Passing on Preschool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And you seriously need to revisit the difference between daycare and school. I find your comment offensive.

I agree that the comment was offensive, but it is offensive in part because of the underlying assumption that a "daycare" is always something less than a preschool (other than a amount of time in care issue, which is clearly different). It depends entirely on the program. Some are very good and some are definitely not and I think the same could be said for preschool programs as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And you seriously need to revisit the difference between daycare and school. I find your comment offensive.

I agree that the comment was offensive, but it is offensive in part because of the underlying assumption that a "daycare" is always something less than a preschool (other than a amount of time in care issue, which is clearly different). It depends entirely on the program. Some are very good and some are definitely not and I think the same could be said for preschool programs as well.

Well, isn't it? Can you honestly provide examples of daycare that is the equivalent of pre-school? Pre-school is a choice about the child's best interests: being prepared for school (socially and academically). Daycare is about finding someone to babysit your child because you're otherwise engaged. That's not to say that the activities in which you are otherwise engaged are of no value. It's just that no-one chooses daycare to stimulate their child and prepare him(her) for school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And you seriously need to revisit the difference between daycare and school. I find your comment offensive.

I agree that the comment was offensive, but it is offensive in part because of the underlying assumption that a "daycare" is always something less than a preschool (other than a amount of time in care issue, which is clearly different). It depends entirely on the program. Some are very good and some are definitely not and I think the same could be said for preschool programs as well.

Well, isn't it? Can you honestly provide examples of daycare that is the equivalent of pre-school? Pre-school is a choice about the child's best interests: being prepared for school (socially and academically). Daycare is about finding someone to babysit your child because you're otherwise engaged. That's not to say that the activities in which you are otherwise engaged are of no value. It's just that no-one chooses daycare to stimulate their child and prepare him(her) for school.

What? Good daycare absolutely does prepare kids for school, socially and academically. It's not just about dumping your child off somewhere and hoping they don't die. Good grief, I've read some pretty uninformed things on this site, but this takes the cake.

I will give you an example - my DD went to an in-home daycare until she went to preschool at age 3 3/4. She knew all her letters, numbers, colors, shapes, was starting to sound out words, had learned how to get along with other children of different ages (from babies to elementary school-aged), and was absolutely stimulated during the day, from playing with toys to dancing and singing with the other kids to coloring. And she was in a very loving environment, had hot home-cooked meals for breakfast and lunch, and for the last 5 months, she could spend the whole day with her baby brother. I believe it was in her best interests to stay in daycare until she was nearly 4, and when she did go to preschool, she thrived, and is still thriving.

[Anonymous]

Some daycares are awesome in their preschool programs some are not. There are preschools that are lousy too.

For some reason I think some people have a misconception of daycare centers and their staff. I have a BA in education and have worked in daycare centers. One center I worked at I was the only one with a degree besides the director my class of toddlers out did stuff the other kids did but that was because of me not the daycare.

I have also worked at a center we all had degrees, every class did things. The preschool classes actually had preschool time set aside. I know many of those kids were reading and so forth.

Not all daycare centers are bad. Not all preschools are great. Just because you are paying 5000 a year for you 2 year old to go two days a week doesn't mean they will learn any more than someone who is in a child care center. I think so many daycare centers are calling themselves learning centers because of comments like daycare is just a drop off zone.

Many parents are looking for daycare centers that have preschools built into the program now. If you are working all day you don't have time to take a kid to preschool pick them up then take them to daycare.

Personally I am working as a nanny now. The kids I work with are getting educated, socialized and cared for.
I have even home schooled for a family.

Im sure someone is going to read this and pick out all my grammar and spelling errors. Go ahead make yourself happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some daycares are awesome in their preschool programs some are not. There are preschools that are lousy too.

For some reason I think some people have a misconception of daycare centers and their staff. I have a BA in education and have worked in daycare centers. One center I worked at I was the only one with a degree besides the director my class of toddlers out did stuff the other kids did but that was because of me not the daycare.

I have also worked at a center we all had degrees, every class did things. The preschool classes actually had preschool time set aside. I know many of those kids were reading and so forth.

Not all daycare centers are bad. Not all preschools are great. Just because you are paying 5000 a year for you 2 year old to go two days a week doesn't mean they will learn any more than someone who is in a child care center. I think so many daycare centers are calling themselves learning centers because of comments like daycare is just a drop off zone.

Many parents are looking for daycare centers that have preschools built into the program now. If you are working all day you don't have time to take a kid to preschool pick them up then take them to daycare.

Personally I am working as a nanny now. The kids I work with are getting educated, socialized and cared for.
I have even home schooled for a family.

Im sure someone is going to read this and pick out all my grammar and spelling errors. Go ahead make yourself happy.

You make excellent points. I would just add that different children thrive in different settings, and I think that is probably the most important thing to take into consideration when picking a daycare/preschool/nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some daycares are awesome in their preschool programs some are not. There are preschools that are lousy too.

For some reason I think some people have a misconception of daycare centers and their staff. I have a BA in education and have worked in daycare centers. One center I worked at I was the only one with a degree besides the director my class of toddlers out did stuff the other kids did but that was because of me not the daycare.

I have also worked at a center we all had degrees, every class did things. The preschool classes actually had preschool time set aside. I know many of those kids were reading and so forth.

Not all daycare centers are bad. Not all preschools are great. Just because you are paying 5000 a year for you 2 year old to go two days a week doesn't mean they will learn any more than someone who is in a child care center. I think so many daycare centers are calling themselves learning centers because of comments like daycare is just a drop off zone.

