Get an au pair and pay for preschool. That is what we have/had. Our kids are in the top private schools and the choice of preschool was very important. If you don’t want/can’t afford private school, then as long as your kid is in some sort of structured class (coop, playgroup, church preschool, etc) it’s fine.

I send my child to a fantastic daycare that also has a preschool program. I pay $1600 a month. We also decided to have only one child.

No preschool until 4. Its plenty if the nanny is doing enrichment.

Anonymous wrote:That is crazy op where are you looking? Part time preschools in Arlington ranged from 300-700 a month

This is accurate from my experience. 4 days a week at 4 hrs each costs $550 per month at a sweet church preschool (Westover Baptist)

Talk with your nanny about managing two kids with different needs and her comfort level. You don't have to send the older one to preschool unless you have your own reasons for thinking it will benefit them and / or improve the experiences of and care given to each child. If that's the case, you might have to re-arrange your budget. The price you're quoting is the average I've seen for FT in Bethesda/SS. A lot of ppl here suggesting part time programs or coops. Keep in mind that depending on your and your spouse's work schedule and the nanny's schedule with the younger child, part time or coop can be MORE disruptive to everyone's routine and difficult. Coops don't offer much to full time working parents and only you know the cost of your time.

Anonymous wrote:PT is almost the same price at FT because they are holding the spot for you. You really don't save much money this way.

Only if you are going the daycare route

A 2-mornings a week program doesn’t cost as much as full time daycare

OP , look at church preschools, we aren’t religious by any stretch of the imagination and we sent out DC to a church based preschool, prices vary from low 300s to low 700s for part time preschool (they have programs that range from 2 days a week to 5 times a week)

This is why people send their kids to daycare.

I meant

"Get a family daycare with a preschool teacher until 4 years old. 1 year pre k is enough. Children learn fast. Find good and caring caregivers

Don't go to religious daycares. They are not licensed, doesn't get inspections and they don't pay taxes

Get a family daycare with a preschool teacher until 4 years old. 1 year pre k is enough. Children learn fast. Find God and caring caregivers

Many family daycares are preschool 5 days a week all day. Most providers are preschool teachers

I would do a deep dive researching top-quality enrichment the nanny can do with your child—ideally with the same peer group for months. Smithsonian Early Explorers has a two morning program that’s incredible under 36 months. What about Washington Waldorf?

I would pay the extra $15k for an exceptional school like NCRC or SJP but otherwise delay.

I’d have them stay home and pay nanny a little more for tutoring.

If you're in Bethesda, look at Norwood Park co-op, which is about $7K a year, or wait a year and do the Little Barons at BCC which is about $700 a year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Paying for preschool is much, much easier than paying for college, travel sports, summer programs, tutoring, car insurance, (fill in the blank) once you have two or more in the teen years.

Just learn to budget lean. Housing, food, clothing, anything that you and your partner enjoy…is now on the bottom of the priority ladder. Learn now for preschool and your life will be much easier when they get older.

I'm so sick of older moms coming on to crap on younger parents. In 18 years when the kid is in college, OP will be likely making more money too.

+1

My kids are in middle and elementary, and this attitude is so obnoxious. Travel sports, summer programs, tutoring, etc., are largely optional. Childcare for young kids? Not optional.

One parent can always stay home depending on their income. We had to make that choice.

Oh, FFS. No, not everyone has that choice, PP. It’s great that you did, but stop assuming it’s an option for all of us.