Daycare vs. Preschool

See also: Daycare vs. Preschool: What's the Difference?

Related Page: What Age to Start Pre-school?

4 parent questions ▼
Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • childcare & preschool options

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    Jun 14, 2024

    Hi, my baby is 5mo old and for now I have a nanny that takes care of her. My plan is for our nanny to work with my kid until she turns 2 yrs old. My question is what are the major differences between all the care options (childcare centers, home daycares, preschools)? Do these all have a minimum age limit to start? Is there a difference in cost too? What helped you decide which care was best for your family and child? I'm a new parent and I haven't done this before so this isn’t so clear to me yet. Any information helps. Thanks so much! 

    Jun 14, 2024

    Bananasbunch.org hosts regular webinars on "Chosing childcare", I found that to be a good initial overview when I was just learning about all the different types https://bananasbunch.org/workshops-for-parents-families/

    Jun 19, 2024

    I think it depends on personality of your baby. Generally, home daycare pays more attention to little one but their activity is limited compared to bigger childcare center.

    I have two cases here: 1. my own son who loves new people and new things. We sent him to homecare from 5 months all the way to 2 years old. But he kept telling me how boring home care is when he was 2 years old, so we switched him to bigger child care center. He loved the new place immediately and did not even cry a single day :). Now he is 4 and started the trend again that he starts saying how boring the pre-school is. 

    2. My friends' daughter, who is shy and stayed at home from birth to 2 years old. They sent her to big childcare center when she was 2. But she never liked it and cried a lot everyday. Eventually after a month or two,  the childcare center ask my friend to withdraw her form the center. They then send her to a small homecare and she has been loving it since then. 

    Homecare generally takes baby from young age like 4, 5 months old all the way to kindergarten age. The cost is the same regardless of the age. 

    Childcare center or preschool takes kids from 18 months or 2 years old to 5. They cost could depend on the age of the kid, but some charge regardless of age.

    Different parents have different priorities when it comes to daycare or preschool, so you should have your own list and decide from them. But on top of all, check all the reviews that you can find from the internet. No review is not the worst, but any negative review worth of investigation. Be careful that Yelp hides old or they call unrelated reviews but you can still see it if  you click the list. I discovered a hidden list of negative reviews on Yelp which helped me to filter out one of the pre-school options for my son. 

    Jun 19, 2024

    Our daughter is 18 months now. We started with a nanny-share at 6 months and both families will be ending with our nanny in July and switching to daycare. Our main reason for switching is that our daughter is getting increasingly social and we figured she'd enjoy time with more kids. Cost-wise, we're saving a few hundred more a month with preschool and we don't have to pay employer taxes which was a big headache. 

    Our nanny takes her to the park every day but it's still great to be with more than one kid for the whole day (there's only one other child in our nanny share). We preferred a preschool because it's organized better, some of them are even registered non-profits. Preschools also ensure that the child is prepared for kindergarten. At-home daycares tend to be cheaper but it's at someone's home as opposed to a formal school setting. The at-home day cares we visited also seemed pretty crammed and some did not have a policy against screen time. That was our main reason for enrolling her in a preschool. Every parent needs to make their own decisions though and decide what's important to them. 

    We started with a nannyshare at first becase we heard that kids at daycares tend to get sick every other week and that was hard enough for us to manage with her in a nannyshare. We don't have any family nearby and so wanted to take the option that would make it easiest on us as new parents. If we do have another kid, we aren't sure what we would do - nanny or daycare. What was important to us as first-time parents was individualized care, home-based surroundings and some companionship for the first 2 years. Now, our daughter is very confident, loves playing with other kids and likes being out rather than at home. So, a preschool seemed a good fit for us. We picked one that was play-based and we also know other couples who send their kids to this preschool. We're not sure what to expect once she starts at preschool, but we've learnt that if we give our daughter space and time, she usually adjusts to things pretty easily.

    Jun 19, 2024

    Our son is about 17 months old and has spent most of his time being cared for by a nanny or grandparents while we work from home.  Despite the great care and attention he's received, we've decided to start him in a small daycare facility because we've noticed that he increasingly wants new experiences and is starting to get really curious about other kids his age.  We've noticed this because he constantly wants to be at the playground or go outside and during his weekly music classes, he stares at other toddlers and mimics them at home.

