How do I send my kid to preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a nanny who drives.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep the kid home- preschool is overrated. Find another nanny, transition and then do preschool. No need to stress out.

I have to say I agree. Preschool used to start at 4, if at all. The idea of needing preschool at 2 or 3 is totally unfounded, except for very underprivileged children who would otherwise have poor care arrangements. Of course it can be beneficial but is in no way "better" than being with parents or a good nanny.

[Anonymous]

I don't see how a nanny who doesn't drive is workable even before preschool. Don't you want your child out and about during the day?

[Anonymous]

She said it is a live-in nanny, so maybe the plus is having someone home 24/7.

[Anonymous]

We had the exact same problem, and we ended up getting a new nanny. (In a way, we were "lucky" because she moved back to her home country for a family emergency a few months before school started, so we would have lost her anyway.)

We still struggle with this problem, though. If we didn't have a baby in the house now, we'd just leave the older one in aftercare at the preschool and be done with the whole nanny thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you take your kid to early drop off at the
Preschool. Most are 7am. They go half day
Till noon. And your nanny picks the kid
Up and comes home on bus.

Or better yet
Full day for preschool with pm care so your
Kid is socialized and loose nanny. Then you
Pick up kid on way home.

Most are 7 am? Can you name even one morning preschool (not daycare) in the DC metro area that starts at 7 am??? All the ones we looked at didn't start until 8:30 or 9. The one we chose actually starts at 9:15, but with carpool I don't get out of there until 9:20. Perhaps some of them might have some type of extended day care to start early but that is definitely NOT the norm. Where do people get this shit from??

Our daycare has an accredited preschool program for the "older" (toddler) rooms.

That's not unusual, but if you look at OP's post you would know that she already has a nanny and is looking to enroll her child in a morning-only preschool. It is very unusual for a morning-only preschool to open before 8:30 in the morning. Obviously daycares open earlier but that's a whole different thing. I didn't get the sense OP was interested in switching to full time daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how a nanny who doesn't drive is workable even before preschool. Don't you want your child out and about during the day?

Agree with this unless OP lives in a very urban area where nanny can walk or use public transportation to many things. If not, and your nanny is keeping your toddler home bound, this isnt going to work out as your child has reached the age when you start needing your nanny to take them to more things like preschool, classes, activities, etc.

[Anonymous]

Preschool is awesome. FT preschool is even better than PT. why bother w. PT? It's only a few hours which I'm not sure what the point of is except it makes scheduling awful - by the time you drop them off at 9 you have to get them again in a couple hours why bother? My 3 yr old speech delayed son got better at speech, became fully potty trained and is thoroughly happier from making new friends and playing outside every day. The skills and socialization are great at age 2 or 3 in school. So what if historically preschool did not begin until age 4? How can you judge it to be in any way worse or a bad thing if kids start earlier than age 4? We had an awesome nanny before age 2 1/2 but there's something about being in a peer environment, having a consistent structure daily that is really enriching for little ones. Shame on the pp who belittle preschool just because they choose to not go that route!

I credit preschool for how much it's positively impacted our son - in every way.

OP - you need to let nanny go and get someone who drives or do FT preschool instead. And yes preschool hrs are 7am-6pm M-F for FT but most likely only 9-noon for PT for the majority. If your school offers 7am and is only PT I really am surprised OP.

[Anonymous]

I never understood how people hire nannies who did not drive. We live just outside DC metro - walkable parks and activities in the neighborhood and still I would only hire a nanny with their own transportation. But I know that most families around us don't ask for that as a qualification which astounds me. When it's too cold/hot to be outside OP - what does your nanny do with the kids??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep the kid home- preschool is overrated. Find another nanny, transition and then do preschool. No need to stress out.

+ 1

St. Columba's allows for 7:30 arrival, NCRC allows for 8 a.m. arrival...those are the first two I just Googled. Sorry you only looked at later starting schools.

If you like the nanny so much you won't replace her w a driver nanny, then skip the school for now. She's that good, and that's just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understood how people hire nannies who did not drive. We live just outside DC metro - walkable parks and activities in the neighborhood and still I would only hire a nanny with their own transportation. But I know that most families around us don't ask for that as a qualification which astounds me. When it's too cold/hot to be outside OP - what does your nanny do with the kids??