Many parents are looking for daycare centers that have preschools built into the program now. If you are working all day you don't have time to take a kid to preschool pick them up then take them to daycare.

Personally I am working as a nanny now. The kids I work with are getting educated, socialized and cared for.
I have even home schooled for a family.

Im sure someone is going to read this and pick out all my grammar and spelling errors. Go ahead make yourself happy.

21:55 here. Thank you, you articulated this very well. My point was that all types of services (preschool, daycare, nanny, sahm) have a qualitative level to them and the assumption that any preschool is superior to any daycare is uninformed and offensive to those parents who searched out and found quality care and stimulating social and educational opportunities for their children.

[Anonymous]

Just to add to what the pps have said, and to answer the original question, no, you don't have to spend a lot of money for your child to get a good preschool experience. I sent my child to a daycare with a preschool component and she and all of her friends were very well prepared for Kindergarten. Also, in Kindergarten (at least in MoCo) they spend the first couple of months making sure that everyone is up to speed. So, my daughter has been going over letters since the beginning of the year - something she did 2 years ago at preschool/daycare but they have to cater to the lowest common denominator. My point is that even if your child doesn't receive a great preschool education, they eventually will catch up.

[Anonymous]

Just curious PP. My son will be in K next year. Do they really spend the first few months with everyone in the class reviewing letters? Haven't they put the kids into groups yet? I hate to think of how my son is going to behave spending 7 hrs a day learning his letters and their sounds when he knew that by age 2. I understand teachers need to assess the kids and get routines and rules into effect but does it really take 3 months?

[Anonymous]

to 13:59

public schools do not ability level group kids anymore. There are no red birds( the ones that know it all) blue birds ( in the middle) and crows ( the ones that know very little)

your son is not going to sit there for 7 doing nothing. I am sure as smart as you think he is there are some things that will be totally new for him...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to 13:59

public schools do not ability level group kids anymore.

Our public school had reading groups starting in kindergarten, accommodating each child's reading level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious PP. My son will be in K next year. Do they really spend the first few months with everyone in the class reviewing letters? Haven't they put the kids into groups yet? I hate to think of how my son is going to behave spending 7 hrs a day learning his letters and their sounds when he knew that by age 2. I understand teachers need to assess the kids and get routines and rules into effect but does it really take 3 months?

Maybe he should have been playing instead of learning letters. Check out how pre-school age children learn.

[Anonymous]

17:09

Those children do not stay in the same group all the time. They move around from time to time. They may start with in group 1 but they will move to group 3 later on.

Trust me they are not left in the same group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all kids need at least one year of preschool before they go into elementary school.

I don't know if 2 and 3 year olds belong in school more than 2 half days a week. I think it is a lot.

Just because your spending 10,000 a year on a preschool doesn't make it better than spending 5,000.

Even paying 5,000 is way to much for a 3 year old to go 2 days a week to color, paint, and play with friends.

I am just curious, what do 2 and 3 year olds do on the other days if they only go to school 2 half days? I work, so my kids have been in full time care since 10 months for the older one and 6 months for the younger one. I have had mixed feelings about sending them that early but it is a really good center, I have very social kids, and from the age of about one I have always been happy that they had playtime with other kids every day and moved into a more preschool like atmosphere as they got older (and the older one is at a montessori program this year b/c she outgrew the preschool component at her center, I am not anti traditional preschool). I really am curious, do you set up playdates every day, do you plan crafts every day, do your kids watch tv every day (for some short period of time)?

My personal opinion is that if I did stay at home, I would want at least a half day program 5 days a week at the age of 2 just to keep them adequately stimulated. My kids thrived from a young age in a full school week environment. but it is not go, go, go all day, there was always a good nap midday and when I arrived they were still having a great time.

Your children are in daycare or childcare, nothing wrong with that if that is what you have to do. I am talking for stay at home parents, or for families that have nannies. There is nothing wrong with a little one going to a moms day out program, or a half day preschool. I am talking about parents who do not work, or have nannies and they send their 2 year old to a preschool all day.

All kids need some type of preschool before kindergarten. Kids that do not have any type of preschool experience are behind no matter what they do at home with parents.

Preschool is more than abcs and 123 its learning how to deal with classmates, people that aren't mom and dad. They are out of their environment.

Daycare and childcare is something you can't avoid if both parents are working and you can not afford a nanny.

Daycare can also be a choice over a nanny, as some parents prefer more oversight and socialization for their children. Also, working is not what I "have to do," it is what I choose to do.

Thanks! You took the words right out of my mouth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:09

Those children do not stay in the same group all the time. They move around from time to time. They may start with in group 1 but they will move to group 3 later on.

Trust me they are not left in the same group.

Yes, there is permeability in groups, and kids are constantly being assessed and moved around as needed. My point is that good schools do group children to suit their needs--the parent of the reader entering kindergarten should ask at the school to find out how they approach children at the level she would expect her son to be when he starts kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I love the daycare my children attend(ed). At daycare, my children learn(ed) letters, sounds, colors, numbers, social skills, and taking/putting on and off their clothes/shoes. It is/was great preparation for the preschool they now attend/will attend. My daughter went off to the preschool at 2.5 years, and my son will enroll at 20 months. And there *is* a difference between this preschool and daycare. Both are excellent, but I wouldn't want my 3 1/2 year old still in the daycare.