    We toured a few different options - large childcare center, large home care center, a couple of preschools, and a very small home care (homeowner was also the only care provider).  We ended up going with the larger home care center.  I recommend prioritizing an in-person tour, preferably when the children are there.  Some centers even recommended that we bring our son along for the tour.  In our experience, information on websites have been outdated - recommend calling and emailing to confirm details.  And also, a lot of places have waitlists/a longer application process.

    Jun 26, 2024

    I always keep in mind that some places charge more for kids under two years old, but in my experience, it's justified because they tend to need more care. I used to pay $2500 a month for my baby, but when he turned 2, it went down to $1800. Some daycares only take toddlers, while some accept babies as small as six months. For me, the deciding factors were accessibility, hours of operation, cleanliness protocols, my son's comfort, and communication. It took a lot of work and vetting, but when I found a good place, both my child and I thrived. Entrusting your child to a stranger can be daunting, but if it's a positive experience, they develop friendships, understanding, and essential independence. I wish you the best of luck!

    Aug 13, 2024

    It depends on what sort of environment and schedule you are looking for. We considered the entire list of options you mentioned and we found viable choices in each one. My advice is to tour as many types of care options as possible. The more places you see, the more you develop a sense of what may work and may not work for you and your family. There is no one right choice for care. Ultimately, whatever place ends up clicking with you and feeling "right" is ultimately the best choice for your family. Also, many places are impacted and have a waitlist. Therefore, it is best to cast a wide net and consider applying to multiple places - not just one. We had hoped to place our child in one particular preschool and then didn't get in. Instead, we found ourselves at an at-home daycare and it ended up being a surprise fabulous fit. I hope just the right place finds you and your child. Wishing you the best of luck!

    Aug 23, 2024

  • Daycare only vs. 1 year preschool before TK

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    Jul 4, 2023

    My 20 month old is in an at home daycare and loves it. My older son went to the same daycare until he was 3.5 (also loved it) and is now doing preschool for 2 years before kindergarten (he didn’t make the TK cutoff). My 20 month old will be able to do TK so I am debating keeping him in his daycare until it’s time for TK or doing preschool for 1 year before it’s time for TK. Having done both daycare and preschool with my kids I see the benefits of both. Our family speaks Spanish and they speak Spanish at both the daycare and my older son’s preschool but it’s very clear that the preschool is where my older son really started learning more because it’s full immersion. They speak a lot of English too at daycare so I know he wouldn’t have learned as much had he started there. I think preschool has been great for my older son. A few of the pros have been being in a group of just his peers, gaining more confidence, getting ready for what kindergarten will be like. The calendar at the preschool is also good with not too much time off at any point in the year. On the other hand, I like how the daycare is more relaxed and flexible. The teachers there are extremely loving and warm. The teachers at the preschool are great but it’s a bit more serious. My younger son is strong willed and mischievous. I’m wondering if staying in daycare might be a better fit for him than a somewhat rigid/serious environment. They have fun at the preschool but it’s more like kindergarten. At the same time, I want him to be ready for TK. The daycare has a long July break which is hard for us to deal with, but we’ve made it work this far. It’s also more expensive than the immersion preschools I’ve been looking at, and tuition is going up yet again this fall. I’m touring a different preschool this week, but there are so many breaks throughout the year and they have a month off during the summer so it just sounds so hard to deal with. 
    So, for those who have done both and/or for those with strong willed kids-which environment is better? My older son had great friends in daycare and I know was more comfortable at his daycare bc he had been there since before he was 2. He likes his preschool and I know it was the better choice to move him bc all his daycare peers could do TK and he can’t so they have all left at this point and he would have been the one big kid left for a year. But my younger son has multiple friends at daycare who are about the same age and the families plan to stay until TK. In the long run, I know it’s not going to make or break anything but I’m making myself crazy going back and forth so I thought it could be good to hear from others. Thanks!

    Jul 4, 2023

    At some point your child is going to get a more structure environment whether it be preschool, TK, or Kindergarten.  I don't think you're going to find a clear cut answer/choice on what is best for you and your son. Best is a relative term and you lay out a number of important factors like how much time is the preschool closed etc.  We waited until our daughter was 4 to start her in preschool and then next year she will go to kindergarten.  We could have done preschool earlier but the schedule we had with the nanny share worked well for us and she was having a good time.  She still gets to have fun in preschool its just more structured now.

