Preschool or pod?

[Anonymous]

Our preschool claims it’s opening as normal at the end of August. We are essential workers so in the current phase our kid would have a space at school. We have been invited to join a group of families for a pod next year. They are hiring a teacher and there will be 4-5 kids total all same age. I can back out of the preschool contract now but don’t have much time to decide. Am I crazy to keep my kid in preschool? I’m worried things will shut down again and we will be stuck paying for more zoom crap. On the other hand the pod teaching experience obviously won’t be as great as being in an actual school. What would you do??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool claims it’s opening as normal at the end of August. We are essential workers so in the current phase our kid would have a space at school. We have been invited to join a group of families for a pod next year. They are hiring a teacher and there will be 4-5 kids total all same age. I can back out of the preschool contract now but don’t have much time to decide. Am I crazy to keep my kid in preschool? I’m worried things will shut down again and we will be stuck paying for more zoom crap. On the other hand the pod teaching experience obviously won’t be as great as being in an actual school. What would you do??

We are in the exact same boat minus being asked to join a pod... we have to decide in the next 2 weeks if we want to sign up to return in late August. We would join a pod, 100%. As of right now we aren't feeling super comfortable with sending our 3 year old back so our nanny will be watching both our kids full time (we also have a younger child). But a pod with other kids the same age and families that are being similarly cautious would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool claims it’s opening as normal at the end of August. We are essential workers so in the current phase our kid would have a space at school. We have been invited to join a group of families for a pod next year. They are hiring a teacher and there will be 4-5 kids total all same age. I can back out of the preschool contract now but don’t have much time to decide. Am I crazy to keep my kid in preschool? I’m worried things will shut down again and we will be stuck paying for more zoom crap. On the other hand the pod teaching experience obviously won’t be as great as being in an actual school. What would you do??

We are in the exact same boat minus being asked to join a pod... we have to decide in the next 2 weeks if we want to sign up to return in late August. We would join a pod, 100%. As of right now we aren't feeling super comfortable with sending our 3 year old back so our nanny will be watching both our kids full time (we also have a younger child). But a pod with other kids the same age and families that are being similarly cautious would be great.

thanks, this is helpful. My husband isn’t 100% on board. Thinks it’s a missed opportunity to let go of school spot. I just don’t know it’s worth the risk. I’m sure a pod teacher won’t fulfill our true preschool desire but at this point nothing will, right? -OP

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same position without the pod. Have a week to decide about an Aug 31st start date. And also would have to pay for 1-2 Zoom sessions a week and some worksheets. We are allowed to give 2 months notice to withdraw if daycares are shut down - but then what if school starts up again. I'm getting cold feet about preschool anyways, would definitely join a pod.

[Anonymous]

Another family here without a pod and wishing for one. If you have that, OP, take it.

[Anonymous]

How many hours would the pod cover? I imagine as essential workers you need full time care. If you need full-time care, will the pod be able to do that or will you need pod and then additional care?

[Anonymous]

I would do the pod. Lower exposure risk with fewer families, and better continuity in case of a shot down. I wouldn’t obsess about instruction quality. It’s preschool; if the caregiver is attentive and the kids get lots of reading and play time it’s fine.

[Anonymous]

I don't get the point of a pod as you need a parent to oversee it? I would think preschool would be safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the point of a pod as you need a parent to oversee it? I would think preschool would be safer.

Yes. What you get at preschool are are things you’ll have to do yourself in a pod. Organize. HR. Payroll. Recruitment. Retention.

All of those things you pay the preschool to do for you. That’s the point.

[Anonymous]

We plan to get a preschool teacher. We have a lead on one. The pod would be from about 9-1/2. We have a nanny to fill the other hours. We are both full time workers and absolutely need full care for the kids. -OP

[Anonymous]

A "pod" is nothing more than unlicensed daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A "pod" is nothing more than unlicensed daycare.

Yep! A snobby version of something that can go wrong very quickly. Beware of liability issues if the pod is in your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A "pod" is nothing more than unlicensed daycare.

Yep! A snobby version of something that can go wrong very quickly. Beware of liability issues if the pod is in your home.

They can dress it up anyway they want but they should know it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

What are the numbers like for your daycare/preschool?

We sent our 3.5 year old back to daycare because they are following increased safety/sanitation policies. It's basically a pod since it's the same group of people all day (same kids and teacher no mixing) and they are all already trained on sanitation and health/safety procedures. I mean, our daycare teacher gets recertified on CPR every year, the daycare room is deep cleaned thoroughly every day. I would not trust another persons home with a single adult that is not used to managing 5 or 6 children. People get lax/lazy really quickly if a procedure is not engrained in them, so I'd expect hygiene practices and supervision to not be as good as it is at daycare. There's also the social pressure aspect where people don't want to tell other people no, so they let the kid with the slight sniffly nose or little bit of cough come to the pod that day. Our daycare is doing temperature checks and health assessments every day before kids come into the building. They are used to saying no, your kid is sick, take them home to people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the numbers like for your daycare/preschool?

We sent our 3.5 year old back to daycare because they are following increased safety/sanitation policies. It's basically a pod since it's the same group of people all day (same kids and teacher no mixing) and they are all already trained on sanitation and health/safety procedures. I mean, our daycare teacher gets recertified on CPR every year, the daycare room is deep cleaned thoroughly every day. I would not trust another persons home with a single adult that is not used to managing 5 or 6 children. People get lax/lazy really quickly if a procedure is not engrained in them, so I'd expect hygiene practices and supervision to not be as good as it is at daycare. There's also the social pressure aspect where people don't want to tell other people no, so they let the kid with the slight sniffly nose or little bit of cough come to the pod that day. Our daycare is doing temperature checks and health assessments every day before kids come into the building. They are used to saying no, your kid is sick, take them home to people.

Same. Our 4yo has returned as well and I am more comfortable with her at daycare than an ad-hoc, unlicensed option. She’s one of 5 kids that has returned so far (out of a normal class of 20). The parents who I’ve talked to who did not return at this time have no real timetable for when they will- it’s not like things will magically get better in the fall.