When is daycare "school?"

[Anonymous]

Huh. My kid is at a daycare center, and I call it "daycare" to others, but "school" when I talk to her. She likes going, and I want her to have the positive association with going to school.

I do know some parents with multiple kids who, once their older kid is in (real) school, call everything "school," probably because they are used to saying it to all the kids/the youngest wants to "go to school" too, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its daycare. I too generally think that someone feels very superior (or insecure) and is trying to say while others put their kids in daycare, stay home or have nannies - that is below them and they won't settle for that. They want others to think of them as someone who puts their infant / toddler in an educational program - as thought their child is far too smart to just be cared for or to play all day or to be with a parent. I am sure most feel sorry for the children who are deprived of school from a young age and didn't have parents who loved them enough to academically / intellectually stimulate them in school from birth on.

While I think that people on this thread have listed a lot of valid reasons they refer to daycare as school, the two parents I know who call it school are just like PP described. They try make me feel like crap for choosing to be a SAHM while they put their 6 month old in "school." They are very insecure about their parenting and constantly try to make DH and I feel like we're the ones making poor choice or raising our children the wrong way. Needless to say, we don't spend time with them anymore!

I'm sorry, did you say THEY are insecure about their choice? Because it sounds like you are... no one can MAKE you feel like crap - that's all you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daycare vs. school
and
Sitter vs. nanny
Same issue.
Helps parents feel better about doing it.

So why do people call a babysitter, a nanny? Same thing, don't you think?

[Anonymous]

Wow. Real bunch of judgmental assholes in this forum. Guess they are starting to creep over from General Parenting. Bummer.

Oh, and who the hell cares? Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its daycare. I too generally think that someone feels very superior (or insecure) and is trying to say while others put their kids in daycare, stay home or have nannies - that is below them and they won't settle for that. They want others to think of them as someone who puts their infant / toddler in an educational program - as thought their child is far too smart to just be cared for or to play all day or to be with a parent. I am sure most feel sorry for the children who are deprived of school from a young age and didn't have parents who loved them enough to academically / intellectually stimulate them in school from birth on.

While I think that people on this thread have listed a lot of valid reasons they refer to daycare as school, the two parents I know who call it school are just like PP described. They try make me feel like crap for choosing to be a SAHM while they put their 6 month old in "school." They are very insecure about their parenting and constantly try to make DH and I feel like we're the ones making poor choice or raising our children the wrong way. Needless to say, we don't spend time with them anymore!

I'm sorry, did you say THEY are insecure about their choice? Because it sounds like you are... no one can MAKE you feel like crap - that's all you.

I don't think you know how to read. Perhaps you should go to school? I said they "try" to make us feel bad about our choices. We're very happy with our choices and don't give two shits if their kid goes to daycare and the mom doesn't stay home--whatever is best for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Real bunch of judgmental assholes in this forum. Guess they are starting to creep over from General Parenting. Bummer.

Oh, and who the hell cares? Sheesh.

You're being pretty judgemental yourself, don't ya think? Just sayin. People can have stupid pet peeves without being assholes, I'm sure you have some yourself.

[Anonymous]

I called it a school when I talked to DD about it. That made her feel like a big girl. She went there starting from age 3.

When I talked to adults, I referred to it as "daycare" b/c I assume adults know what that means.

If someone asked me where or if my child went to preschool, I said, "Yes, she goes to a preschool daycare." Basically, it had an accredited preschool program just like a regular preschool. Just stretched out all day long, with lots of play and rest, etc. in between education. Which basically, is how kids should learn, in my book. With lots of time for free play and unstructured social time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its daycare. I too generally think that someone feels very superior (or insecure) and is trying to say while others put their kids in daycare, stay home or have nannies - that is below them and they won't settle for that. They want others to think of them as someone who puts their infant / toddler in an educational program - as thought their child is far too smart to just be cared for or to play all day or to be with a parent. I am sure most feel sorry for the children who are deprived of school from a young age and didn't have parents who loved them enough to academically / intellectually stimulate them in school from birth on.