    Jul 5, 2023

    Based on what you have said, I would stick with the daycare. If your son has fun and his peers are staying until TK, I would stick with that option. I have two sons and they both went to TK. TK is all about learning to handle school from a social/emotional perspective. It is essentially "kindergarten lite". Prolong his fun with his buddies for one more year. He will have plenty of time to learn to sit still, to listen to the teacher, and to regulate his emotions in TK. 

    Jul 6, 2023

    As you say, they both seem like pretty good options! My sense after reading through is to keep the younger guy at daycare until he's ready for TK rather than move him twice. But if logistically and financially the preschool works better, that seems fine too.

    Jul 9, 2023

  • How to find a Preschool that's as good as our Daycare

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    Nov 29, 2017

    Hi there fellow Parents, 

    So here's the scoop...

    I've been in denial for some time now...that is, about moving our 2.5 year old son on to preschool.  You see, we've got him at THE best home day care in the Bay Area.  Check that...I can confidently say that I'd consider our home day care one of the best in the country (having lived in Manhattan for 15 years).  We've got the most dedicated, passionate, nurturing, creative, kind, emotionally intelligent, powerful, nature-loving, intuitive, healthy,  inspiring caretaker on the planet.  She's a magician.  A baby / infant / toddler-whisperer.  In fact, she makes me - not only want to be a better mom - but a better person.  Which is why I'm in denial.  Other parents at our day care have been asking me for MONTHS, "Where to you plan to send your son to preschool?"  And I'll be completely transparent...I haven't lifted a finger in terms of doing a search for a preschool.  Because...again...I'm in denial.  I just can't stomach taking my son out of their care.  I refuse to do it.  As a matter of fact, I'd leave him there until he turns 18, if I could.  But I can't.  Which is where you come in.  It's finally time to get on a waiting list somewhere.  I've been putting it off long enough.  Any suggestions?  And obviously - the bar is set VERY high.  So I'll only consider the best of the best.  As you can tell, it's pretty clear what I'm looking for in a caretaker / teacher.  Thoughts?  We live in Kensington...so Kensington / Albany / North Berkeley / El Cerrito would be ideal.  And we're big fans of an outdoor curriculum...nature-learning.  Any help would be greatly appreciated! 

    Many thanks in advance, 

    Jess & Walt D. 

    Nov 29, 2017

    If you want the best, I cannot recommend Gail Pavolsky enough. I've had my kids in her in-home daycare for the last 3 years, and she's opening a preschool in late January/early Feb, in Kensington. The new school is outdoor play based, on the Unitarian Church's land. The awesome part- Gail provides a healthy homemade lunch for the kids. You should call her and meet her and her staff and see what you think for yourself. 

    Here is her current daycare: https://www.berkeleyparentsnetwork.org/recommend/preschool/galoshes 

    And the new preschool: https://www.berkeleyparentsnetwork.org/recommend/preschool/good-earth-s…

    Dec 6, 2017

    You may not be able to leave your son in this wonderful provider's care until he's 18, but (unless the daycare has an unusual rule about maximum age) there's no reason you can't keep him where he is until he enters kindergarten!  The difference between daycare and preschool for 3-5 year olds has nothing to do with the label on the door; it's about the learning environment created after you enter that door.  If your caregiver, as many daycare providers do with preschool-age charges, offers your son preschool-type opportunities to learn self-care, gain physical and social skills, explore the world, play with blocks and books and art supplies, hear and tell stories...well, what's the rush?  Don't fix what ain't broke.

    Dec 6, 2017

    Sorry I don't have any recommendations for a preschool, but where is this home day care you speak so highly of?!  I have a 3 month old and need to go back to work soon.

    Dec 6, 2017

    Kensington Nursery School (KNS) 52 Arlington inside the church building. Lots of great outdoor space, field trips to nearby Blake Gardens, I used to teach there for 7 1/2 years before having my own kid. Great place with lots and lots of great messy hands on play and outside time. Established in 1940. Check it out. http://www.kns-ca.org/

    Dec 6, 2017

    Why do you need to switch to a preschool? Plenty of kids stay in childcare until they are in kindergarten.

    If you must switch, I wish you luck as the perfect place does not exist!

    You are setting yourself up for disappointment.

    That being said my kids loved Ducks Nest on 4th St in Berkeley. 

    Good luck!

    Dec 6, 2017

    So leave your child with your nanny until he goes to Kindergarten... or college. Sorry, but although you don’t actually give any specifics, your expectations for perfection sound unreasonable. 

    Dec 7, 2017

    Hi Jess and Walt - 

    I know exactly how you feel. I adore our nanny-share so much that we've kept our daughter there for afternoons even after we stared preschool.

