Parents not sending kids to daycare/preschool...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s Covid. I don’t want it.

+1

[Anonymous]

It’s much more expensive for us to get a nanny. We are trying to limit risk.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t fully decided, but it would be a combination of money, risk, and emotional regulation. We have a sitter/nanny and could ramp up her hours if need be. I have an (online) class to teach on Thursday mornings, but am otherwise free, worldwide. I have an older kid who will be DL. My kid loves his school, but it’s unclear as to who his teacher and classmates will be, since classes are being broken up into groups of 6. I think it will be fine, but what if I’m wrong? The emotional toll of shutting down preschool because someone is sick or, heaven forbid, being the person who causes preschool to shut down, seems like it would be a lot to handle. I already get super worried if my kids have outdoor play dates and then one of them coughs the next day, like, “Oh no, should I share with the other parents that she’s coughing and could have had covid yesterday?” Preschool would be like that times 1000 I fear. And it’s not expensive as preschools go, though we’d be paying the same amount, plus some extra “health insurance” to the school, and could be shutting down a bunch. Hemming and hawing over here, clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t fully decided, but it would be a combination of money, risk, and emotional regulation. We have a sitter/nanny and could ramp up her hours if need be. I have an (online) class to teach on Thursday mornings, but am otherwise free, worldwide.I have an older kid who will be DL. My kid loves his school, but it’s unclear as to who his teacher and classmates will be, since classes are being broken up into groups of 6. I think it will be fine, but what if I’m wrong? The emotional toll of shutting down preschool because someone is sick or, heaven forbid, being the person who causes preschool to shut down, seems like it would be a lot to handle. I already get super worried if my kids have outdoor play dates and then one of them coughs the next day, like, “Oh no, should I share with the other parents that she’s coughing and could have had covid yesterday?” Preschool would be like that times 1000 I fear. And it’s not expensive as preschools go, though we’d be paying the same amount, plus some extra “health insurance” to the school, and could be shutting down a bunch. Hemming and hawing over here, clearly.

Work-wise

[Anonymous]

Anyone paying and not sending? Since our eldest is moving into DL at public, we only have a small expense for 3 day preschool for our 3 year old. I want to give it a few weeks to "see" and then may just send here and there. How can I tell the school this politely? (Their policy is masks for all except kids remove for lunch and playground time, no co-mingling of classes).

[Anonymous]

Our preschool closed for the school year. It's planning to reopen in fall 2021.

I called another preschool with openings, but they will have classes with 16 kids in a small classroom with no masks. No thank you.

[Anonymous]

Having s 4 year old us NOT compatible with teleworking or keeping my sanity. The monthly $1500 in daycare fees does not affect our decision to have our kid return. We just needed to be able to telework properly. We got a part time sitter, but now that daycare reopened for the fall, the program there is better than the sitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool closed for the school year. It's planning to reopen in fall 2021.

I called another preschool with openings, but they will have classes with 16 kids in a small classroom with no masks. No thank you.

Yikes where is that even legal right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having s 4 year old us NOT compatible with teleworking or keeping my sanity. The monthly $1500 in daycare fees does not affect our decision to have our kid return. We just needed to be able to telework properly. We got a part time sitter, but now that daycare reopened for the fall, the program there is better than the sitter.

Same here. 4yo and infant. I can telework, but my schedule isn't super flexible. I'm expected to be available for meetings nearly every day from 10AM until 4PM. We ended up re-enrolling both children in July.

[Anonymous]

We already have a nanny for the baby. Not sending the 4 year old back. Too much risk. If we do that then we won't even be able to see grandparentsocially distantly since they're not great at keeping their distance from the kids. So it's a money savings sure but more importantly reduces risk for our family and keeps the grands from being too lonely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We already have a nanny for the baby. Not sending the 4 year old back. Too much risk. If we do that then we won't even be able to see grandparentsocially distantly since they're not great at keeping their distance from the kids. So it's a money savings sure but more importantly reduces risk for our family and keeps the grands from being too lonely.

Your parents are so lucky to have such a caring family- you are making a big sacrifice for them! Will the nanny help with the 4yo? Are you sure she's properly social distancing in her off time? I'd still be careful, I know a family who got covid from their nanny.

[Anonymous]

I think it comes from parents completely misunderstanding the risks, which is entirely a failure in leadership and a complete recklessness from the media. People are also viewing covid safety protocols in preschools through adult eyes. My son went to camp all summer and PK4 today. Both had pretty intense protocols and he enjoyed both, especially school today. He is totally fine wearing a mask and I honestly think the separation of toys has been a good thing because there’s less fighting.

My one year old just started back at day care a few weeks ago and is also doing well. We get pictures and updates throughout the day and the kids are free to interact with each other and spend lots of time outside.

I honestly have very few concerns about their safety or mine or my families because I’m actually looking at the data and the science. I also live with my parents who are both over 65 and I am diabetic and have a degree in public health, so I know covid is serious and we are taking it seriously. I also understand how to weigh risks and benefits, and I think the choice is pretty clear.

Also, I’m really interested to see what happens in a year to eighteen months when everyone realizes they need childcare and there aren’t any spots because so many centers and preschools have closed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it comes from parents completely misunderstanding the risks, which is entirely a failure in leadership and a complete recklessness from the media. People are also viewing covid safety protocols in preschools through adult eyes. My son went to camp all summer and PK4 today. Both had pretty intense protocols and he enjoyed both, especially school today. He is totally fine wearing a mask and I honestly think the separation of toys has been a good thing because there’s less fighting.

My one year old just started back at day care a few weeks ago and is also doing well. We get pictures and updates throughout the day and the kids are free to interact with each other and spend lots of time outside.

I honestly have very few concerns about their safety or mine or my families because I’m actually looking at the data and the science. I also live with my parents who are both over 65 and I am diabetic and have a degree in public health, so I know covid is serious and we are taking it seriously. I also understand how to weigh risks and benefits, and I think the choice is pretty clear.

Also, I’m really interested to see what happens in a year to eighteen months when everyone realizes they need childcare and there aren’t any spots because so many centers and preschools have closed...

Do you mean the data that suggests children <10yrs old don't readily spread the disease? I'm asking out of curiosity and as a fellow parent struggling to weigh the risks. My child is also back at daycare and after a cold just traveled through a lot of the children it does make me wonder if the precautions aren't working as well as I'd hoped. But of course, a cold virus and COVID don't behave the same way. I also wonder what daycare will look like in a year, due to closures or everyone getting back on waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Well, I’m not doing any of this for the money (canceled vacations, no more date nights at nice restaurants, no daycare, no recreational shopping on weekends). But it is the bright spot/the only upside.

[Anonymous]

There were some parents at our daycare who were upset that the center wouldn't just hold their spot (without paying) until they were comfortable returning. For real people? Our center is already in financial distress and there's no way they could have afforded to leave any of the reduced spots open. They think some fairy godmother aid will arrive from the state and federal government and rescue these places. While I agree this aid should be provided, it's not coming anytime soon, or is not enough to make a difference. The only thing keeping these places afloat right now is parents who are willing to pay. I agree there are going to be some people in for a rude awakening when they try to find a spot down the road. Maybe some new ones will open in response to the demand, but it was already a difficult industry with low margins before the pandemic.