, with neighbors/friends and familiar faces.

[Anonymous]

I'd do Montessori as long as you trust that it is a quality program.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Don't most parents who work full time need full time childcare?

[Anonymous]

I would go with #2, since it's a "home away from home" for your daughter and it sounds like she has a bond with her caregiver. I wouldn't disrupt that if I could avoid it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do Montessori as long as you trust that it is a quality program.

Same here.

We spent the $ knowing it would only be a few years and then we'd be in public.

[Anonymous]

I would do 2. It honestly sounds so ideal. I would not worry about her getting bored. It sounds like a really nice balance of variety and comfortable routine. Plus it sounds like her daycare friends will have the same schedule?

Having 2 different school break schedules is a giant hassle in practice.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure what you mean by long days. It looks like you’ll be picking up at the same time for option 1 and option 3.

Ideally option 3 sounds the best because of the stimulation and it sounds like it would be easier for you.

2 it’s nice, but does your in-home daycare currently make this walk to drop off and pick up? What does that look like for her? Is she bringing along all of the kids and how would that work in inclement weather, icy, sidewalks, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Don't most parents who work full time need full time childcare?

Yes. That PP is a troll that hates women who work outside the home.

https://parentdata.org/day-care-bad-children/

[Anonymous]

Does the Montessori cover vacations?

My kids didn’t enjoy Montessori. It had too little play and too much bean-counting and sorting and silent tracing and the like.

I chose a completely play-based preschool for my younger kids and they had a lot more fun and happy memories of preschool.

[Anonymous]

Ignore the trolls. I’d choose 3 or 1. I think the 3/4 age really benefits from consistent environment, rules, and expectations and should be the priority. So it kind of comes down to cost and whether the breaks not lining up is a dealbreaker.

Rule out 2 and sharpen your pencil on deciding between 1 and 3.

[Anonymous]

I would do option 3 but don't know how much the money would impact your finances. If it just "feels like a lot" versus causes you to live paycheck to paycheck then I would not dismiss it.

[Anonymous]

I’d do 2 or 3 because the hours line up better and I tend toward more of a crunchy parent so I’m big on play and independence at this age rather than thinking they need academics at all. But also I’m not Catholic and pay way more than that for childcare (downtown DC). I think all of these sounds like perfectly good options so honestly you should be good whichever you end up going with.

[Anonymous]

#2 makes the most sense.