    That said, we absolutely love the preschool at Berkeley Rose Waldorf School! The classes are play-based and the teachers are incredible both to the kids and as a resource for the parents in the class. Entering the 2-3-year-old class last year felt like joining a loving family. The day is full of free-play, both inside and out, but there are also lots of songs and games that work on gross and fine motor skills (every time I visited the class and saw a cute game going on, the teacher would lean over and whisper to me about the actual skills they were learning, which was wonderful). They are also very focused on social-emotional learning and teaching the kids to include everyone in their games. The atmosphere is also quite magical with lots of wooden toys and things that encourage imagination rather than prescriptive play. Absolutely no workbooks, just age-appropriate activities that will get them excited about school and build the neural pathways for better learning later. And there are lots of parent nights to help families with questions about the kids' developmental stages—the teachers have been a fantastic resource whenever I need advice!

    In case it's not obvious from this post, I'm completely smitten with this school. If you have any questions, I'm happy to talk more about this, or you can check out the Berkeley Rose Waldorf School Facebook page or website. Best of luck! 

    PS - Your kid is probably young enough for the youngest class, which is only three days a week (and even in the older classes you could choose to enroll part-time), so perhaps you could stay in the daycare a couple days a week. That's what we did, and it made for a very easy transition to school.

    Dec 7, 2017

    Hi, it sounds like you feel like you have to switch your son from daycare to preschool because it's the "done thing." But if you, your child and your caregiver are all happy, why fix what isn't broken? Stick with the daycare and enjoy!

    Dec 8, 2017

    The Good Earth School is a new preschool opening in early 2018 run by an amazing woman and I don't think you'll be disappointed.  It is a Reggio-inspired school focused on the outdoor classroom.  Our daycare provider is opening the school and she is all the things you described, incredibly compassionate while creating many opportunities for the children to learn both "soft skills" like sharing, saying please, and dealing with stress and the skills needed to prepare them for formal education. My son is 2 and can identify letters and numbers and has also taught me to take a deep breathe when he thinks I am upset.  My son is a bit shy and it takes him a while to warm up to new environments and Gail has not only made him feel comfortable but he runs to her every morning and gives her a hug as soon as he walks through the door. We're excited about the school which will be located in El Cerrito Hills.  Check them out at www.thegoodearthschool.com, they are currently enrolling kids for early 2018. 

    Dec 8, 2017

    Tbere is nothing set in stone about when to send a kid to preschool. My twins had a phenomenal nanny. We tried a half-day, 3 day a week preschool when they were 3 and our kids HATED it. And we later learned it was for a good reason. We kept them with the nanny another year and put them in a really good PreK at 4.5 and they love it and are thriving.  They are great socially, are ahead of their peers in functional skills and are blossoming in their academic readiness. Keeping them with their absolutely phenomenal nanny was a great move. She took them to groups,  to enrichment classes, group play dates and field trips-and as a result, our boys are far better adjusted and able to master a wide range of situations that their 2 and 3 year preschooled peers never got a chance to do. If you found a gem nanny, hold onto her and fold in activities and you will never regret it!

    Dec 8, 2017

  • Home Based Daycare vs. Preschool for 2.5 year old

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    Dec 16, 2016

    My child is 20 months old and at a wonderful mixed-age home based daycare. Many children stay at the daycare until kindergarten, but I am struggling with whether we should send him to a more "traditional" preschool program when he is 2.5. For many reasons, the daycare would be the easier option, including the one-on-one attention he gets, convenient hours and flexibility with regard to my work schedule, the incredibly loving environment, and the relatively inexpensive cost compared to many preschools.  My main concern is that by the time he is 3, he will start to get bored at the daycare, and the preschool application process does not seem conducive to a "wait and see" attitude, since the schools are on a specific enrollment schedule and fill up quickly. Since this is my first child, I don't have a good sense of whether boredom is a valid concern, or whether I should just not mess with a good thing. I would love to hear from other parents who have been faced with similar decisions. 

    Dec 16, 2016

    My 5 year old stayed at a wonderful home based daycare all the way through pre-school. When he started Kindergarten this year, he was almost a grade ahead of some of his classmates in terms of reading and math. But he did have some trouble transitioning from the small daycare to the much larger class size, which is a whole other issue. He was never bored at his daycare and everyday they did projects and learn new things. If you feel that your child's daycare is not doing enough to stimulate them, then it's a problem with the individual daycare. 

