Switch from traditional preschool to home daycare for PK4?

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old has gone to a traditional preschool for the last two years. It's a nice school of about 50 kids with professionally trained early childhood teachers and a big outdoor space. Our child likes it. We think it's good, but not amazing (compared to the preschool we sent our oldest to in another city). This past spring, it offered zoom courses which my child had a hard time participating in like most other kids this age. The school is in a building owned by our local public school district, which delayed it's reopening. For the upcoming school year, the school will be adhering to some very strict social distancing guidelines, including small classes and contained play spaces. Kids are required to wear masks. My child's closest friends are headed to different schools or opting to stay home in the fall, but most kids will return I believe.

We are enrolling our newborn in a small in home daycare which is just a few minutes from my 4 year old's current school (so same commute). The school happens to have have for a spot for a 4 year old and we are considering switching. The school has 8 kids total, including three other 3 & 4 year olds. The facility is very nice on the inside but the outdoor space is not as nice and it is not a traditional preschool. The teachers are Level 6 qualified (I don't actually know what this means), but they don't seem like Pre-K teachers...more like toddler teachers (sweet and loving but not "academic"... whatever that means for preschool). The school is adhering to CDC guidelines, but kids are not required to wear masks. This option is 25% cheaper. I spoke to three parents and they all love the school.

My child thrives on routine, is very adverse to change, and is now a middle child, so I worry this could be emotionally damaging. We'd be throwing yet another wrench in what is "normal"...4 months of being home, a new baby in the house, and (potentially) a new school that is shared with younger sibling.

Thoughts? Would you switch? Or just keep the course for the next year since kindergarten is on the horizon?

[Anonymous]

I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

Well, I would say as one of those mom's I'm not so much pissed as saying you are being a bit short-sighted. This year all the rules have gone out the window. A home daycare has a much better chance of meeting the social/emotional needs of its kids than a preschool with all the new rules in place (masks, no touching, lots of toys/materials perhaps gone, can't play in groups, exc.). The parts that likely made preschool comforting for him are gone. And yes, you would probably have to do a bit more of K prep as a parent, but OP could do that at home. She can't create playmates/peer socialization for her child which at least he would have through a consistent one or two in the home daycare.

There really is no best choice this year. Just the best less-than-optimal choice.

[Anonymous]

Normally I would say go to the school, but this years going to be crazy. I would go with the small home daycare.

[Anonymous]

I’d switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

The kid is 4. What kind of "kindergarten prep" are you so worried about that's worth risking the whole family's health for? (Leaving aside the fact that home daycares vary widely and there's no reason to assume the provider isn't able to offer whatever you think this kid needs.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

The kid is 4. What kind of "kindergarten prep" are you so worried about that's worth risking the whole family's health for? (Leaving aside the fact that home daycares vary widely and there's no reason to assume the provider isn't able to offer whatever you think this kid needs.)

What makes you think it’s safer in a home daycare than a preschool? Why because of lower numbers? That’s ridiculous. Most people are getting it from their family members. Also preschools are more equipped to handle sanitization at a higher level with machines and cleaning crews, etc. And, yes, feel free to take any home daycare 4 year old child and put them up against a preschool 4 year old child prior to Kindergarten. Watch them interact at a playground or ask them some age appropriate questions or ask them to read! This isn’t ten years ago. The preschooler is more advanced and prepared for Kindergarten 9/10 times. It’s a fact. You want to promote home daycare, fine. But the truth is the truth.

[Anonymous]

What do you even mean by "advanced" and "ready for kindergarten"? Are you talking about 4 year olds being forced to sit at desks and do worksheets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids close in ages to yours.

I would switch as your old school is no longer the same school that your middle child went to. That in itself will likely be an adjustment.

The added bonus is that you now have two kids in the same (very small) environment which will cut down on your contacts. It also has a lower chance of shutting down periodically as opposed to the bigger preschool.

It sounds like you will need to spend some time on weekends---if you can---doing basic K prep but that would be a small tradeoff.

