Childcare decisions

[Deleted]

So, I have a an inexpensive daycare, and while I occasionally get reamed here for leaving my kid at a place with crack house rates, I really like her.  She charges $20/day (raising it to $21 in June ) and over the past three years I've never even contemplated rocking the boat at all by going somewhere else.  Well, DS started preschool two days a week at the Montessori with his brother last Fall and just last week they sent out a flyer saying they're going to have a summer program if they get at least 15 kids to sign up.  It's $110/week, so only $5/week more than I'm paying, but I'd have to provide his lunch.  I don't think there will be Montessori instructors there, but they work with the materials about 4 hours of the day, the rest is free play, lunch, nap and I think a couple field trips.  I'm thinking he would get more out of this than the regular daycare now, but I don't want him burning out on the school at age 4 either.  He's already going to be in pretty much the same classroom for three years as it is.  This year has gone well for us with him going two days a week and to the daycare the rest.  This would have to be 5 days a week.  Plus I'd have to adjust my hours a little at work, but not bad, basically start 30 minutes later. 

I don't know.  Would you choose structured educational program over home daycare for about the same price?  This is really tough for me partly because I have such a good relationship with my daycare lady. 

[Deleted]

I agree that the school program would probably challenge him more.

What I would be worried about is, will he still have a place with his daycare lady in September (if you need it)? 

[alabamagal]

Would he go back to the daycare after the summer? Or are you ready to be done with daycare? If you are ready to be done, then I would go to the summer program, I not I would stick with daycare.

I don't think that the structured pre-school is all that important.   My kids were close in age, and I had in-home care when they were young.  Oldest and youngest didn't go to school until K-5.  Middle kid went to K-4.  I figured they had enough interaction with other kids with siblings.Middle kid struggled way more in elementary school than the others, but they all graduated high school, 1 graduated college and the others are on track to graduate. 

[Happy prose]

Are there other kids at the daycare? I put my daughter in a pre-K school just so she could interact with other kids. It worked out well.

[Lizard Queen]

MM makes a good point about school closings. It seems to happen all the time around here.

I'm sort of in the same boat as far as cheap in-home daycare that I really like. The PS that I'm looking at has a 5 day option, but only goes to 3:18, so its a no-go for me.  I would be afraid of losing the spot, but in your case, you may not need it. Sorry that I'm no help.

[Deleted]

Right now he's signed up for Tuesday/Thursday preschool again this Fall, although I might change that to MWF and get him the extra day.  Daycare would be the same as this year, she takes him on all non-school days including snow days etc.  She (currently) has his spot held as a 5 day a week kid even though he's only there 3.  

Sometimes I want to just be done with daycare and put him in 5 day a week preschool, but daycare is way more convenient and flexible.  

[Deleted]

Mar 5, 2014 17:20:26 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Are there other kids at the daycare? I put my daughter in a pre-K school just so she could interact with other kids. It worked out well.

There are.  A couple other 3-4 year olds, two one year olds and an infant.  There's also, the daycare lady's 7 year old son who will be around all summer, and they get along really well, but not sure how many other school age kids will show up.  He kind of gets left out when there are more older ones.

[Happy prose]

I would leave him in daycare then until he's old enough for school.

[econstudent]

Mar 5, 2014 17:06:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I don't know.  Would you choose structured educational program over home daycare for about the same price?  This is really tough for me partly because I have such a good relationship with my daycare lady. 

I wouldn't. Four year olds should be learning through play, IMO. I don't see any reason to start formal schooling at that age. If you are happy with your daycare situation, I'd just stick with that. 

[giramomma]

We love our in home day care provider. So far 2/3rd of my kids get bored with her when they hit 3. My oldest behavior actually tanked because of being bored in her care at 3. Her strength is working with really young kids. We are going to be transitioning the littlest out of her care next school year, when the littlest is 2.5.

My middle child did 4K. Both 4K and kindy are play based. I think the longest the kids sit and do any one activity is for about 20-25 minutes.
Yes there is some structure, and all of my kids need some sort of structure and routine. We just don't fare as well without it (actually myself included.) The kids also have gym twice a week, recess three times a day to help get the wiggles out.

