Parents not sending kids to daycare/preschool...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not about the money for us. It’s 100% safety concerns.

I can’t imagine any parent who took the time to research preschools, visited them, went through the application and interview process, would withdraw for any reason other than safety.

OP here. No, these are the parents whose kids have been attending the same preschool for a few years now. It’s not a brand new school.

[Anonymous]

Safety. We discussed with our ped, who has seen numerous children with COVID. Staying home for the year.

[Anonymous]

No, because we are paying for a smaller nannyshare type situation which ends up costing about the same and is the same amount of travel for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For us it’s neither a financial nor safety decision but rather emotional well-being. This was supposed to be our 3 year old’s first year of preschool. We went and took the tour of the new COVID adjustments last week. They’re taking amazing precautions and are very prepared. Class size is small. I truly believe she’d stay healthy. BUT she’d eat lunch “alone” instead of at a communal table where conversation is encouraged and daily helpers get to pass out napkins and water. She’d wear a mask most of the day and these teachers and peers who are total strangers at the start of the year will be masked most of the time too. (All of the “get to know you” activities before school starts were canceled.) More than half the toys have been removed from the classroom so that only easily sanitized items are left. They have a “anything you touch must go in the bin to be sanitized” policy. So instead of working together and learning to share, kids will be encouraged to get a “workmat” (ie a bathmat) and pick a toy to play with alone. We can’t enter the building and must say goodbye on the first day from the parking lot. I could go on but I think we all get the picture.

I’m crushed that she’s missing out on real preschool this year but since we don’t HAVE to send her for childcare purposes I just don’t think we can justify pushing her to do this when we already expected “normal” preschool would be a big adjustment for our sensitive, slightly anxious kid.

Yes, same for us. We had just been starting to enroll our 3 year old back when everything started shutting down in March. I don’t see him comfortable with anything that will be in place especially when he hasn’t left our sides in months. It also doesn’t make sense for our family for him to go to preschool when my older kids will be home distance learning anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For us it’s neither a financial nor safety decision but rather emotional well-being. This was supposed to be our 3 year old’s first year of preschool. We went and took the tour of the new COVID adjustments last week. They’re taking amazing precautions and are very prepared. Class size is small. I truly believe she’d stay healthy. BUT she’d eat lunch “alone” instead of at a communal table where conversation is encouraged and daily helpers get to pass out napkins and water. She’d wear a mask most of the day and these teachers and peers who are total strangers at the start of the year will be masked most of the time too. (All of the “get to know you” activities before school starts were canceled.) More than half the toys have been removed from the classroom so that only easily sanitized items are left. They have a “anything you touch must go in the bin to be sanitized” policy. So instead of working together and learning to share, kids will be encouraged to get a “workmat” (ie a bathmat) and pick a toy to play with alone. We can’t enter the building and must say goodbye on the first day from the parking lot. I could go on but I think we all get the picture.

I’m crushed that she’s missing out on real preschool this year but since we don’t HAVE to send her for childcare purposes I just don’t think we can justify pushing her to do this when we already expected “normal” preschool would be a big adjustment for our sensitive, slightly anxious kid.

As a former preschool teacher this set up breaks my heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For us it’s neither a financial nor safety decision but rather emotional well-being. This was supposed to be our 3 year old’s first year of preschool. We went and took the tour of the new COVID adjustments last week. They’re taking amazing precautions and are very prepared. Class size is small. I truly believe she’d stay healthy. BUT she’d eat lunch “alone” instead of at a communal table where conversation is encouraged and daily helpers get to pass out napkins and water. She’d wear a mask most of the day and these teachers and peers who are total strangers at the start of the year will be masked most of the time too. (All of the “get to know you” activities before school starts were canceled.) More than half the toys have been removed from the classroom so that only easily sanitized items are left. They have a “anything you touch must go in the bin to be sanitized” policy. So instead of working together and learning to share, kids will be encouraged to get a “workmat” (ie a bathmat) and pick a toy to play with alone. We can’t enter the building and must say goodbye on the first day from the parking lot. I could go on but I think we all get the picture.