    Dec 21, 2016

    Don't mess with a good thing!  He's really little and sounds like you have an envious set-up.

    Dec 21, 2016

    I am a parent of two older children and a teacher for over 20 years. My gut feeling is to stay if your child is happy and it works for you. If, later, it really appears to be not working you can make a change then. Yes, it will be a hassle but better than changing when you have a good thing now. In a loving environment with some interesting toys, playmates, and play spaces preschool age children will learn a lot and be ready for kindergarten. To reassure yourself talk to some parents whose children stayed through the preschool years and listen to what their experience tells you. For me red flags would be using tv or screens, not reading to the children daily, not providing art materials or music, or overly punitive discipline. There are enough challenging moments educating our children. Feel happy you lucked into a good thing!

    Dec 21, 2016

    You might get a lot of replies to this but I do think that boredom is a major factor. My daughter is at a home-based daycare and she is already one of the oldest even though she is only 26 months. Every other child has moved onto a preschool once they hit the 2.5/3 age range. There's another girl who is in that range and is extremely bored according to her parents and it's a struggle to get her to go . They've just enrolled her into a preschool. For their development, I think it's good to have them with kids closer to their own emotional and educational level. I do agree though, I love our daycare and going to a preschool brings a lot more challenges (location, cost, less flexibility etc) but in the end I think it's best to move on.

    Dec 21, 2016

    I have two teenage girls and have experienced both home-based daycare and traditional preschool.  It's easy for me to say now, but don't stress over this too much.  If you stay at the daycare your child will be fine.  If you go with traditional preschool your child will be fine.  My child was reading at 3ish and was never bored in daycare.  Your daycare sounds fantastic, and convenience and flexibility are a huge deal, so I would probably stick with that.   If the daycare doesn't work out, there really will be other options -- our home-based daycare closed suddenly (one day's notice) and of course we panicked, but all 10 or 12 kids found something quickly, including "mid-year" at schools that supposedly always have long waiting lists.    

    Dec 21, 2016

    We had this same decision to make with our child. Ultimately I decided to keep my kid in her daycare--she's now 4. Here were the factors that influenced our decision and how it's worked out. most notably, her birthdate made her eligible for TK. Since I knew she'd be in a two-year Kindergarten, I felt that there was no pressing need for preschool. Her daycare had introduced "some" elements of preschool (she knows her colors/numbers/letters, some basic counting, how to write her first name, a little Spanish, how to interact in a group, etc.). While I don't feel it's nearly as comprehensive as I assume preschool to be, I think it's good enough to get her to TK; like you, the daycare's caring environment and amenities (all meals included, flexible and extended hours, cost) were a win for us. Now the downsides--she HAS to leave this year. If she doesn't get into a TK that works for us, for example, we'll still have to enroll her in a bridge-K anyway for a year. She is rather bored in her daycare--she's ready to meet new kids and take on new challenges (she's been at this daycare since she was an infant). Sometimes she doesn't want to go to "school,", and this wasn't the case her first three-ish years at the daycare. We've tried to address this by getting her into a youth club as an extra-curricular (or anything would work that doesn't require huge commitment IMO). Overall, I think it was the right decision for us to keep her in daycare. I might have gone a different way, however, if she were starting Kindergarten this August instead of TK.

    Dec 22, 2016

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

What age did you change from daycare to preschool?

March 2015

What age did your kids start preschool? Did you transition from a daycare you loved? How was the transition? Why did you choose the preschool?
Preschool Transition Mama

My daughter started preschool at 22 months. She had been in a home daycare that was safe but not stimulating at all. I found her preschool seriously in the yellow pages, because location and cost were my top criteria. The preschool was fantastic and she stayed until she started kindergarten. good luck

When to transition 19-mo-old to preschool?

Dec 2010

My husband and I are not in agreement about when to transition our almost-19-month old to preschool. She has been in a small, loving, home-based daycare since she was 3-months-old. It has become a second home to her. She's comfortable, happy, loved, cared for, and is always excited to go in the mornings.

