Anonymous wrote:What if I call it daycare and my 2.5 yo insists on calling it school? Do I correct him? Please, I'm so worried. I don't want him to believe a lie.

Yes. Correct him. Drive past the neighborhood school he will go to one day and tell him "That's school. You'll go there when you are five." Give him that milestone to look forward to and aspire to and be excited about.

If I ever start to care enough about other parents calling daycare "school" to start a thread on here ranting about it, someone just please shoot me in the face and put me out of my misery. Jesus Christ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care what other people call their child care?

Seriously, it's sad that you're so invested in this.

There is a national focus now on early childhood education. The stark line you draw between daycare and "school" is blurring.

No it isn't and won't until we embrace DAYCARE as a needed and beneficial educational institution. The only reason you want to call it "school" is because you feel it is not as bad to leave your child all day if it is school.

This. Insisting on calling it "school" stigmatizes daycare. I'm a working parent who always, always, always called it daycare because it's PERFECTLY FINE to send your child to daycare. Any parent, working or non, who won't call it daycare is doing a huge disservice to everyone.

What if I call it daycare and my 2.5 yo insists on calling it school? Do I correct him? Please, I'm so worried. I don't want him to believe a lie.

Anonymous wrote:Mothers do call daycare "school" to make themselves feel better about leaving their child for the day. Yes, I am sure the child learns in daycare but that is not the reason daycares exist. Daycares exist to care for babies, toddlers and preschoolers when the parents are away/working.

This.

Anonymous wrote:Um, I call it school because that's what the whole experience resembles to me (getting DS up, dressed, packing his back pack, riding to a building where some nice ladies take him into his "classroom" where they read together, have music lessons, snack, have outdoor play, etc.) not because I believe it is technically correct. And some times I call it daycare. It really doesn't matter!

My DS doesn't walk yet. Very hard to feel that I am sending him off to school at four months old.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care what other people call their child care?

Seriously, it's sad that you're so invested in this.

There is a national focus now on early childhood education. The stark line you draw between daycare and "school" is blurring.

No it isn't and won't until we embrace DAYCARE as a needed and beneficial educational institution. The only reason you want to call it "school" is because you feel it is not as bad to leave your child all day if it is school.

Um, I call it school because that's what the whole experience resembles to me (getting DS up, dressed, packing his back pack, riding to a building where some nice ladies take him into his "classroom" where they read together, have music lessons, snack, have outdoor play, etc.) not because I believe it is technically correct. And some times I call it daycare. It really doesn't matter!

OMF... OP thinks her kid is learning something of substance in "school".. Doesn't pre mean before... so technically she is going to something that is not school, it is something you go to before you start school.

Anonymous wrote:What do you call it when the daycare goes up to age 5 and contains a classroom with the word "Preschool" written on the door?

I get OP's point. It is still daycare. 12 week old babies are not "in school". A daycare can have a preschool curriculum and hopefully be as good as any preschool - but it is still daycare.

Why do you care what other people call their child care?

Seriously, it's sad that you're so invested in this.

There is a national focus now on early childhood education. The stark line you draw between daycare and "school" is blurring.

I don't see a huge distinction around here.

On one hand, most daycares around here have a preschool component for kids 3 and 4 years old. They have a structured day, with a specific curriculum. Parents around here wouldn't put up with less. Yes, they need the daycare before and after those hours.

On the other hand, working parents often take advantage of before and after care with a traditional preschool.

Not a huge difference in this area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh calm down. I call it "school" because my DD3 insists on being just like her older cousin. Emmie goes to school, and therefore my DD also goes to school. That is what big girls do.

Your DD goes to daycare. Why lie to her?

Because I think it's adorable that she wants to be like her cousin. She claims to be in 2nd grade, it's very cute.

NP here... Wait... you agree with her that she is in 2nd grade? You tell her that she is in 2nd grade and in school? Wow...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh calm down. I call it "school" because my DD3 insists on being just like her older cousin. Emmie goes to school, and therefore my DD also goes to school. That is what big girls do.

Your DD goes to daycare. Why lie to her?

She is also going to grow up to be in a sexless marriage.. tell her now!

What do you call it when the daycare goes up to age 5 and contains a classroom with the word "Preschool" written on the door?