I’m crushed that she’s missing out on real preschool this year but since we don’t HAVE to send her for childcare purposes I just don’t think we can justify pushing her to do this when we already expected “normal” preschool would be a big adjustment for our sensitive, slightly anxious kid.

Yikes. It sounds like YOU think this setup is terrible and so you assume your child will also. You sound like a smothering SAHM. Even with what you describe, it is still better for your child to get out of the house and experience other child and adults. You also sound dramatic. There is no way your child is eating “alone” as that is most likely illegal. You act as though your child is put alone in a room at lunch. No, the child is simply not sitting right next to others. Also, your child has no idea about the amount of toys they had previously or that they weren’t on a bath mat. You’re also assuming that any routine out of the normal is simply too hard on your child. Saying good bye from the parking lot...it makes no difference to your CHILD where the good bye is said. Again, you’re selfishly only considering yourself.

Sorry but you’re doing your child a disservice. Upset over masks? Lady, your kid will be wearing a mask for years. You’re missing out on an opportunity for in person learning that your child may not have again for a long time.

[Anonymous]

No I do not think it is likely money in most cases. It is safety worries.

[Anonymous]

My sons part day preschool closed entirely, So we started looking at new options, but with cases rising and the new research that 75% of adult COViD patients have heart damage as a result, I’m now less interested in sending him.
We have a nanny so it isn’t a child care issue, I just know he needs to play with other kids to develop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Money is definitely a strong factor. Plus they can get work to agree right now that they can have kids at home.

You say “they” so you are talking about people other than yourself, yes? If so, how do you know money is a factor if you’re not the one making the decision? It’s not about money for us at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For us it’s neither a financial nor safety decision but rather emotional well-being. This was supposed to be our 3 year old’s first year of preschool. We went and took the tour of the new COVID adjustments last week. They’re taking amazing precautions and are very prepared. Class size is small. I truly believe she’d stay healthy. BUT she’d eat lunch “alone” instead of at a communal table where conversation is encouraged and daily helpers get to pass out napkins and water. She’d wear a mask most of the day and these teachers and peers who are total strangers at the start of the year will be masked most of the time too. (All of the “get to know you” activities before school starts were canceled.) More than half the toys have been removed from the classroom so that only easily sanitized items are left. They have a “anything you touch must go in the bin to be sanitized” policy. So instead of working together and learning to share, kids will be encouraged to get a “workmat” (ie a bathmat) and pick a toy to play with alone. We can’t enter the building and must say goodbye on the first day from the parking lot. I could go on but I think we all get the picture.

I’m crushed that she’s missing out on real preschool this year but since we don’t HAVE to send her for childcare purposes I just don’t think we can justify pushing her to do this when we already expected “normal” preschool would be a big adjustment for our sensitive, slightly anxious kid.

Yikes. It sounds like YOU think this setup is terrible and so you assume your child will also. You sound like a smothering SAHM. Even with what you describe, it is still better for your child to get out of the house and experience other child and adults. You also sound dramatic. There is no way your child is eating “alone” as that is most likely illegal. You act as though your child is put alone in a room at lunch. No, the child is simply not sitting right next to others. Also, your child has no idea about the amount of toys they had previously or that they weren’t on a bath mat. You’re also assuming that any routine out of the normal is simply too hard on your child. Saying good bye from the parking lot...it makes no difference to your CHILD where the good bye is said. Again, you’re selfishly only considering yourself.

Sorry but you’re doing your child a disservice. Upset over masks? Lady, your kid will be wearing a mask for years. You’re missing out on an opportunity for in person learning that your child may not have again for a long time.

You sound like someone feeling really defensive over her own choices. If you feel good about sending your kid to preschool then own it. Why trash someone else for a specific situation you know nothing about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not about the money for us. It’s 100% safety concerns.