In looking forward to preschool, I've been doing some research and have noticed that most preschools begin after 3 years of age. Fine by me. My husband thinks our daughter is going to outgrow her daycare and would like her to begin preschool at 2.4. We have baby number two on the way, and I would love to minimize major changes in all our lives and would welcome having both kids at the same place for a year. Anyone have words of wisdom? We are both educators and agree that we want preschool to be a play-based, developmental experience, so to me it seems silly to rush that next step. I'm curious if anyone feels they made the switch too early or too late or if anyone has any resources or advice to share. THANKS! :)

don't rush it. I know everyone around here is gaga over preschool but having done both daycare and preschool for my kids, I think a really good day care is way better for young kids than preschool. I started my oldest in preschool at 3. Most preschools are much bigger and instead of handing him over to the care of a specific person it's much more of a free-for all. Frankly I was shocked. That said the year worked out well for him and by the time he was close 3.5 / 4 it was definitely the right environment for him. Now with my youngest, I have an opportunity to start her at the same preschool at 2. I am not going to do it - I am going to wait til she is almost 4 (probably a little too late, but given her birthday that's the way it works out). I've had this conversation with several friends and we all agree that the rush to preschool is way over-rated. Small day cares maintain way better ratios and take on much more of a ''caring role''. Preschools in my opinion take on much more of a ''supervisory'' role. so over preschool

My ''mama's boy'' youngest son who was 2 in August started the 2yo class in September @ Hearts Leap Pre-School. My husband was sure he'd never go. He went half a day four days a week and loved it from the onset. He's now in 3rd grade and we've never looked back. It depends on your kid, the school and most importantly the ''fit'' between the two. mom of many

I think 3 is a better age than 2.4 to go to pre-school. Both of my kids were in a lovely home day care until 3 1/2 or so and there is no reason for 2 1/2 year-olds to be bored in day care. You said she loves it! Two is young for the sometimes overstimulating pre-school environment with many more personalities to deal with. Especially since you have another baby on the way, it makes sense to keep your child in her familiar, loving home day care setting until she's 3. my 2 cents

We also struggled with when best to move our daughter to preschool. In the end we chose to leave her at her daycare until 3. It was a great decision. She went from being the youngest when she started to the oldest when she left. She learned to love younger kids, to be kind and gentle with them and to be extremely confident as well. The reality I have seen since then is that 2 year old preschool is not much different than daycare and at 2 the transition is harder than at 3. My daughter is happy, confident, social and intelligent and for us this was the right decision. Waited for preschool

Rule number one: don't make major life changes in coincidence with the arrival of a new baby. Adjusting to the presence of this new interloper will throw your daughter for a major loop. She will need to emotionally and cognitively accommodate this new competitor for mom and dad's love. Rule number two:let your daughter guide you in picking a time for preschool. Perhaps she is a genius, but maybe she is not yet ready emotionally. You will know when the time comes. She will be capable of doing directed activity for a set period of time, capable of participating and cooperating in group activities, she will have the necessary focus, etc. I can't imagine that at 19 months, she is already exhibiting signs of being a good little student.

Take it easy! Unless she asks to be in ''school'' herself at 2.4 years, go slow as you add on a new baby to the household. Anon


If she is happy where she is, why move her? Also, many preschools will not accept children before they are 2 years, 9 months old.

I would also consider a few other factors. When will she start kindergarten? Do you want her to spend more than 2 years in preschool? (From a teacher's perspective, one year of preschool is probably sufficient to be ready for kindergarten). Also, what are the ages of the other children in her daycare? If she is the oldest by far, then perhaps it's time to move her to preschool. If there are other children close to her age, then I wouldn't be in a hurry.

I'm in the middle of searching for preschools for next fall, and I can tell you that there is a huge difference in preschool environments. Some are large and structured a bit more like kindergarten, whereas some of the smaller, home-based preschools have the warm, intimate, homey feel of home-based daycare. Why not visit a few different types of schools that accept children at the age you are thinking of sending her, then see what your gut tells you about when and where to send her.

Also, based on my experience, the search for preschool is a very time- consuming affair. There are SO MANY different preschools, each with different environments, schedules, etc; and most only accept a handful of kids each year. So you need to visit a lot of them and apply to several.....It's a lot of work, and you should do it now if you are thinking of enrolling her for next fall.

Finally, do not underestimate the value of convenience. If your child is happy where she is, and it is more convenient to have her and your newborn in the same place, then I'd see no reason to change the situation right now. Good luck. T.

