Help me decide: daycare or private school for 25month old

[Anonymous]

I think you should also consider the age of the kids in the home daycare - are they all babies or are there other older kids that would be peers to your 2 yo? I don't think preschool is necessary for a 2 yo, but it is helpful to have her spend time with peers so that she gets some socialization and is more likely to have interaction and stimulation during the day that is not dependent on caregiver led activities and does not have to compete with the littler kids for attention. If there is a mix of ages at the daycare so that my DD wouldn't be the only older kid, then I'd go with the daycare for at least a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should also consider the age of the kids in the home daycare - are they all babies or are there other older kids that would be peers to your 2 yo? I don't think preschool is necessary for a 2 yo, but it is helpful to have her spend time with peers so that she gets some socialization and is more likely to have interaction and stimulation during the day that is not dependent on caregiver led activities and does not have to compete with the littler kids for attention. If there is a mix of ages at the daycare so that my DD wouldn't be the only older kid, then I'd go with the daycare for at least a few months.

Op never said it was a home daycare center. In fact, she referred to it as a daycare center.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with the PP everyone is attacking -- we all pretend that daycare is better just to make ourselves feel better. The truth is that daycare could not be the cheaper option if it was always the best option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just moved to a new town. Trying to find best arrangement for 25 month old for full time care. Daycare is $1000/mo, ratio is 6:1 kids:teacher. Local friends school is about $1500/month, same ratio, has much nicer grounds, seems would be better learning environment. I want to do the best for my daughter but we are also trying to save money to buy a house. It will make our finances a fair amount tighter. I think she would thrive more in the friends school. I feel guilty that I am letting finances influence this so much. The daycare center would be fine but not great. we have another child who will need full time care so if we do the daycare center, it is one drop off only; if we do the private school, it is two drop offs and we would likely move our other child to the friends school eventually which would of course cost more money.

Thanks for any thoughts or words of advice.

Send her to the daycare and save the money, and the time with the dropoffs. Get your finances and your home together, and then send your kids to the school in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Our 2 year old is in a preschool (yes a preschool) that is play based and focused but definitely is a curriculum. Right now they are learning about their senses. I don't think it has to be one or the other. I think outside play time and exploration is really important. If the day care center doesn't have that, it would be a huge red flag for me. DC2 is coming and DC1's school doesn't take infants so we will have two drops offs for a bit. But in the end, I think the learning environment and the teachers make a big difference. Also, I would consider nap schedules and what is provided. Does one provide meals, etc? What are the hours for each?

[Anonymous]

You have a 2 year old OP. No need to count in months after the age of 2.

[Anonymous]

Go for the preschool, if money is not an issue. It doesn't sound like you're super gung ho about the daycare, and people can go on and on about how it's just a 2YO so all they need to do is play, so why invest in the education - but at the end of the day the first five years of a child's life are crucial in terms of development and setting lifelong patterns. It's not about "academic" learning at that age - it's about encouraging independence, socialization, etc. And I agree with the PP who said that a good learning environment and dedicated, qualified teachers make a big difference too. If you just want basically babysitting, stay with the daycare. But this is your child's education. Why go the cheap route?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go for the better preschool. The emphasis of daycare is daily care and not teaching. Most daycares have activities for kids but are not centered on teaching.

A 2 year old does not need academic teaching. TWO. YEAR. OLD.

What makes you think I meant academic teaching?! lol Enrichment and exploration is NOT the stated goal of daycare while it is in any teaching facility. Only OP can answer if the daycare workers are of the same caliber, education and passion as the preschool teachers -- I would guess not or they would be teaching in a preschool.

I understand that we all want to make ourselves feel better about daycare however with the possible exception on daycares run by universities, preschool will always be a better option when a child is of age.

They are both full-day childcare. They are both daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should also consider the age of the kids in the home daycare - are they all babies or are there other older kids that would be peers to your 2 yo? I don't think preschool is necessary for a 2 yo, but it is helpful to have her spend time with peers so that she gets some socialization and is more likely to have interaction and stimulation during the day that is not dependent on caregiver led activities and does not have to compete with the littler kids for attention. If there is a mix of ages at the daycare so that my DD wouldn't be the only older kid, then I'd go with the daycare for at least a few months.

it didn't sound like a home daycare to me. It sounds like OP is comparing a "daycare center" vs. a place that calls itself a "preschool" (but also provides all day care).

[Anonymous]

You need to see what fits your lifestyle and needs. I have been in your position. If you do your due diligence right and chose a right daycare, your life might be lot easier (so it seems, from your post) And remember, social skills are important too. We did daycare for a year and now she is in a preschool (I stopped working). We love both. I can tell you the skills she learnt in a day care- being indepenent, learning to eat and sleep by herself, making friends on her own etc could not have been taught in 3 hours of preschool. Either way, in the big picture, when you will look back - none will make such a huge difference !

[Anonymous]

At 3 I would say preschool but at 2, save your $ and sanity, dont do two dropoffs.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your input and comments. I really appreciate it. Leaning now towards daycare enter for both kids but will ponder over the weekend. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go for the better preschool. The emphasis of daycare is daily care and not teaching. Most daycares have activities for kids but are not centered on teaching.

A 2 year old does not need academic teaching. TWO. YEAR. OLD.

What makes you think I meant academic teaching?! lol Enrichment and exploration is NOT the stated goal of daycare while it is in any teaching facility. Only OP can answer if the daycare workers are of the same caliber, education and passion as the preschool teachers -- I would guess not or they would be teaching in a preschool.

I understand that we all want to make ourselves feel better about daycare however with the possible exception on daycares run by universities, preschool will always be a better option when a child is of age.

So now TWO is "of age"? TWO? Seriously? I have a two year old and she's in a home day care where she is nurtured and it is a family -like environment. I wouldn't change it for the world, and I have a master's in education/am a former preschool teacher.

NP here, thank you for this. I struggled with leaving my 2 year old in her in home vs pre-school and decided on the caring, nurturing environment over the factory line like school-like environment that I think she's too young for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go for the better preschool. The emphasis of daycare is daily care and not teaching. Most daycares have activities for kids but are not centered on teaching.

A 2 year old does not need academic teaching. TWO. YEAR. OLD.

What makes you think I meant academic teaching?! lol Enrichment and exploration is NOT the stated goal of daycare while it is in any teaching facility. Only OP can answer if the daycare workers are of the same caliber, education and passion as the preschool teachers -- I would guess not or they would be teaching in a preschool.

I understand that we all want to make ourselves feel better about daycare however with the possible exception on daycares run by universities, preschool will always be a better option when a child is of age.

They are both full-day childcare. They are both daycare.

PLEASE STOP WITH THIS ALREADY. You post this on every single thread about preschool. Just shut up.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused as well at the difference.
Are you saying they are both all day care for a 2 year old? 7-10 hour/day type thing?
But one calls itself a daycare, the other calls itself a preschool.

If that is the case, I wouldn't worry about the "title" and treat it like any other decision.

For an extra $500/month there better be a huge difference besides the "preschool" label