Who is using all these preschools?

[Anonymous]

I think OP's primary issue/concern is that she is looking for preschool and childcare at the same time. Most traditional preschools, which are part-time, does not offer any childcare outside of school hours. There is no reason to get into an argument about what is better - preschool or daycare. They each serve their purposes, as different families are looking for different things. And as other PP's have already noted, there are good and bad preschools and daycares. An excellent daycare is better than a sucky preschool + nanny, and vice versa.

I think the best option for OP is to find a great center-based daycare that has a preschool component. They have teachers that lead the preschool portion of the day (for a few hours) and the rest is free play/lunch/nap time, etc. There are a few limited preschools that offer the range of hours that daycares do.

But the issue that OP raises about there being limited options for childcare for working parents is really important and fundamental. Childcare can be really expensive. I feel that we need to find more macro solutions for how to help families manage having children and continuing their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP's primary issue/concern is that she is looking for preschool and childcare at the same time. Most traditional preschools, which are part-time, does not offer any childcare outside of school hours. There is no reason to get into an argument about what is better - preschool or daycare. They each serve their purposes, as different families are looking for different things. And as other PP's have already noted, there are good and bad preschools and daycares. An excellent daycare is better than a sucky preschool + nanny, and vice versa.

I think the best option for OP is to find a great center-based daycare that has a preschool component. They have teachers that lead the preschool portion of the day (for a few hours) and the rest is free play/lunch/nap time, etc. There are a few limited preschools that offer the range of hours that daycares do.

But the issue that OP raises about there being limited options for childcare for working parents is really important and fundamental. Childcare can be really expensive. I feel that we need to find more macro solutions for how to help families manage having children and continuing their jobs.

I think that the only problem is that OP hasn't explored the various options where she lives. I know in Silver Spring there are plenty of full-day preschools that start at age 2. So I don't think that tehre is any conflict b/w finding a preschool and childcare at the same time.

[Anonymous]

I think 10:36 summarized it very well. Perhaps the OP was unaware that there are full-day programs (whether they are in "daycare" settings or "full day preschools") that may be a better fit for HER needs than the part-day preschool model, which may suit other families better.

Ohr Kodesh in Chevy Chase/Silver Spring also has a NAEYC-accredited "full-day preschool," as well as a traditional half-day preschool.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I can't believe how this discussion has taken off. I wasn't trying to strike up a debate about preschool vs. daycare - really all I want is a program with extended hours that has a focus on my child's academic and social development. I didn't mean to imply that she can't get this in a daycare with a "preschool component". I live in close-in Silver Spring - I know of a few such programs, but there seems to be a much wider variety of interesting preschool programs available than there are daycare programs. Some of the preschools have before and/or aftercare, but the hours aren't as long as most daycares and it becomes terribly expensive. So it seems to me that working parents have far fewer options to find suitable childcare with a preschool component, and that makes me sad/mad. That was the main point of my post. Thanks for all the posts - it has been interesting reading.

[Anonymous]

Also, if you like a certain preschool that doesn't offer extended day options, then you can ask at the preschool about in home daycares that do pick up and drop off at that particular school, then ask the in home daycare if there are openings. A co-worker and I are using the same preschool that only runs 9 - 12. She uses an in-home daycare lady, and I use a nanny or my husband, so it's possible. I guess everyone would get used to it, but my kids are used to hanging out at home. My 3 year old can't count to 30 yet, but she is a happy well adjusted kid that goes to Montessori preschool 3 mornings a week and is a wiz at jigsaw puzzles. I just read the Crisis in Kindergarten report, and they mentioned that free play and imaginative play is so important in these preschool years - way more important than knowing colors, reading or counting to whatever number. I like it when my 3 year old just goes in a corner and plays with her dolls for awhile. She puts on some really interesting dramas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I can't believe how this discussion has taken off. I wasn't trying to strike up a debate about preschool vs. daycare - really all I want is a program with extended hours that has a focus on my child's academic and social development. I didn't mean to imply that she can't get this in a daycare with a "preschool component". I live in close-in Silver Spring - I know of a few such programs, but there seems to be a much wider variety of interesting preschool programs available than there are daycare programs. Some of the preschools have before and/or aftercare, but the hours aren't as long as most daycares and it becomes terribly expensive. So it seems to me that working parents have far fewer options to find suitable childcare with a preschool component, and that makes me sad/mad. That was the main point of my post. Thanks for all the posts - it has been interesting reading.

