Pre-school vs. Nanny share

Anonymous
Hi. I'm considering sending my DC to pre-school after he turns 2. Some friends have questioned why, saying that it's young and that I might consider doing a nanny share instead. We have a FT nanny now and she arranges daily playdates for him with a group that he loves. I guess I'm wondering what benefit he might get from pre-school that he might not get from either playdates and/or a nanny share.

Any help appreciated!

Anonymous
Don't know. What is it that YOU think he's needing?
Anonymous
OP here. I guess I think he could benefit from more stimulation during the day, interacting regularly with other kids and starting to build the foundations for learning (i.e. focusing on tasks, exploring new things, organizing). He just seems very smart, very verbal and at times I'm worried that I'm not meeting him where he is. (He's our first child and I have no experience in pre-k education, etc.) Also, our nanny's english is not great and I'm starting to worry a bit about that, given that she's with him 45 hours or more a week.
Anonymous
OP, My advice is to get a more professional level nanny who speaks proper English. Unless there's some sort of difficult situation at home, I prefer to see children at age three for their first out-of-home social experience.
Could you send the nanny to English classes?
Are her play dates in English?At
In another year a morning program would be best.
Anonymous
Every child is different. My first child was not ready for preschool right when she turned 2. My second, however, was completely bored at home and clearly needed more stimulation than I could provide so I started him in a toddler program when he was 18 months. For him, it was wonderful and kept him very stimulated. If your sense is that your child would benefit from preschool, I would trust your intuition.
Anonymous
Most two yr olds I see are over stimulated. Hence all the sleeping/eating/behaving problems you hear about.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP, My advice is to get a more professional level nanny who speaks proper English. Unless there's some sort of difficult situation at home, I prefer to see children at age three for their first out-of-home social experience.
Could you send the nanny to English classes?
Are her play dates in English?At
In another year a morning program would be best.


This is absurd. At this age, the children's language acquisition skills have no resemblance to the language of the nannies. We did not send our 2-year-old to preschool, and kept him at home with a nanny who is an immigrant. Our child, who will enter preschool as a 3-year-old this fall, speaks in complete sentences and is more articulate than any child in his playgroups or extracurricular (e.g., soccer) class. He can sing the alphabet song, he can count to 40, etc. What matters is how well you, as a parent, speak to him at night/weekends, read to him regularly, etc.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, My advice is to get a more professional level nanny who speaks proper English. Unless there's some sort of difficult situation at home, I prefer to see children at age three for their first out-of-home social experience.
Could you send the nanny to English classes?
Are her play dates in English?At
In another year a morning program would be best.


This is absurd. At this age, the children's language acquisition skills have no resemblance to the language of the nannies. We did not send our 2-year-old to preschool, and kept him at home with a nanny who is an immigrant. Our child, who will enter preschool as a 3-year-old this fall, speaks in complete sentences and is more articulate than any child in his playgroups or extracurricular (e.g., soccer) class. He can sing the alphabet song, he can count to 40, etc. What matters is how well you, as a parent, speak to him at night/weekends, read to him regularly, etc.


I agree!!!
Anonymous
Hey! I am in agreement too. Glad to see it.
Anonymous
2 year olds benefit from preschool. They certainly won't be harmed if they don't go, but I think in general they benefit. I can't imagine waiting till 3.
Anonymous
I voter for preschool. That'smy opinion.
Anonymous
I have tried both ways for my children. My daughter went to preschool, but I waited for my son. My son ended up becoming bored and restless doing errands with my nanny and we just didn't get enough playdates. I suggest going with the preschool if it isn't too late.
Forum Index » Preschool and Daycare Discussion
Go to: