prek4 decision

[jennistarr1]

Help me make this decision

We can keep our daughter at her current child care center or switch her to where our older daughter goes to elementary school

When we were making this decision for our older daughter, the price difference was more negligible. But, because elementary school does sibling discounts, the difference is over 6000$. 

Current daycare they play outside every day a good amount of the day (huge area that is naturescaped so play structures built into landscape), follows a curriculum, but is also largely play based. It's affiliated with my work (a college) so there is a main teacher and several college students so lots of help

Prek4 at elementary school is more like school with subjects, they go outside twice in the day but only for like 15 minutes and it's just an empty courtyard. There's a main teacher and one helper. Talking to other moms, there are mixed opinions ranging from "it didn't work for my son--behavior management--too many worksheets" to "it's fine--I think they do a good job". Not sure anyone raves about it, many will say that one of the main teachers is really good and the other one is not so great

Elementary school is close to home so we'll have one pick up and drop off. Current daycare is close to my work so right now my husband does dropoff/pickup for older daughter and do it for younger daughter.

We can afford the difference (I mean we've been paying it up until now). There are times where we would have to pay for aftercare if we switch to the elementary school so that would eat into the difference a little bit

My husband's perspective--it's preschool, it's not required, it's all just childcare while we work, it's not going to make or break her development, the price difference is substanial enough that the choice is easy for him

My perspective--they're only little so long, we know and trust where we are at and I like that she's playing all day and learning a long the way

One other point to consider--I can work from home 2 days a week most weeks...so currently I take her to daycare (near work) and then return home which is about 15 minutes each way. Again I've been doing it up until now and it's fine but if I switch her to elementary school (near home), it alleviates that

[waverly]

We had that same decision and decided to switch DD from daycare to pre-K at the same school where DS was currently attending. There was only one drop off and pick up. School was closer but harder because it was more crowded that the daycare for drop off and pick up. 

We also moved from more play based with younger teachers to more preschool with older teachers. The older teachers were a plus, but yes they did spend less time outside. I wouldn't say it was worksheet based at all though.

Overall sounds like our preschool had slightly higher ratings. We did really enjoy the extra money though because honestly not sure how we afforded 2 in daycare all of those years.  And we enjoyed the less driving.  

ETA- I don't think the daycare was amazing and I don't think the preschool was amazing.  I think they were both good enough, but both had different vibes/ atmosphere. 

[Susie]

Oof, that's a hard choice.  I would really really prefer to stay where you are, it is much more my preferred childcare vibe.  But the combination of $6k/year and logistics when you WFH are a compelling combination.  

Personality wise, how do you think your DD would fare at the elementary school, given the feedback you've gotten?  Some kids' personalities and energy levels I would say... run away from a place that's focused on academics, worksheets, time indoors, etc.  Other kids might do just fine.  I have a DS in pre-k 4 right now and I don't think he'd do so well with the elementary vibe, but my DD probably would have been fine with it.  Part of that is that my DS is used to the more outdoor preschool and pre-k experience, whereas my DD did her preschool and pre-k at a place that was laser focused on literacy, and outdoor play was very secondary.

ETA:  also, if you made the move to the elementary school for the cost and ease (which again, would be a valid decision), could you balance that by adding some after school activities or something that would be more outdoor based and active?  This might be a good compromise.

[lessel]

Totally ditto Susie. I think it might be a call to make based on the kid's personality.

The empty courtyard sounds sad for littles. 😕

[noodleoo]

Ooh this is a tough one. I think you know she will be fine either way, so I'd make the decision based on what is easier for you. Which sounds like it would probably be moving her to the elementary school.

I'd also base it on your daughter's personality and what she'd prefer. My DD2 is a super senior at her daycare (5 year old with an Oct bday, she missed the cutoff for K this year) and she is DYING to go to elementary school. She's more than ready and she wants to be where her sister is. She's already aging out academically of the daycare (she's reading and gets bored of the "baby" projects they do, her words LOL).  So going to a more academic vs. play based setting would be fine for her.  She's a mature kid tho.  I know other kids where the transition would be harder, so if she's one of those or loves her daycare or has great friends, etc, I'd weight that vs. the convenience and cost savings.

But I think you have pretty compelling reasons to move her and if she doesn't care, I'd do what is easier for the family as a whole.

[luckystar2]

You said you only need after care occasionally with doing elementary pre-k? Pre-k is a full day of school most of the time? That seems like a lot if it is structured and very school based.