Totally disagree with this. The current school he has attended is a comfort for him during these difficult times. On top of that, home daycares typically do not provide the developmental guidelines necessary for the preparation of a four year old going to Kindergarten next year. He needs the group activities as well as the small group learning. Home day area don’t provide the quality there that you need. I know I just pissed some moms off but it’s the truth.

+1

+2 and this from a mom of a 6 year old who struggled this year in K a little even before COVID (and I thought her PreK was great but she did not have the readiness level expected) and a 4 year old heading into PreK of some sort TBD.

[Anonymous]

which traditional preschool is this ?

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old has gone to a traditional preschool for the last two years. It's a nice school of about 50 kids with professionally trained early childhood teachers and a big outdoor space. Our child likes it. We think it's good, but not amazing (compared to the preschool we sent our oldest to in another city). This past spring, it offered zoom courses which my child had a hard time participating in like most other kids this age. The school is in a building owned by our local public school district, which delayed it's reopening. For the upcoming school year, the school will be adhering to some very strict social distancing guidelines, including small classes and contained play spaces. Kids are required to wear masks. My child's closest friends are headed to different schools or opting to stay home in the fall, but most kids will return I believe.

We are enrolling our newborn in a small in home daycare which is just a few minutes from my 4 year old's current school (so same commute). The school happens to have have for a spot for a 4 year old and we are considering switching. The school has 8 kids total, including three other 3 & 4 year olds. The facility is very nice on the inside but the outdoor space is not as nice and it is not a traditional preschool. The teachers are Level 6 qualified (I don't actually know what this means), but they don't seem like Pre-K teachers...more like toddler teachers (sweet and loving but not "academic"... whatever that means for preschool). The school is adhering to CDC guidelines, but kids are not required to wear masks. This option is 25% cheaper. I spoke to three parents and they all love the school.

My child thrives on routine, is very adverse to change, and is now a middle child, so I worry this could be emotionally damaging. We'd be throwing yet another wrench in what is "normal"...4 months of being home, a new baby in the house, and (potentially) a new school that is shared with younger sibling.

Thoughts? Would you switch? Or just keep the course for the next year since kindergarten is on the horizon?

[Anonymous]

OP here - I would prefer not to say the preschool, but we are in Maryland.

Thanks for everyone's input. After speaking to our pediatrician, we have decided to move our child to the home daycare for the fall. We have three kids (the oldest of which is in elementary school) and besides hiring a nanny, this is the best way for us to limit contacts/exposure (and still get the kids some socialization). We also spoke to the preschool director about a spot for DC in the spring once the situation has improved (or we have more clarity). She was very understanding and said a lot of parents are waiting until the spring to re-enroll.

Like one of the PPs said, there are no good options right now. We hope this is the best one. The flexibility of the home daycare contract allows us to switch back to preschool if we choose.

Thanks again and good luck to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I would prefer not to say the preschool, but we are in Maryland.

Thanks for everyone's input. After speaking to our pediatrician, we have decided to move our child to the home daycare for the fall. We have three kids (the oldest of which is in elementary school) and besides hiring a nanny, this is the best way for us to limit contacts/exposure (and still get the kids some socialization). We also spoke to the preschool director about a spot for DC in the spring once the situation has improved (or we have more clarity). She was very understanding and said a lot of parents are waiting until the spring to re-enroll.

Like one of the PPs said, there are no good options right now. We hope this is the best one. The flexibility of the home daycare contract allows us to switch back to preschool if we choose.

Thanks again and good luck to everyone.

Not a smart choice, but good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP we are in a sort of similar situation (we were in public preschool but left DC and now need to find other options). DC loved the structure and largeness of "real" school, and is one of the oldest kids in their year, so would probably enjoy more of a formal schooling situation, but we feel like, given the other risks, we are going to try going with a smaller setting. Might not be the most stimulating or exciting year, but at least we can hopefully get some work done and DC will at least have the opportunity for social learning.