While I think that people on this thread have listed a lot of valid reasons they refer to daycare as school, the two parents I know who call it school are just like PP described. They try make me feel like crap for choosing to be a SAHM while they put their 6 month old in "school." They are very insecure about their parenting and constantly try to make DH and I feel like we're the ones making poor choice or raising our children the wrong way. Needless to say, we don't spend time with them anymore!

I'm sorry, did you say THEY are insecure about their choice? Because it sounds like you are... no one can MAKE you feel like crap - that's all you.

I don't think you know how to read. Perhaps you should go to school? I said they "try" to make us feel bad about our choices. We're very happy with our choices and don't give two shits if their kid goes to daycare and the mom doesn't stay home--whatever is best for your family.

Honestly, at first I interpreted your post the way PP did. When I reread it though, I see what you were really saying.

We all need to stop trying to make other people feel badly about the choices they make that are different from ours. 9 times out of 10 when we do it, it IS because we're insecure about the choice we made and are trying to make ourselves feel better.

[Anonymous]

guys. really? who cares what you call it? i tend to say "daycare". but i can't get exercised about what anyone else calls it. even the daycares that aren't particularly preschool-like tend to have a "curriculum" to impress parents and play-based learning activities to entertain the kiddies. and they learn things. hell, my 9-month-old is learning; even if its learning how to high-five and stack blocks, those are pretty good baby skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Real bunch of judgmental assholes in this forum. Guess they are starting to creep over from General Parenting. Bummer.

Oh, and who the hell cares? Sheesh.

You're being pretty judgemental yourself, don't ya think? Just sayin. People can have stupid pet peeves without being assholes, I'm sure you have some yourself.

Just pointing out fact. They are using their pet peeves to criticize people (trying to make themselves feel better so they call it school? Really?). These are not just their pet peeves. They are being assholes. Mountains and molehills.

[Anonymous]

I can understand calling it "school" to a kid who can't say daycare. Although we just used to say "We're going to Miss D's today!"

School has a curriculum with expected outcomes. I guess if your child care center has that, then it really is a school. If it doesn't, then it's daycare you call school.

In the big scheme of things though I'm not sure why it matters. Everyone knows a six month old isn't off to "school" every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We call the daycare "school" when we are talking with our 2 year old twins. With anyone else, we call it daycare. We call it school for them because 1-syllable words are easier for them than 2-syllable words. Nothing unusual and no agenda to push about the quality of the care. Why this should make any difference to you is beyond me. Would you really like people around you to tell you about the odd slang or terms that you use that bother them? Just ignore it and move on. What an odd thing to get peevish about.

+1. I do the same with my 2-year-old. And I don't get why people care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's think about the word "daycare" for a minute (my pet peeve!). Are we caring for the "day" or are we caring for the child? At the very least, let's call it childcare and because they are learning so much (of course, not algebra or chemistry, but children are learning foreign language, how to socialize appropriately etc) why wouldn't it be called school?? I don't know... I think the idea of "school" should be implanted in a child's brain as early as possible. What's the harm and why does it bother some people?

Because that is just child development - kids learn things, they aren't only learning because they are going to a place called school. My kids learned a second language at home and we do lots of activities where they have learned to socialize appropriately, and that stimulate either growth and development. I don't say they are in school 15 hours a day. That is parenting. Kids learn an incredible amount as part of their growth and development during the first 5 years, it isn't because they are in "school".

Oh my goodness! You totally missed the point

I agree with second PP. Just because your baby is learning something in daycare does not make it school. Not a good argument.

Daycare is for working parents. It is childcare before kid's reach school age and they can go to school. There is nothing derogatory about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's think about the word "daycare" for a minute (my pet peeve!). Are we caring for the "day" or are we caring for the child? At the very least, let's call it childcare and because they are learning so much (of course, not algebra or chemistry, but children are learning foreign language, how to socialize appropriately etc) why wouldn't it be called school?? I don't know... I think the idea of "school" should be implanted in a child's brain as early as possible. What's the harm and why does it bother some people?

It's shorthand for DAYtime childCARE. The same way people call the newspaper the WaPo or Wash Post or call their Apple Macintosh a Mac. Some people clearly have too much time on their hands.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. I hate when people refer to their daycares as school. It's ridiculous. I guess they are just trying to make themselves feel better.