I guess we could have done school pre-k for dd but I never considered it. Even a full day is just 6 hours now (I think was only half day when my kid was little). That wouldn’t have been enough time to cover us for work. Once dd was in school we had to do an aftercare program all through elementary. So just sticking with daycare was easier.

I agree with others to think about what your kid may want/do well with. My dd had a group of friends in daycare that she’d been with since the baby room. They were bffs and she would have been devastated if we’d taken her out early. The transition to K was hard enough. But we lucked out and her pre-k teacher was the best. She was a fully certified teacher who was just waiting to get a job and right when dd moved to K, she ended up becoming a K teacher in a local district. So I felt fully confident she was getting great pre-k education there as well as the social aspect.

[rhian]

I agree that I'd base it off of your kid's personality, and whether they thrive on stuff like outdoor free play or like a lot of structure and enjoy indoor projects/activities.

I don't think an empty courtyard is inherently bad; I could see it being really fun for kids if the teachers bring out balls/other outdoor toys, or plan fun games for them. Is there a way you could find out what outdoor time looks like?

[pandorica]

When I started reading I was going to suggest switching. DD is in PreK and LOVES it and is thriving. However, the more I read the more I'm leaving towards staying at the current center. Being outside and being a kid is important to me + the not super rave reviews about the PreK...

$6k is a lot of money for us with three little kids so that would be a huge factor for me. However if it was only for one kid and we could swing it, I'd really be tempted to keep everything as is.

We have sent kids to daycare even if we WFH, which required a 10+ minute drive each way. Not ideal but also not a really big deal.

[janegold]

We had/have similar choices with my kids' preschool/pre-k and chose the private preschool. Keeping them in a play-based curriculum with extensive outdoor time was the biggest factor in our decision.

[lo]

I would 100% stay where you are. I work in an elementary school with a preK 4 class and while I love the teacher and he’s amazing, it’s basically run like a K classroom with little play time and 20 mins max outside.

[UMaineTeach]

I would stay where you are. It’s going to give her an extra year of being a child.

I know that my H would only see the money saved and never agree with me.

[pittpurple]

Personally that isn't nearly enough time outside for me and it would be a hard no if I could swing it. But it depends a lot on the rest of your lives too - are there other opportunities for lots of outside time? What other activities does she do? Etc. But I always priorities outside and one of my favourite things about our school is that they do loads of outdoor learning.

[joy]

I would stay with her daycare.

Worksheets? Two times outside? Hard pass.

[Jalapeñomel]

PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY

[cmeon]

Preschool isn't *just* child care- he's really wrong. She's learning there because that's how that age learns- through play. I have teens now, but we definitely never spent a moment regretting the money we poured into their preschool years (they even stayed for K).

[hermione]

I would not move her.

[wanderingback]

Feb 2, 2024 6:41:21 GMT -5 joy said:

I would stay with her daycare.

Worksheets? Two times outside? Hard pass.

I generally agree but is 2 times outside really that bad??
That’s what our daycare does and I thought that was pretty good. Or maybe cause I live in a city it’s different? Most other suburb or rural places go outside more often I guess?
There are outside based daycares and preschools here where they’re outside alllllll day but I don’t think that’s necessary haha.

[wanderingback]

To answer the OP I’m really looking forward to not paying $3100 a month for daycare so was planning to put our duaghter in 3k. But there are TONS of options here and I’ve heard they’re all play based. Even though based on my daughters personality now I think she’d be ok with more structure and worksheets that seems really unnecessary and I think play based is better for as long as possible. So If that were my only option I’d stick with daycare.

[waverly]

I will say that DD's bestie was a year ahead, so socially we had no issue moving her since the friend was moving to K anyway. DD is very adaptable so she had no issues with the switch, and she liked being at DS's school. The only con that she brings up is that she had a different graduation ceremony LOL.

I don't think going outside 2 times a day is not that much. I will say that the daycare did more, but it was a longer day. Preschool ran until lets say 3:30 or 4, and then they were walked to aftercare where they went outside additional times. So PreK was 2 times a day, but aftercare was 1-2 times a day, for a total of 3-4 times per day.

Would your DD go to aftercare after pre-K?

[rhian]

Feb 2, 2024 11:28:56 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Feb 2, 2024 6:41:21 GMT -5 joy said:

I would stay with her daycare.

