What is the difference between daycare and pre-school (or nursery school)

[Anonymous]

For ages 2-4, I think the difference is semantic. Any good daycare will have the same activities as the DCPS preschools. I did find that teachers in DCPS and charters had more education than the teachers at the daycares my kids went to, although the daycare teachers had more experience at the job. I think the benefits conferred are less dependent on whether it's called "daycare" or "preschool" and more dependent on the institution and staff they hire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For ages 2-4, I think the difference is semantic. Any good daycare will have the same activities as the DCPS preschools. I did find that teachers in DCPS and charters had more education than the teachers at the daycares my kids went to, although the daycare teachers had more experience at the job. I think the benefits conferred are less dependent on whether it's called "daycare" or "preschool" and more dependent on the institution and staff they hire.

This is absolutely correct. The idea that one is inherently better than the other is silly. There are some "daycares" that have high-quality teachers and curriculum, just as there are some preschools that don't. You need to look at the specific institutions you are considering to try to determine which is a better fit for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are daycare organizations that are curriculum based at that age. DD is in one. In effect, there is no difference between where she is now and the other preschool options besides hours. BUT, as PP noted, in either case, the point is socialization, learning to follow directions and share, circle time, etc. Yes, there are flash cards, handwriting, sight words, etc., but frankly the former is really what they should get out of it.

Yeah, there should be no flash cards. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ages 2-4, I think the difference is semantic. Any good daycare will have the same activities as the DCPS preschools. I did find that teachers in DCPS and charters had more education than the teachers at the daycares my kids went to, although the daycare teachers had more experience at the job. I think the benefits conferred are less dependent on whether it's called "daycare" or "preschool" and more dependent on the institution and staff they hire.

This is absolutely correct. The idea that one is inherently better than the other is silly. There are some "daycares" that have high-quality teachers and curriculum, just as there are some preschools that don't. You need to look at the specific institutions you are considering to try to determine which is a better fit for you.

+1.

[Anonymous]

What is your definition of "prepared"? Look at the research. If you think your child needs to be academically ahead, the rematch shows you are wrong. And yes, flash cards should NEVER be used for preschool aged kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your definition of "prepared"? Look at the research. If you think your child needs to be academically ahead, the rematch shows you are wrong. And yes, flash cards should NEVER be used for preschool aged kids.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your definition of "prepared"? Look at the research. If you think your child needs to be academically ahead, the rematch shows you are wrong. And yes, flash cards should NEVER be used for preschool aged kids.

Ugh. It's not MY definition, it's the PPs who are saying it. None of whom have jumped in to answer the question. Again, my kid is in a play based full day program. I'm the person who posted earlier about all kids need to get from preschool is standing in line, sharing, etc. why is everyone jumping all over ME??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly wonder how much you all think your kids are getting out of 2-3 half days a week? Honest.

Socialization, making friends, getting used to school routine, pre-reading, art projects, play time with things we don't have at home. He gets dance and music, too.
He goes 3 mornings a week. That's less that a child in ft daycare; and more than a child who doesn't go to any preschool or daycare.

Is your kid in ft daycare? Or do you keep your kids home? I'm trying to figure out why you're opposed to traditional preschool.

My child is in a full day preschool. I'm not at all opposed to part-time preschool, I think it's a really smart thing for SAH parents to put their child in programs like that to get used to being around other kids. I want to know why you (or the other posters) think my child's full day preschool is not a preschool when I would pretty much describe what my kid is getting out of full day preschool in the exact same way.

[Anonymous]

I SAH and one of my kids is in full day preschool. This particular school has a lot of working parents because they also offer before and after care, so it is not much different from a daycare. The differences I can see are that there are more closings, their hours of operation are not as long, the nap situation is different, and there aren't as many rules and restrictions as there are at a daycare wrt how the day is structured and certain safety issues. For naps, there is no nap time for 4 year olds, and then nap time for the younger children is less than 2 hours (too short IMO).

I will also say that both of my kids haven't gotten sick much in preschool. Because about half the kids have SAH parents or nannies, they are less likely to bring a sick child to school, and this cuts down on the illness.

In terms of what the kids are learning, I don't think there is much of a difference from daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your definition of "prepared"? Look at the research. If you think your child needs to be academically ahead, the rematch shows you are wrong. And yes, flash cards should NEVER be used for preschool aged kids.