Transiitoning 2-year-old from family daycare to preschool

Sept 2009

Our 2 year, 2 month old has been going to an in-home family daycare since she was 10 months old. Now she's headed to pre-school. How many weeks ahead should we start prepping her? Any advice on transition (goodbye to daycare providers and friends there)? Her new school has a nice plan for entry--I'm more concerned about the goodbyes at her wonderful daycare. I'm probably more anxious about it than she will be. Thank you! CK

I actually think it's wise to start prepping your child for preschool, perhaps a week or two in advance. My son, who had little trouble in daycare, had a traumatic transition to preschool, because I did not prep him (took him 6 weeks to get adjusted, and there was a lot of crying). I just assumed he was fine in daycare, so he'd be fine in preschool. Turns out he was very much attached to the daycare provider and upset that he was no longer going to her. We finally had to write her a letter, telling her how much he loved her, and see her one more time to say goodbye, before he was able to really transition to preschool (where he ultimately did very well). So I think that working with the daycare provider to decide on a ''goodbye'' routine, as well as visiting the new preschool to get used to it, would be a very good idea. Karen

 

Preschool versus family daycare for 4-yo

March 2007

I'm struggling with a decision about preschool for my 4-yo daughter. She has been attending a home-based family daycare 3 days a week since she was 18 months old. She loves it there, enjoys her friends and the teachers. The kids range in age from ~1-5 years, and at least half of the kids attend until they move on to kindergarten. They have alot of art activities, singing, cooking, gardening, climbing. I'm confident she's gaining healthy social and emotional skills in this situation and would like to keep her there until she starts kindergarten in Fall 2008. However, I often wonder if she is missing out on something that a more formal preschool would provide. She does receive some basic \x93academics\x94 at her daycare, but it\x92s not structured or consistent. Would it benefit her to participate in a more structured learning environment in preparation for school? I\x92m not looking to push her to excel academically -- she\x92s a kid and I want her to enjoy being a kid. I'm just interested to hear various opinions on this, as I continue to sway back and forth on whether to move her to a less play-based setting. Thanks! Anon


It sounds like your daughter is in a great situation! If she were my child, I would leave here right where she is...Formal schooling is right around the corner. Learning to be 'emotionally healthy' is far more important in my book at this age than learning her letter sounds.

My elder daughter turns four next month. We moved to a new town a few months ago -- instead of enrolling her in an 'academic' preschool (the only option in our former town) we enrolled her in a waldorf-based preschool so that she could do all of the things that your daughter is getting to do. Just tonight my daughter put a stack of books down in front of me and complained that she couldn't read them. Tomorrow we will start reading lessons (she already knows her letters and sounds). That is some special time that we will spend together. But, I will keep her in her Waldorf school until she starts Kindergarten. jan

 

Keep 2-year-old in daycare or switch to preschool?

June 2006

 

My son turns 2 this summer, and I've been receiving the Schools newsletter since he was born. I'm starting to think I need some really basic information about what this preschool business is all about. The more I read the more confused I get!

When I was a kid, preschool was what you did in preparation for kindergarten - to practice learning and being away from Mom. Most kids then (where I lived anyway) had been at home with Mom for the 1st 4 years. Now that that's become much less common, I'm confused about the distinctions between daycares and preschools, and could use some really basic advice and/or suggestions about where to find more information.

My son is currently in a family daycare setting 3 days/week. The kids there range from just over 1 to ~3.5 yrs. My questions are: Does this count as ''preschool''? What is the difference between preschool and daycare when the daycare setting does ''educational'' things like letters, numbers, and music? Is it typical/expected/recommended for kids to switch to a real preschool at some point (and if so, when)? Or can you just keep your child in a daycare setting like the one we have now? Are preschools typically full-time or part-time? Finally, what kinds of costs are we looking at? Any and all clarification would be very welcome - thank you! Clueless about preschool


I think a daycare like the one you describe is probably really good until age 4 (or one year prior to kindergarten.) I've read & heard over and over again that children who attend organized pre-school programs do much better in elementary school than those who never did. So, yes, my advice would be to switch to a formal pre- school program at least one year before your child enters kindergarten. They'll be far more prepared for what school really is. Not sure what you pay for daycare, but there are absolutely full time preschools out there - they usually have school-type activites in the mornings (ie: circle time, sharing, art, music, lessons, etc) and then more after-care type activities in the afternoons (rest time, outdoor play, free play, etc.) The price range is pretty phenomenal. I'd start by researching schools near home via phone, asking for info to be mailed to you and then following up with visits -Pro-preschool Mama