In fact, my oldest had a super hard time transitioning from kindy to first grade, because first grade was not as play based as kindy..

So, yes, for MY kids and given MY daycare provider, I would do choose the all day preschool option.

[Deleted]

If she is saving your spot, then I would try the edu-care program for the summer.

[whoisjohngalt]

Mar 5, 2014 17:06:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, I have a an inexpensive daycare, and while I occasionally get reamed here for leaving my kid at a place with crack house rates, I really like her.  She charges $20/day (raising it to $21 in June ) and over the past three years I've never even contemplated rocking the boat at all by going somewhere else.  Well, DS started preschool two days a week at the Montessori with his brother last Fall and just last week they sent out a flyer saying they're going to have a summer program if they get at least 15 kids to sign up.  It's $110/week, so only $5/week more than I'm paying, but I'd have to provide his lunch.  I don't think there will be Montessori instructors there, but they work with the materials about 4 hours of the day, the rest is free play, lunch, nap and I think a couple field trips.  I'm thinking he would get more out of this than the regular daycare now, but I don't want him burning out on the school at age 4 either.  He's already going to be in pretty much the same classroom for three years as it is.  This year has gone well for us with him going two days a week and to the daycare the rest.  This would have to be 5 days a week.  Plus I'd have to adjust my hours a little at work, but not bad, basically start 30 minutes later. 

I don't know.  Would you choose structured educational program over home daycare for about the same price?  This is really tough for me partly because I have such a good relationship with my daycare lady. 

I wouldn't choose ANYTHING structured at that age, but I am the wrong person to ask.

[ginpin]

This is based purely on my experience, but...    
We love our daycare lady.  My now-20 year old son started with her at 18 months.  My 14 year old daughter started with her at 3 months.  My daycare lady was PRICELESS, especially when I got divorced and had to move and all that nonsense.  She was my kids' second mom, and she treated them like her own.  Hell, my daughter still occasionally goes over and visits on school holidays.  And my son will go say hi once in a while, when he is on holiday from the AF. 

I only say this because if you quit DC now, you might not find someone better.  My family really lucked out with our DCP. 

[Deleted]

I would go with whatever makes your life easier.....he's 4 - whether he has structured or unstructured time is really irrelevant (assuming that neither place would let him just run around aimlessly and not follow any rules, etc). 

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 0:28:00 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Mar 5, 2014 17:06:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

So, I have a an inexpensive daycare, and while I occasionally get reamed here for leaving my kid at a place with crack house rates, I really like her.  She charges $20/day (raising it to $21 in June ) and over the past three years I've never even contemplated rocking the boat at all by going somewhere else.  Well, DS started preschool two days a week at the Montessori with his brother last Fall and just last week they sent out a flyer saying they're going to have a summer program if they get at least 15 kids to sign up.  It's $110/week, so only $5/week more than I'm paying, but I'd have to provide his lunch.  I don't think there will be Montessori instructors there, but they work with the materials about 4 hours of the day, the rest is free play, lunch, nap and I think a couple field trips.  I'm thinking he would get more out of this than the regular daycare now, but I don't want him burning out on the school at age 4 either.  He's already going to be in pretty much the same classroom for three years as it is.  This year has gone well for us with him going two days a week and to the daycare the rest.  This would have to be 5 days a week.  Plus I'd have to adjust my hours a little at work, but not bad, basically start 30 minutes later. 

I don't know.  Would you choose structured educational program over home daycare for about the same price?  This is really tough for me partly because I have such a good relationship with my daycare lady. 

I wouldn't choose ANYTHING structured at that age, but I am the wrong person to ask.

Structured may have been the wrong word.  This is a Montessori school which is pretty true to the original Maria Montessori teaching methods, especially for the Children's House and Kindy kids.  Because it's a public charter, the upper levels are required to do the standardized testing to get state funding, but that's the only testing/grading that is done. 

And their PE teacher is a little weird about somersaults...