My 4.5 year old has some language delays and difficulties with motor planning and it takes him longer than his peers to do some things like recognize letters, etc on a consistent basis. His preschool teacher suggested printing out pictures of things that are meaningful for him and gluing them next to the letter on index cards (for example "m" is for mommy so a picture of me on the M card. I have a set at home to use with him every once in a while and the preschool has a set as well abd its used whenever appropriate if they are doing any letter type activities. After a very short time with these cards, he now recognizes his letters pretty consistently bc the pictures of things that interested him helped him (P with a picture of Paw Patrol). His preschool does not do worksheets or anything like that and has a playbased curriculum but if a child needs cards or some other kind of intervention to help with letters/numbers, they do that...and Im grateful for it.

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old goes to a combined preschool/daycare 3 days a week, hours are for working parents, I take her 9-5. From about 9-11:30 is the preschool time and some kids just do that and then get picked up. The kids who stay have lunch and nap and then more play time later in the day.

For kids that age, they can only focus for short periods of time, so preschool is the time when they have circle time which the teacher leads and teaches them something, an art project, some center time, and some free play time.

I have heard that kids who are in stable, upper middle class, educated families, preschool isn't even necessary except for socialization with other kids.

[Anonymous]

To the OP -- as you can see, this is a contentious subject. Allow me to answer your question:

Yes, there is a difference between daycare and preschool. Daycares are open year round and usually during working hours -- so something like 7-6 pm. There are waitlists to get into daycares that you pay a fee and get on. When your number comes up, your child gets in. Preschools are open during school hours. So typically 8:30-3 or something like that. Some are partial day (less than those hours). They usually have before and after care programs that you pay extra for. The "good" preschools don't have waitlists. They function like a college or private school in DC. You apply, interview/have a playdate, and the admissions committee either offers your child a spot or doesn't based on what they want in that particular classroom.

In terms of what your child is learning -- it all depends on the daycare or the preschool, there is no blanket statement you can make about every one because every one is different. Daycares were established to provide DAY CARE for your child while parents were at work. PRE SCHOOLS were established to provide early learning opportunities to prepare children for school-aged years. Things have certainly evolved since then and as I said, the level of learning your child is getting at any institution is going to depend on that institution.

For us, our daycare was great at taking care of the basic needs of our infant. But when our infant turned into a toddler I didn't feel he was getting the level of learning I wanted him to have. Touring preschools that year I was entirely convinced that was the direction we wanted to go for him. Had our daycare offered everything I thought he needed at that age I would have certainly kept him there, but there was simply no comparison to the preschool he is at now.

[Anonymous]

^^ Oh, also, preschools start at 2.5 typically. Daycare at 3 months.

[Anonymous]

^^ Or sooner than 3 months (some at 6 weeks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the OP -- as you can see, this is a contentious subject. Allow me to answer your question:

Yes, there is a difference between daycare and preschool. Daycares are open year round and usually during working hours -- so something like 7-6 pm. There are waitlists to get into daycares that you pay a fee and get on. When your number comes up, your child gets in. Preschools are open during school hours. So typically 8:30-3 or something like that. Some are partial day (less than those hours). They usually have before and after care programs that you pay extra for. The "good" preschools don't have waitlists. They function like a college or private school in DC. You apply, interview/have a playdate, and the admissions committee either offers your child a spot or doesn't based on what they want in that particular classroom.

In terms of what your child is learning -- it all depends on the daycare or the preschool, there is no blanket statement you can make about every one because every one is different. Daycares were established to provide DAY CARE for your child while parents were at work. PRE SCHOOLS were established to provide early learning opportunities to prepare children for school-aged years. Things have certainly evolved since then and as I said, the level of learning your child is getting at any institution is going to depend on that institution.

For us, our daycare was great at taking care of the basic needs of our infant. But when our infant turned into a toddler I didn't feel he was getting the level of learning I wanted him to have. Touring preschools that year I was entirely convinced that was the direction we wanted to go for him. Had our daycare offered everything I thought he needed at that age I would have certainly kept him there, but there was simply no comparison to the preschool he is at now.

people like this always forget there are full day preschools.