Worksheets? Two times outside? Hard pass.

I generally agree but is 2 times outside really that bad??
That’s what our daycare does and I thought that was pretty good. Or maybe cause I live in a city it’s different? Most other suburb or rural places go outside more often I guess?
There are outside based daycares and preschools here where they’re outside alllllll day but I don’t think that’s necessary haha.

Yeah I agree! Our daycare takes kids out twice a day and that seems like enough to me? But we're also in a city. Honestly given other constraints in their schedule (AM & PM snack, lunch, nap), I'm not sure how they'd manage to get out more than twice even in another setting. They do stay out longer than the preK program described though (I think about 30-60 mins each time depending on the weather).

[joy]

Feb 2, 2024 11:28:56 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Feb 2, 2024 6:41:21 GMT -5 joy said:

I would stay with her daycare.

Worksheets? Two times outside? Hard pass.

I generally agree but is 2 times outside really that bad??
That’s what our daycare does and I thought that was pretty good. Or maybe cause I live in a city it’s different? Most other suburb or rural places go outside more often I guess?
There are outside based daycares and preschools here where they’re outside alllllll day but I don’t think that’s necessary haha.

It’s the 2x for 15 minutes each that I don’t like.

My daughter also went to daycare in center city Philly. They had those kids outside in the morning, afternoon, and from 4pm onward until pick up. They had a courtyard full of bikes, balls, jump ropes, etc. Plenty of room to run and a garden in the middle that they planted vegetables.

[rhian]

Feb 2, 2024 15:10:59 GMT -5 joy said:

Feb 2, 2024 11:28:56 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I generally agree but is 2 times outside really that bad??
That’s what our daycare does and I thought that was pretty good. Or maybe cause I live in a city it’s different? Most other suburb or rural places go outside more often I guess?
There are outside based daycares and preschools here where they’re outside alllllll day but I don’t think that’s necessary haha.

It’s the 2x for 15 minutes each that I don’t like.

My daughter also went to daycare in center city Philly. They had those kids outside in the morning, afternoon, and from 4pm onward until pick up. They had a courtyard full of bikes, balls, jump ropes, etc. Plenty of room to run and a garden in the middle that they planted vegetables.

I agree that 15 mins seems very short!

[gretchenindisguise]

I also wonder if pre-k follows the school schedule and any price savings are going to be eaten up by camps to fill in school breaks/summer.

I would keep her in the daycare. Play is learning.

[freshsqueezed]

I wouldn’t move her.

[tiki]

Feb 5, 2024 0:26:31 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I also wonder if pre-k follows the school schedule and any price savings are going to be eaten up by camps to fill in school breaks/summer.

I would keep her in the daycare. Play is learning.

This was my reaction as well. We had daycare coverage right up until the day before kindergarten orientation. Families who switched to public pre-K had to find other care, and many summer camps didn't take 4-year olds (which our kid was for most of that summer). 8-10 weeks of summer camp would definitely cost close to $6k in our area. 

[jennistarr1]

Feb 5, 2024 8:46:15 GMT -5 tiki said:

Feb 5, 2024 0:26:31 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I also wonder if pre-k follows the school schedule and any price savings are going to be eaten up by camps to fill in school breaks/summer.

I would keep her in the daycare. Play is learning.

This was my reaction as well. We had daycare coverage right up until the day before kindergarten orientation. Families who switched to public pre-K had to find other care, and many summer camps didn't take 4-year olds (which our kid was for most of that summer). 8-10 weeks of summer camp would definitely cost close to $6k in our area. 

This summer, she can attend summer at the daycare and you just pay for the weeks you attend regardless of what we do in fall...but if we switch then then next summer will be camp. It's harder to find camp for 4 years old so that will be hard in itself and I'm assuming what we do find will be about 150$ more per week. So yes, that does eat into it...so does after care

[majesty318]

We have been trying to decide for Pre-K3 for my son in September. I love our daycare so much. Pre-K3 is public and full day but not at the same school he will go to once he starts K. But full day meaning 8-2 or thereabouts so we would still have to pay for before and aftercare plus summer. Everyone who I have asked only has good things to say about the public but I think we finally decided to leave him where he is: the convenience of the hours, not having to do before + after + summer all separate, the small teacher/student ratio. Literally the only reason against keeping him was paying tuition but he is our only child so I think we will just suck it up for another 2 school years.