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 8:32:48 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

I would go with whatever makes your life easier.....he's 4 - whether he has structured or unstructured time is really irrelevant (assuming that neither place would let him just run around aimlessly and not follow any rules, etc). 

That would be daycare.  If only because I wouldn't have to pack his lunch and he can be there 30 minutes earlier.

I'm just worried he'll be bored.  Most there are 18 months and younger now and she has to cater to them.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 8:29:20 GMT -5 ginpin said:

This is based purely on my experience, but...    
We love our daycare lady.  My now-20 year old son started with her at 18 months.  My 14 year old daughter started with her at 3 months.  My daycare lady was PRICELESS, especially when I got divorced and had to move and all that nonsense.  She was my kids' second mom, and she treated them like her own.  Hell, my daughter still occasionally goes over and visits on school holidays.  And my son will go say hi once in a while, when he is on holiday from the AF. 

I only say this because if you quit DC now, you might not find someone better.  My family really lucked out with our DCP. 

This is our relationship as well.  He's been with her since he was 3 months old and spends more waking time with her than me, so I'm really glad she genuinely cares so much about him.  Plus her son is like a brother to him.  They're very good friends even though he's several years older.  Plus, I know she needs the money.

I do think I'd have a spot back in the Fall if I did the summer program though.  She has kind of a high turnover rate with deadbeat parents that don't pay and it's not like he's an infant.   

[Firebird]

Would you choose structured educational program over home daycare for about the same price?

It depends on a lot of things.  I like for Babybird to have a variety of care environments - as I've stated before, she has her personal nanny grandma three days a week, a babysitter (with one additional kid her age whom she has apparently been kissing ) and a structured daycare one day a week.

I'd like to put her in a Montessori program after we move - I was surprised by how affordable they were.  But there's no rush. 

But anyway, with a baby or young toddler I'd say it's probably a wash - with an older toddler / young but still pre-kindergarten kid, I'd more than likely go with the educational program personally.  All other things being equal.

Can you go with some sort of half-and-half arrangement like we do?

[Deleted]

can the daycare get some preschool curriculum stuff to do with him?

[giramomma]

Mar 6, 2014 8:39:11 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm just worried he'll be bored.  Most there are 18 months and younger now and she has to cater to them.

How does your son react to boredom? Can you do enough with him on nights/weekends that would stimulate him the rest of the time?

Because he's older, will he be expected to help out with the little ones, fetching diapers, and what not? How does he like that?

Do the other 3-4 year old kids attend full time, or are they part time? I'd be concerned about how many kids your provider is taking on. What's her cap on kids, especially if she's got at least 7 over the summer?

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 8:48:26 GMT -5 Firebird said:

Can you go with some sort of half-and-half arrangement like we do?

Nope.  That's the part that sucks.  It's all or nothing.  They want to make sure they have the minimum 15 kids they need all summer in order to make it work for them financially to offer it, so there is no part-time or daily rate.  Now you can pay the weekly and not go everyday, but that would be a poor decision on my part because I couldn't afford to pay both.  

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 8:57:04 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

can the daycare get some preschool curriculum stuff to do with him?

She's pretty broke.  She does a lot of art projects with them and they read everyday, but her house is very, very small so not a lot of room for much.  Most of their reading and spelling learning is done with all the magnetic letters on the fridge.

I have to remember the summer will be different.  This winter has been awful. Except for a couple days, the kids have been cooped up inside in her small house every day since November.  In the summer they're outside in her big back yard and she takes them for walks and to the park a lot.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 9:12:18 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Mar 6, 2014 8:57:04 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

can the daycare get some preschool curriculum stuff to do with him?

She's pretty broke.  She does a lot of art projects with them and they read everyday, but her house is very, very small so not a lot of room for much.  Most of their reading and spelling learning is done with all the magnetic letters on the fridge.

I have to remember the summer will be different.  This winter has been awful. Except for a couple days, the kids have been cooped up inside in her small house every day since November.  In the summer they're outside in her big back yard and she takes them for walks and to the park a lot.

then what about if you pay for it?

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 8:58:06 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Mar 6, 2014 8:39:11 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm just worried he'll be bored.  Most there are 18 months and younger now and she has to cater to them.