Not OP but we live in Arlington. Within a 15-minute walk of our home there are 4-5 different playgrounds, friends' houses, a public library, a small grocery store, casual restaurants, an ice cream place, pharmacy, post office, variety/hardware store, the pool we belong to, and several bus lines. The metro is walking distance too but more like a 20 minute walk. A nanny who doesn't drive would be fine for us, at least until we start preschool. There are 2 preschools walkable but I'm not sure if we will use one of those. This is DC URBAN mom, don't be surprised that not everyone is car dependent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Preschool is awesome. FT preschool is even better than PT. why bother w. PT? It's only a few hours which I'm not sure what the point of is except it makes scheduling awful - by the time you drop them off at 9 you have to get them again in a couple hours why bother? My 3 yr old speech delayed son got better at speech, became fully potty trained and is thoroughly happier from making new friends and playing outside every day. The skills and socialization are great at age 2 or 3 in school. So what if historically preschool did not begin until age 4? How can you judge it to be in any way worse or a bad thing if kids start earlier than age 4? We had an awesome nanny before age 2 1/2 but there's something about being in a peer environment, having a consistent structure daily that is really enriching for little ones. Shame on the pp who belittle preschool just because they choose to not go that route!

I credit preschool for how much it's positively impacted our son - in every way.

OP - you need to let nanny go and get someone who drives or do FT preschool instead. And yes preschool hrs are 7am-6pm M-F for FT but most likely only 9-noon for PT for the majority. If your school offers 7am and is only PT I really am surprised OP.

It should be about the kid, not your own convenience. Some people feel that full time school from age 5-18 is enough years, if your work schedule allows. I don't have a problem with preschool, but my not-in-preschool 3 yo is hitting the same social and "academic" milestones that his peers in preschool are. Their parents my credit preschool, but a lot of it is just normal development for the age.

[Anonymous]

May

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Preschool is awesome. FT preschool is even better than PT. why bother w. PT? It's only a few hours which I'm not sure what the point of is except it makes scheduling awful - by the time you drop them off at 9 you have to get them again in a couple hours why bother? My 3 yr old speech delayed son got better at speech, became fully potty trained and is thoroughly happier from making new friends and playing outside every day. The skills and socialization are great at age 2 or 3 in school. So what if historically preschool did not begin until age 4? How can you judge it to be in any way worse or a bad thing if kids start earlier than age 4? We had an awesome nanny before age 2 1/2 but there's something about being in a peer environment, having a consistent structure daily that is really enriching for little ones. Shame on the pp who belittle preschool just because they choose to not go that route!

I credit preschool for how much it's positively impacted our son - in every way.

OP - you need to let nanny go and get someone who drives or do FT preschool instead. And yes preschool hrs are 7am-6pm M-F for FT but most likely only 9-noon for PT for the majority. If your school offers 7am and is only PT I really am surprised OP.

This is absurd. I am aware of absolutely zero evidence that a 3-year-old child is better off for going to school full day. Not saying they're worse off either, but your suggestion that it is better is preposterous. Many parents are able to give their kids wonderful language exposure, socialization, and skills development at home. If you can't, that's your failing. But I don't know anyone who sends their kid to full-day preschool unless the parents' work schedule requires it.

[Anonymous]

OP here- had "lost" this post and couldn't find it earlier..

Thanks for your replies.

Our nanny is an elderly sort of lady, who lives with us, cooks for us, and cleans. This gives us more time to spend with DC while at home. All the parks/library things are done by me. The fact that she doesn't drive, and can't use transportation means we pay her lesser than we would have to someone who is capable of doing all these, it's a trade-off, which until now was not an issue. It's not easy to find a live-in nanny, and this is a priority for us given our work hours.

There are some months where I work from home, and I was hoping to take turns with other parents where I would drop off my kid (and theirs) during these months.

Honestly, I didn't imagine my kid at 2 yrs would need preschool, but the fact is he gets bored at home alone, and I cant' stand that.

Unfortunately, looks like there is no easy solution to this..can't pay cab fare every day..might have to put preschool plans on hold..

Sigh...