Sending a 2.5 year old to preschool this fall?

[Anonymous]

Hard to say OP. I have always needed the child care, so I have always sent. I think for me it would depend a lot on whether I thought my child would have fun at home. If I had a nice backyard, some neighbor kids or cousins to play with regularly, and plenty of free time and energy to let the kid do a messy activity, I would probably keep home.

[Anonymous]

We’re definitely sending for 4s because I think they need to be in that structured setting before full day K but until then we’ll likely stay with our nannyshare situation

[Anonymous]

As a parent of a 3 year old, I would say skip it if you really and truly do not need the childcare.

Agree with others that socialization is overrated at this age.

When my child was 2, she started going (first one morning a week then eventually 2 mornings, so not a ton) to a playschool just for 2-3 year olds. Do you know the best thing she got out of it? Her relationships with the teachers. I mean, she had her "friends" as well but as others have noted, at this age they mostly do parallel play. There were sweet moment with them helping each other and displaying kindness and empathy. But there were far more battles over toys because kids this age don't really know how to share and are still learning how patience works.

But it was nice for my child to develop a trusting relationship with another adult who was not her parent, and I think this helped set her up a bit for school later. We have no family in the area and she's never had a nanny, so this was her first experience with that.

But is it worth risking during Covid? Nope. They will figure it out when they get to school.

(BUT if actually you could use a few hours off each week to take care of yourself, do housework, pay bills, just be alone -- do it! Childcare isn't just for people who have to have it to go to work. It's okay to need childcare just for yourself.)

[Anonymous]

I'm keeping my kid out but my husband is high risk due to asthma and past lung infections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you send your 2.5 year old to 1/2 day preschool this fall if you had already signed up for it, or pull them? This would only be for socialization, it’s not needed for a childcare.

As a parent who used daycare with a 2.5 year old and has taught preschool, the only thing that two year olds get from preschool is a safe place to be and learn while they aren't with their parents, and a parent who is a little more rested because they have a break.

The socialization that is critical for two year olds is with adults.

[Anonymous]

They will be fine at home. My child stayed home until kindergarten and was fine, has completed his PhD now and never had any problems (-:. They don't really "need" socialization, loving environment and one-on-one care are always the best. Preschools are generally overcrowded/teachers overworked, and in Covid times all those teachers wish they could stay home as a lot of them have health issues or in an older age group. If you keep your child home this fall it would help the entire society.

[Anonymous]

why oh why OP.

[Anonymous]

Those of you who said no, if your child was a kindergartener, would you send to a preschool that has a K class? Or do the virtual learning from the public? Im literally at a standstill and need to decide! This is soo hard!

[Anonymous]

we are expecting our 3rd soon and will send the 2.5 yr old to school 3 mornings a week. this will help prevent parent and au pair burnout with 3 kids under 3. She also attended school last year 5 mornings a week and asks weekly why she isnt at school. She is very imaginative, verbal and social and had had a hard time being isolated from children her own age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we are expecting our 3rd soon and will send the 2.5 yr old to school 3 mornings a week. this will help prevent parent and au pair burnout with 3 kids under 3. She also attended school last year 5 mornings a week and asks weekly why she isnt at school. She is very imaginative, verbal and social and had had a hard time being isolated from children her own age.

Did you ask your pediatrician about this? Mine was very adamant about not sending a toddler to preschool, with a newborn at home

[Anonymous]

There are no "schools" for 2 yr olds, they are just morning programs/part-time daycares. And au-pairs are not supposed to be used for such young kids, poor au-pair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no "schools" for 2 yr olds, they are just morning programs/part-time daycares. And au-pairs are not supposed to be used for such young kids, poor au-pair!

What are you talking about? There are absolutely preschool classes for two year olds. I’m not sending my kid this year for the threes class but he attended three mornings a week last year for the two year old class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are expecting our 3rd soon and will send the 2.5 yr old to school 3 mornings a week. this will help prevent parent and au pair burnout with 3 kids under 3. She also attended school last year 5 mornings a week and asks weekly why she isnt at school. She is very imaginative, verbal and social and had had a hard time being isolated from children her own age.

Did you ask your pediatrician about this? Mine was very adamant about not sending a toddler to preschool, with a newborn at home

What your pediatrician's rationale for saying this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are expecting our 3rd soon and will send the 2.5 yr old to school 3 mornings a week. this will help prevent parent and au pair burnout with 3 kids under 3. She also attended school last year 5 mornings a week and asks weekly why she isnt at school. She is very imaginative, verbal and social and had had a hard time being isolated from children her own age.

Did you ask your pediatrician about this? Mine was very adamant about not sending a toddler to preschool, with a newborn at home

+1. Exactly the same with our pediatrician. Absolutely no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re definitely sending for 4s because I think they need to be in that structured setting before full day K but until then we’ll likely stay with our nannyshare situation

We made the hard decision to keep our 4yo twins home. We will worry about K next year.