How does your son react to boredom? Can you do enough with him on nights/weekends that would stimulate him the rest of the time?

Because he's older, will he be expected to help out with the little ones, fetching diapers, and what not? How does he like that?

Do the other 3-4 year old kids attend full time, or are they part time? I'd be concerned about how many kids your provider is taking on. What's her cap on kids, especially if she's got at least 7 over the summer?

According the childcare site, she's licensed for 12, but I don't know what the age limits are.  I'm pretty sure only one infant because when her daughter was born last year one of the daycare kids had to go somewhere else for a couple months until he turned one.  I think the other kids have odd hours/days because they're not always there when I pick my son up.  Actually, there's probably 5 others in the 2-4 range, but usually just 1-2 of them there on any given day.

He does help out with the younger kids a little bit.  I'm not sure how much, but I don't think he minds. 

[midjd]

DD goes to a Montessori preschool/daycare (although at 3.5mos she doesn't get a ton out of the educational part ) and I absolutely love it. I follow them on Facebook and every day the older kids (4+) are doing all sorts of fun projects. The other day they built working Lego robots. Makes me wish I could go back in time and go to a Montessori preschool myself...

I do think that a 3yo probably isn't going to do as well in a super-structured environment as he would by learning through play, but from what I've seen of the Montessori system, there is plenty of play too, especially for the younger kids. They seem to do one or two "big" projects a day (maybe a couple of hours?) and the rest of the time is free play, reading, etc.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2014 9:32:02 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

Mar 6, 2014 9:12:18 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

She's pretty broke.  She does a lot of art projects with them and they read everyday, but her house is very, very small so not a lot of room for much.  Most of their reading and spelling learning is done with all the magnetic letters on the fridge.

I have to remember the summer will be different.  This winter has been awful. Except for a couple days, the kids have been cooped up inside in her small house every day since November.  In the summer they're outside in her big back yard and she takes them for walks and to the park a lot.

then what about if you pay for it?

Yeah, I'm probably more broke.  LOL

But, I could probably donate some stuff.  I should ask her what she would like to have.

[sheilaincali]

DS did in home daycare until just after his 5th birthday. He really enjoyed it and our DCP (Diane) was awesome. There were 5 kids there full time. DS and two girls his same age and two younger boys.  She was very active and they were out and about going to story time at the library and to the program at the nature center every week.

HOWEVER, when he was 4 he started doing pre-school 3 days a week too.  After preschool (went until 11am) and on the other days he went to Diane's house.  We found that he loved the structure and the learning associated with preschool.  Right after his 5th birthday Diane got a job at the hospital- it was perfect timing.  Right before summer, DS and A would be off to Kindergarten in the fall.  M and her little brother were switching to a daycare in their town (10 minutes away) and the other little boy's family was moving across the state. 

We enrolled DS in a program similar to what you are describing.  Preschool in the am, lunch and then free play in the afternoons.  Regular field trips too.  He thrived like nothing I'd ever seen before.  He absolutely loved it.  He was only there about 4 or 5 months before all day kindergarten started.  I honestly think that those few months really prepared him for kindergarten.  Having structure, lunch on site, the playground and recess, etc. made it so Kindergarten wasn't a huge transition for him.

Hard decision you are faced with.  Personally (with my kid) I'd go for the structured program but that's just me.  To this day, as a sophomore in HS, he loves learning and structure. 

[whoisjohngalt]

MPL, I actually REALLY like Montessori idea,  I kinda wish my kids went there.

And I think the world is coming to an end bc I somewhat agree with SinglemominMD - I think at this age it doesn't really matter.  Except!!  I wouldn't want to have *my* kids in any kind of "real school" structured setting. 

But Montessori is awesome, if done right.

[Lizard Queen]

If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for daycare over the summer and 3 day/week preschool in the fall. Revisit the summer option the summer before kindergarten. JMO

[Deleted]

March 19th is the deadline for applying for the summer program.  They want to make sure they fill the 15 spots, but will only take 20.  If I procrastinate long enough, my decision could be made for me.