Trying to decide on a daycare/school.

[matildasun]

I need to find full day care for M starting in the middle of August. We are really lucky and there are two places that can guarantee us a spot starting the week we need. The cost difference is negligible, although one offers lunch and the other doesn't. I am leaning towards one of them, but am curious which one you would pick and why. I also need to type it out to get a handle on what I think.

I have to be at work by 8:05 and can leave at 3:30. In the past I have gotten to school right on time, and left by 5, after chatting and catching up on paperwork. My school is less than 2 miles from my house, and M and I will bike commute much of the time.

M enjoys school while he is there, but is very reluctant to leave me. It is going to be a hard transition, even though he goes to school part time now.
Choice 1-
Corporate Daycare Center 
Newborn to 5
Open fron 6:30 to 6:30
Halfway between my house and my school.
Bring a lunch
Small classes (<10 students)
Small building. The kids are in one smallish room all day.
Walk to the park 2xs a day, weather permitting
homogeneous age group
Open year round with no breaks.
Teacher directed activities and free play
One class of three year olds

Choice 2
Private Montessori school
18 months to 5 years
Open 7:30- 6
.06 of a mile (half a block) away from my school
Provides hot lunch
Large class (18 kids- 1 teacher, 2 aides in a large classroom
Large building with various rooms for the children to do different activities in.
Playground on campus which they visit 2xs a day, plus indoor playground for rainy days.
heterogeneous age group
Montessori work sessions
Closed 2 weeks of the year that coincide with my vacation
Three multi-aged classrooms

I am not sure what else I am not thinking about. 

[arch01]

Hm. My take is that between the two choices, this is going to be really kid dependent.

I'm not in love with everything in Choice 1-the small building/smallish room all day makes me pause. DS' center doesn't have a lot of extras, but they do have a science room and an indoor gym if the weather is poor and they can't go outside to play. DS definitely does better in a room that is structured. His personality is one of a planner-he likes to know what they're going to do that day and I can totally see him being a list maker like I am as he grows. While he would do OK with multi-aged classrooms, he really thrives when he's the youngest in the class.

I guess, overall, I'd go with Choice 1.

[Deleted]

I would pick the smaller class.

[lauralala]

I know this is really kid specific, and a lot of people love Montessori, but the smaller class size and ability to take him to school when you are off would sway me toward #1. I also like that it has longer hours in case you need them, like if you needed to get to school early one day for something.

Making lunch is not a big deal to me - when I send lunch I know that DS will eat it all, as opposed to school food which he has always just picked at.


ETA: Also, DS's school does not have an indoor playground, but they find way for them to get active when they are stuck inside due to weather. They push things around and make room for musical chairs, obstacle courses, etc. A couple of days ago when I came in they were just dancing around to music to get some activity. So though an indoor playground would be nice, not having one doesn't mean that they just sit still all day if they can't go out. 

[Deleted]

My random thoughts:
I think this is kid dependent and gut feeling dependent. I don't think Montessori is the best choice for all kids, bit. An be fantastic for the right ones. But, I do like the idea of several different large rooms.

Lunch being provided is not something I personally care about because my kids have food allergies so I always have to provide their food anyways in order to account for that.

Did choice 1 feel small and restrictive, or did it feel warm and loving? Because if it felt warm and loving I think I might be inclined to go that route for a kid that will have a difficult transition and likely benefit from that type of environment over the more free direction of the Montessori.

[melmel48]

I think I would chose option 2

[matildasun]

Apr 23, 2015 9:40:04 GMT -5 @mrsbecky said:

Also, will dropping him off at 730 (and all that entails) give you enough time to get to school? I can drop Will off in 5 minutes but you mentioned that M is clingy so I'm not sure if it takes you longer?

Currently it takes me about 10 minutes to leave him. I talked to the director about how they handle clingy kids, and she seemed to have some good strategies, as long as we dropped him off before 8:30 when the classes start. Today it took me <three minutes to get from the door of the Montessori to my school, so I think it should give me enough time although traffic is a little busier in the morning, due to the athletic clothing company. 

[matildasun]

Apr 23, 2015 9:47:17 GMT -5 @awinter said:

Did choice 1 feel small and restrictive, or did it feel warm and loving? Because if it felt warm and loving I think I might be inclined to go that route for a kid that will have a difficult transition and likely benefit from that type of environment over the more free direction of the Montessori.

It is brand new, so there were not any children there when I went to visit. I am going to try to stop by again, but they are not starting the threes until June, so although the room was warm and inviting I didn't see the staff other than the director.

[Deleted]

What does your gut say?

Go with your gut.

They're both good options. If you have a feeling, respect it and go with that option. Or ask your kid what he thinks.

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2015 9:54:48 GMT -5 matildasun said:

Apr 23, 2015 9:47:17 GMT -5 @awinter said:

Did choice 1 feel small and restrictive, or did it feel warm and loving? Because if it felt warm and loving I think I might be inclined to go that route for a kid that will have a difficult transition and likely benefit from that type of environment over the more free direction of the Montessori.

It is brand new, so there were not any children there when I went to visit. I am going to try to stop by again, but they are not starting the threes until June, so although the room was warm and inviting I didn't see the staff other than the director.

Hmm, that throws a wrench in it lol. I'd try to stop by and see if you can meet some of the teachers and at least visit another classroom to get an idea of how it runs.

[ECB]

The small class size is great for #1, but the small room/ being in that one room all day bugs me.  That's why I like #2, I think.  Plus having the playground right there AND an indoor playspace for bad weather. 

[redheadk]

I would personally choose Choice 2.

[Redpoppy]

I'd want to know what "weather permitting" means. We purposely chose the YMCA because it has space and devoted rooms for indoor running around. The kids didn't go outside due to weather for most of January-March this year, partly temperature by more because of the multiple feet of snow that wouldn't melt (and 10+ foot piles from plowing the lots). I wanted him to be able to be active and not stuck in a small room all winter which was how his infant center was.

[matildasun]

Thanks everyone. @tokenhoser, my gut is neutral on this one.
That being said, I think we are going with 2. I like the idea of having him so close to where I will be.