I can’t imagine any parent who took the time to research preschools, visited them, went through the application and interview process, would withdraw for any reason other than safety.

OP here. No, these are the parents whose kids have been attending the same preschool for a few years now. It’s not a brand new school.

Then it’s clearly safety reasons only. Why else would you pull a child out of daycare/preschool?

[Anonymous]

We are paying for a nanny. More $$$$ not less. The savings from a few months not in daycare and preschool helped offset the cost for this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money is definitely a strong factor. Plus they can get work to agree right now that they can have kids at home.

There is no way this was written by a parent with a 1, 2 or 3 at home. Not a single working parent prefers to have NO SAFE CHILDCARE just because it’s cheaper. Not a one.

Oh believe me, this is not the case. I know someone refusing to go back in the office because she never wants to pay for childcare again. Claims she is "teleworking" while watching a 6 and 4 year old. Since COVID began they bought a new boat and RV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For us it’s neither a financial nor safety decision but rather emotional well-being. This was supposed to be our 3 year old’s first year of preschool. We went and took the tour of the new COVID adjustments last week. They’re taking amazing precautions and are very prepared. Class size is small. I truly believe she’d stay healthy. BUT she’d eat lunch “alone” instead of at a communal table where conversation is encouraged and daily helpers get to pass out napkins and water. She’d wear a mask most of the day and these teachers and peers who are total strangers at the start of the year will be masked most of the time too. (All of the “get to know you” activities before school starts were canceled.) More than half the toys have been removed from the classroom so that only easily sanitized items are left. They have a “anything you touch must go in the bin to be sanitized” policy. So instead of working together and learning to share, kids will be encouraged to get a “workmat” (ie a bathmat) and pick a toy to play with alone. We can’t enter the building and must say goodbye on the first day from the parking lot. I could go on but I think we all get the picture.

I’m crushed that she’s missing out on real preschool this year but since we don’t HAVE to send her for childcare purposes I just don’t think we can justify pushing her to do this when we already expected “normal” preschool would be a big adjustment for our sensitive, slightly anxious kid.

Yikes. It sounds like YOU think this setup is terrible and so you assume your child will also. You sound like a smothering SAHM. Even with what you describe, it is still better for your child to get out of the house and experience other child and adults. You also sound dramatic. There is no way your child is eating “alone” as that is most likely illegal. You act as though your child is put alone in a room at lunch. No, the child is simply not sitting right next to others. Also, your child has no idea about the amount of toys they had previously or that they weren’t on a bath mat. You’re also assuming that any routine out of the normal is simply too hard on your child. Saying good bye from the parking lot...it makes no difference to your CHILD where the good bye is said. Again, you’re selfishly only considering yourself.

Sorry but you’re doing your child a disservice. Upset over masks? Lady, your kid will be wearing a mask for years. You’re missing out on an opportunity for in person learning that your child may not have again for a long time.

The point to preschool is learning social graces: sharing, taking turns, waiting patiently, volunteering, helping each other, teamwork, starting to learn about personal bubbles, etc. Sharing, teamwork, volunteering and taking turns won’t happen due to covid. The personal bubble for each child is way too large for the age, and no physical contact is allowed anymore. Waiting patiently will still happen, and the waits will be even longer.

No, it’s better to create a bubble for a nanny share or pod, or just keep your preschooler at home. There are plenty of kids throughout the nation who wouldn’t have attended preschool before the pandemic, even more now. Your child won’t be left out or behind (presumably you know how to teach letters, numbers, colors and shapes).

[Anonymous]

We have a 1 year old and a 4.5 year old (DCPS prek 4). Were not sending the toddler because it doesn’t seem safe, and we have nowhere to send our preschooler. The daycare is licensed for up to age 5 I think but really only set up for infants - age 3 in normal times.

August is the first month we haven’t paid for the toddler, so no $ savings here.