I would keep her in the place that best suits you for as long as possible. If you save lots of money or it's more convenient to roll with where you are, start them both at the new place after your leave. If new place would be better, move before baby comes.
I think I'd switch her before the baby arrives so it's not so many transitions at once. You can also play up her helping the baby transition into daycare/being an experienced big sister when the time comes for baby to go.
Post by countthestars on Mar 5, 2015 14:43:28 GMT -5
I think I would have J stay at her current DCP until they both switch or move her sooner rather than later (i.e. not right around when the baby is coming to avoid multiple "life disruptions). This would of course depend on openings at the center and when they could take her and/or baby.
I would switch her sooner than later. I'd rather have her in the groove of the new center before the baby arrives than deal with 2 big transitions at once.
I would switch her sooner than later. I'd rather have her in the groove of the new center before the baby arrives than deal with 2 big transitions at once.
I was thinking this too. I don't know how J does with transitions but M isn't great at them. I would want to give him plenty of time to adjust before the baby comes.
I'd probably start her at a new place when she turns three so it can be a "now you're three so you're going to school" kind of change that happens with seemingly no connection to the new baby.
I would do a center with a preschool curriculum by 2.5.
I know this is unpopular here but I feel comfortable with the curriculum developed by my in home dcp. She had agreed (prior to my pregnancy) to take DD to a 2.5 hour twice weekly formal preschool program to supplement.
But I knew this would come up lol. DD very much thrives in her current situation so it is hard for me to want to change just because it isn't a formal center. I know that is not the majority thought
I don't think that sentiment is unpopular here. "Waiting" to start curriculum at 3 is still way better than the reccomended age of 4, and that's only really "reccomended" for families in lower socioeconomic classes than the majority of MMM posters. They're going to be in school for friggen ever. Let's all dial it back a notch until they know how to wipe their ass IMO.
My husband is still shocked I want to send her to preschool AT ALL. lol. He didn't go.
I don't feel good about them being separated though. Too much of a pain for me. I do think dcp is considering changing to only taking the kids of teachers.
We only do preschool because dcp can do pick up/drop off. Well... she makes her 11 year old do it.
Oh and I would avoid two places at the same time at all costs.
Also paying for 3 days/week from July until when you need daycare is a LONG time. What if she changes her mind in the fall or spring? What if something happens to her? Then you're out a lot of money that you paid to secure your spot.
Post by DarcyLongfellow on Mar 5, 2015 16:38:58 GMT -5
If you do switch her, I'd do it well before the baby comes. You don't want her to see any connection between her changing schools and the baby coming. Plus, minimizing the number of life changes that happen simultaneously seems like a good idea.
My DD is very shy and takes a long time to warm up during transitions, so in her case, I wanted her to have as many transitions as possible done and very well established before the baby gets here. She's still going to end up with one room transition sometime around the baby's birth, but her teachers are well aware of the situation and are already prepping her for it months in advance since they know there'll be a lot going on at home, too.
I wouldn't want to deal with splitting the kids up just because that sounds like a PITA, but as far as when to change, if your daughter generally does well with transitions, I'd probably just go for whatever is easiest for you. She'll adjust regardless of when you do it, and you can spin it as "now you're 3, so you go to school" or whatever that's not related to the baby.
We had a somewhat similar situation here. DS1 was with an in-home provider who we loved. He was there full time for a year, and then went down to part-time when I was on my year long mat leave with DS2. However, when I had DS2, DCP couldn't guarantee a spot for him. I got a call about DS1 getting a part-time spot in a daycare centre (he'd been on the waitlist for 2 years; I had actually forgotten about it!). I knew that once we got DS1 in, it would be easy peasy to get DS2 in. So, it was heartbreaking but we switched DS1. He was able to get in full time exactly when we needed him, and DS2 started two weeks after I went back to work (so, I had to find alternate care those 2 weeks). It was a difficult choice, but I'm very glad that we went that route. We still had 2 more years of them both in the same centre before DS1 started school. Now that he's in school, it's a pain to have to get them to two different places!
(we're still friendly with former DCP and will be having a playdate with her and her daughter next week)