Newbie, finding it difficult to understand the difference between daycare and preschool at age 2

[Anonymous]

This is an honest question. I visited a preschool calling itself a Montessori school and looked at all their materials and curriculum, stayed there for 2 hrs and then went to a 'daycare', they called themselves 'early learning center'c Activities, routine all looked very similar. Prices were very different. So at that age, why do some choose to enroll in a preschool and others are OK with a Bright Horizons. I am sorry, I don't see what I am missing.

[Anonymous]

At that age, it may not be that dissimilar especially if it is a good learning center and you are comparing with your plain vanilla preschool. Montessoris when run well (which I suspect isn't based on your blah reaction) can be discernibly different even at that age. But some may call themselves Montessori and are just run as daycares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, it may not be that dissimilar especially if it is a good learning center and you are comparing with your plain vanilla preschool. Montessoris when run well (which I suspect isn't based on your blah reaction) can be discernibly different even at that age. But some may call themselves Montessori and are just run as daycares.

Especially those that are privately owned by an absentee investor.

[Anonymous]

What sort of place are you hoping to find for your toddler, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age, it may not be that dissimilar especially if it is a good learning center and you are comparing with your plain vanilla preschool. Montessoris when run well (which I suspect isn't based on your blah reaction) can be discernibly different even at that age. But some may call themselves Montessori and are just run as daycares.

+1. The differences will be more evident age 3 onwards and parents want to choose correctly from the beginning. That may be the reason they may enroll in a preschool at age 2 or 3. The reason I suspect you may find some 2-3 yr olds at a Bright Horixons maybe because they have been there since they were infants. And the parents haven't yet made a switch to a preschool especially if the kids are happy.

[Anonymous]

At 2, my children went to a regular church nursery school. A very informal, caring environment that was basically daycare in the format of preschool, with arts and crafts, circle time, etc.

[Anonymous]

"Preschool" is what you call it when you look down on "daycare." It's all the same, though. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Preschool" is what you call it when you look down on "daycare." It's all the same, though. Really.

Most quality daycares rival "preschool".
My older child, now 8, went to daycare until he was 5, then private kindergarten. He knew about 2 dozen sight words before K. His reading level is 4-5th grade now (he's going into third) and his math is at 4th grade level.
My younger child, now 5, has gone to private preschool for the last three years. He is slightly ahead - he can read some level 1 early readers. But he isn't leaps and bounds ahead, and I know he tries hard at reading since big brother reads.
Daycare was less than $1k/month. Preschool is 15k/year - without summer or after care.

[Anonymous]

Daycare is when you drop your kid off all day so you can work. Preschool is a few hours a day.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but if you send your kids to a 15k preschool its you who had math problems. That's moronic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daycare is when you drop your kid off all day so you can work. Preschool is a few hours a day.

Totally FALSE info. Preschools can be full day. Daycares or 'Learning Centers' as OP mentioned can be half day. Both can have option of sending food for your child or going with their menu for an extra cost (catered by some company).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daycare is when you drop your kid off all day so you can work. Preschool is a few hours a day.

Totally FALSE info. Preschools can be full day. Daycares or 'Learning Centers' as OP mentioned can be half day. Both can have option of sending food for your child or going with their menu for an extra cost (catered by some company).

If it makes you feel better to call it that, go ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daycare is when you drop your kid off all day so you can work. Preschool is a few hours a day.

This.

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, daycare has longer hours because it's meant to cover the parents' workday. A daycare can have a preschool curriculum, however, and many centers do.

We have been in a daycare center since my daughter was an infant, and the threes and fours rooms have a preschool curriculum. There's no categorical difference in the preschool aspect of a preschool and a daycare--some programs will obviously be better, more organized, etc., but some daycares have excellent preschool programs and some preschools are only so-so.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree wit the PP. As a preschool teacher at a highly regarded DC preschool I can say with no hesitation that it depends completely on where you send your child. I have seen some daycares that claim to have a preschool curriculum that are just terrible and some that are pretty good. I have also seen some part day preschools that are mediocre and some that are excellent Call it what you will.