Is a 2s class worth it?

[Anonymous]

DD is 2 now. We are in a great home daycare now. It’s run by a certified teacher, has meals included and they are actually doing a bit of learning (letters, comorsetc).

We have to decide soon if we are enrolling her in a 2s class next September at our preferred preschool. She missed the cut off so will almost be 3 when starting 2s class.

It’s alot more expensive than home daycare and full day 2s program is really 3 programs cobbled together to make a full day. The 3s program seems more solid.

Is there a benefit to switching for a 2s class? Or waiting until 3s is better? . I guess I worry more about the social aspect than anything else.

[Anonymous]

Will she be the oldest if you stay in home daycare? If you are concerned about her social development it is important for her to be with age group peers.

[Anonymous]

Two's classes are great for socialization, if the child doesn't have the opportunity to play with a lot of other kids. They also ease the transition to preschool, if the child isn't used to being separated from the parents or regular caregiver. However, kids who doesn't attend classes at two will do fine in preschool; it may take a few extra weeks to adjust. I wouldn't go out of my way to send my kids to a two's class, if it was going to cause a financial or any other kind of hassle.

- former preschool teacher

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a waste of time. None of the kids played together and basically wandered the classroom for a few hours.

[Anonymous]

Developmentally, twos do not play together but there is parallel play. Still, two is a good age to learn to separate from parents and work on social skills.

[Anonymous]

Op here - DC is at full day daycare now and has been for a year. She gets plenty of socialization.

Just wondering if there was an educational reason to make the switch.

[Anonymous]

If the other children will be the similar age as yours in the home day care, then stay. But if all the others are going to leave and spaces filled with babies, then you might want to leave. This is hard to judge. Can you chat with the other parents, see what their plans are? Chat with the provider and see what usually happens?

[Anonymous]

Op here - most kids are between 2 and 3. There is one 4 yr old and she’s bored with the babies. DD will be almost 4 if we delay preschool/keep her another year.

I hate making a decision almost 2 Years in advance (if we delay for Fall 2019 preschool start).

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would keep her at the home Daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would keep her at the home Daycare.

+1. And I say this as someone who sent both kids to preschool at 2. We had a nanny, so our situation was a little different, but honestly, I think even the "socialization" is overrated. Even kids that stay home socialize with other kids at playdates, the park, etc.; it doesn't necessarily need to be a school or day care setting. And at a certain point, all of this "getting them ready for the next step," is sort of silly. Pre-K gets them ready for K. 3s program gets them ready for Pre-K. Summer camp at the preschool gets them ready for preschool. At some point, they just have to start a new thing. And they will do so, and they will be fine.

If you like her current home day care, and she likes it, and it works for you on a logistical/practical level, keep her there. There's absolutely nothing she'll be missing out on. Most 2s programs aren't really academically oriented, anyway -- it's more about teaching kids how to follow directions, separate from a parent, be a part of a classroom, etc. If everyone is happy, save the money -- there will be plenty uses for it down the line.

The only reason I might do the 2s program is if it'll be harder, for some reason, to get her in if she starts with the 3s program.