Daycare vs Pre-School

[Anonymous]

I am full-time working mom to a 15 month old DS who has a nanny. I know nothing about daycares (although we are on two waiting lists) or pre-schools. What is the difference and which one is better for a 3+ year old?

[Anonymous]

As a general matter, daycares will have longer hours and incorporate a preschool component (e.g., preschool curriculum is taught between 9am and 12pm). Preschools, even if they're all day, won't have hours that will quite fill a full time working parent's schedule, although they may have before or after care to help fulfill it. Daycares will also have other classes or rooms for kids that are too young for preschool (i.e., the under 2 set).

[Anonymous]

I did not realize there was a preschool option with my first child (duh-I know). I thought school started in K. Many pre-school programs in DC schools are space available/waiting lists and not really advertised, but I still should have done the research. ANYWAY, I kept my child in daycare a year longer. It was an OK daycare versus pretty good public pre-school. I saw the difference and it took him a while to catch up: daycare was much more arts and crafts and running around oriented. Pre-school included that, but also foundations of reading, writing, counting etc. Not overkill, but a nice balance that I think he would have benefited from. He was pretty bored by daycare when he was finally pulled. Daycare cost me far more than free pre-school would have. Pre-school does have shorter hours and holidays off, but most schools have a paid aftercare program and holiday camps where you could put your pre-schooler. If given a re-do I would have popped him in pre-school if we had found a quality one with space available and a good aftercare supplement. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Pre-schools will have an actual curriculum. The adults staffing them are teachers instead of baby-sitters or licensed childcare providers.

The places with certification (such as NCRC, Aiden Montessori, Franklin Montessori, Bridges, Appletree) will have actual certified licensed teachers, genuinely professional educators. Even the DCPS options (any option that receives state funding) has to meet minimum state standards for academics. They all offer before and aftercare at a price. Any of the public options (DCPS or charter) are free to DC residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-schools will have an actual curriculum. The adults staffing them are teachers instead of baby-sitters or licensed childcare providers.

The places with certification (such as NCRC, Aiden Montessori, Franklin Montessori, Bridges, Appletree) will have actual certified licensed teachers, genuinely professional educators. Even the DCPS options (any option that receives state funding) has to meet minimum state standards for academics. They all offer before and aftercare at a price. Any of the public options (DCPS or charter) are free to DC residents.

Actually, a daycare with a good preschool component will also have a curriculum and many of them have "professional educators" as well, whereas some preschools (especially church or coop) may lack these things.

[Anonymous]

PP is right - if you are comparing a good quality daycare with a good quality preschool, the curriculum should be pretty similar and the teachers will have the same certifications, which means the kids will learn more than enough in either environment. Both types of care are certified by the same group (NACYE) and follow the same standards to maintain their certification.

Assuming that both options are available to you (similar commute, etc.), the decision is what would work with your work schedule. Daycare generally provides more coverage - no closed for a month in the summer and two weeks at Christmas, for example. But again, you'll have to look at the specific program to see if it works for you.

[Anonymous]

Find a public program - they have to actually meet state standards for instruction. Daycares don't.

[Anonymous]

I also think different types of educators are attracted to a pre-school versus a day care.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of ignorant people giving advice. We had amazing teachers in our daycare, who taught a full on "preschool" curriculum. My kids both started public school way ahead of the curve. The problem with OPs question is that it assumes that all daycares and nursery schools are all the same, when in fact there are a variety of both. In any cases, your choices will be severely limited by where you get in; I'd make my decision once I knew what my real options are.