I don't think that this is really true. I have looked at part-time programs in Silver Spring and while they were all fine, I honestly don't think your child is going to be missing much. There are just as many good full-day programs.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think there will be any spots for this fall, but do check out Wonders. They are NAEYC-accredited and have all-day preschool for 2s, 3s and 4s, including Montgomery County's Pre-K program. It's moving from Chevy Chase Circle to very near you at 16th St. and Kalmia Road. It's open 7:30 to 6, more reasonable than at least a couple other similar programs I checked out and has just been fantastic for us.

[Anonymous]

I don't see what the big deal is. OP could send her kid to a hand-picked preschool that she feels is best and get a good nanny. She is making a choice based on cost that is NOT being forced on her. It's her choice. If she wanted to change her priorities she could make this happen. As another working mother, I get tired of all these life sucks for working moms posts. If it sucks that's because of the choices you made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what the big deal is. OP could send her kid to a hand-picked preschool that she feels is best and get a good nanny. She is making a choice based on cost that is NOT being forced on her. It's her choice. If she wanted to change her priorities she could make this happen. As another working mother, I get tired of all these life sucks for working moms posts. If it sucks that's because of the choices you made.

If by the choices I made, you mean wanting to have a house in a decent neighborhood (but hardly upscale by DC metro standards), well you got me there. I don't think life sucks for working moms, but thanks for your supportive post.

I will say this thread is making me realize that I am missing a lot of information on full-time preschool options that would work. ANyone know of a good reference for that - I was using the Maryland search function on the childcare page (can't remember the exact name) and the list on A Parent In Silver Spring. That's where I had got the impression that there were many more less-than-fulltime options than there were full-time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I do mean by where you choose to live and being hung up on the preschool label. A full time preschool is really not any different than a daycare. A friend of mine got two kids into Sidwell who went to daycare that was even called a daycare. I choose the nanny and true preschool (1/2 day at 3 and 4) route and make the economic sacrifice that comes with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what the big deal is. OP could send her kid to a hand-picked preschool that she feels is best and get a good nanny. She is making a choice based on cost that is NOT being forced on her. It's her choice. If she wanted to change her priorities she could make this happen. As another working mother, I get tired of all these life sucks for working moms posts. If it sucks that's because of the choices you made.

If by the choices I made, you mean wanting to have a house in a decent neighborhood (but hardly upscale by DC metro standards), well you got me there. I don't think life sucks for working moms, but thanks for your supportive post.

I will say this thread is making me realize that I am missing a lot of information on full-time preschool options that would work. ANyone know of a good reference for that - I was using the Maryland search function on the childcare page (can't remember the exact name) and the list on A Parent In Silver Spring. That's where I had got the impression that there were many more less-than-fulltime options than there were full-time.

Are you on the SSmoms_2003 yahoo group? The people there are incredibly supportive and it is geared just to Silver Spring moms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I do mean by where you choose to live and being hung up on the preschool label. A full time preschool is really not any different than a daycare. A friend of mine got two kids into Sidwell who went to daycare that was even called a daycare. I choose the nanny and true preschool (1/2 day at 3 and 4) route and make the economic sacrifice that comes with that.

NO WAY! Into Sidwell?! WOW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I choose the nanny and true preschool (1/2 day at 3 and 4) route and make the economic sacrifice that comes with that.

Um, and you were saying about being hung up on labels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what the big deal is. OP could send her kid to a hand-picked preschool that she feels is best and get a good nanny. She is making a choice based on cost that is NOT being forced on her. It's her choice. If she wanted to change her priorities she could make this happen. As another working mother, I get tired of all these life sucks for working moms posts. If it sucks that's because of the choices you made.

Exactly. And then she expressed surprise when the majority of mothers on DCUM point out that daycare is not exactly equal to competitive private preschools. Obviously she hasn't read the hundreds of thousands of posts this spring comparing the merits of each of these preschools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I choose the nanny and true preschool (1/2 day at 3 and 4) route and make the economic sacrifice that comes with that.

Um, and you were saying about being hung up on labels?

LOL! The fist poster is funny.

I too do the nanny and regular preschool route. This is ONLY because it makes it WAYYYYYYY easier on me to not have to drop offs and pick-ups and generally not have to miss work for illness. Throw in the added bonus that my nanny runs errands and will run a vacuum from time to time, I'm in heaven.

I make the economic sacrifice in order to gain back a few precious hours with my children each week (which is priceless), not because I think my kids are getting some sort of superior education. This whole concept to me just strikes me as funny because I've never looked at it like that. My children have good genes, and engaged parents, they'll do fabulous whatever school they attend.