My son was lucky to have his grandmother 20 mins. away, so she babysat a couple times a week when I was at work, and he then started preschool at 4 years old. He will have completed his first preschool year this month. After doing some research (including this site), I think that as long as your day care situation is working for you, I wouldn't worry about a structured preschool until he is 4, the year before he starts kindergarten. I think that it's important for kids to be in a school-like atmosphere, e.g., around a bigger group of kids who would be his age, a more structured environment, and a teacher (or two), that is more like being in a school rather than someone's home. My son is in a play-based preschool, so there isn't this huge focus on academics, but there's circle time and little lesson plans about things like bugs and animals, learning to get in line to go outside; similar things they will do in kindergarten. And waiting until he's 4 is plenty of time. Keep him in the daycare for now if you're both happy with that situation. I hope this answers your question about the difference between preschool and day-care. juedepo


One difference is age. ''Day care'' around here generally refers to care for infants and toddlers. Most day care places take kids up until they are 3 yrs old (or 3.5 or so). Most preschools won't star kids until they are 2 years and 9 months. So there is some overlap time. Preschools usually keep kids until they move on to kindergarten (and in some cases, on to first grade). Preschool still serves to get kids ready for kindergarten. I recommend that you find a preschool to visit and you may see the difference (although not all are in session in the summer time) Anon.

 

Husband thinks preschool would be more stimulating

Sept 2004

 

Hi, First of all thanks to all of you, from your referrals I found a great family childcare; now I have a problem convincing my husband that this environment is fine for our son. We visited several pre-school/daycares and he was quite impressed by them. He likes the fact that they teach many different things to the children, and feels the family daycare doesn't offer much brain stimulation for the child. I have read articles in the past, where they explained that until the age of five, there is not much need to emphasize a school setting. I tend to agree, I feel that at this age they are learning so much already, and all they need is plenty of love and attention, plus he will have several kids to play with and the lady sets time aside to read to them and sing. Most of my siblings and I didn't attend a pre- school until the age of five, and we all grew up very interested in reading and learning. Does anyone have any advice or links to websites you could recommend?? I'll like to print information for my husband so he feels at ease. Angela


While I agree with most of what you are saying, that socialization is the key until a certain age, the benefit of preschool is to introduce them to a school setting--the order of things, following a specific schedule, being expected to sit in one place, etc. etc. If you wait until they are five and entering kindergarten, they may have a more difficult time transitioning to the ''school setting'' I think family daycares are great, but at age 3 my daughter was clearly ready for ''school.'' Just my two cents

 

Preschool or day care for 2-year-old?

April 2003

 

I work MWF and my son is with another boy and a nanny during that time. The other little boy is going to preschool in Sept, and I need to find alternative arrangements come Sept. He will be 2 in Nov. He is very out going and I feel that he is emotionally ready for a more stimulating environment.

I have researched preschools quite a bit, and since I am so late in the game, I cannot find a preschool that is close, that I feel comfortable with and that has a schedule that can accommodate me. I am still searching. I have considered 2 options....put him in a preschool that is not one of my targeted preschools, and then move him next year to one of the ones that I have targeted, or put him in day care near my house and then move him to a targeted preschool the following year.

Here are my questions...I have heard that it is not good to move a child at that age around, so should I continue to look for a preschool, and although it may not be convenient or one of my targeted schools, keep him there for consistency sake? Should I stick with a nanny situation until the following year? Should I put him in preschool or day care and then move him next year?

I am looking for any advice you can provide, including the names of preschools or day cares you recommend that may have openings in the Rockridge/South Berkeley area. Thank you. jennifer


Have you considered a family day care? We put my daughter in a small family day care two days/week when she turned two. Our other child is 4 and goes to preschool. When we entered into the arrangement with the daycare provider, we were clear that she would be moving on to preschool the following year. It's working out great. She hangs with 5 other kids (ranging from 18 months to 3 years) in a very loving environment. I feel it's perfect for her now, but she will be too ''old'' for it when she's 3. I know of many family/small day care situations that follow the same formula (i.e. take care of children up to preschool age). Try checking out Bananas or the ChildCare Newsletter for recommendations, or contact me and I can tell you more about our day care. Laurel


My older son is a very outgoing kid, but I waited to put him into preschool until he was over three. He was in a happy day care situation and I didn't want him to have to grow up faster than he wanted. At the time it seemed like a bit deal to me for him to be forced to conform with an imposed schedule (eating or naping at a specific time regardless of his needs), be rushed in his potty training, dealing with multiple care givers, etc. In retrospect, and when considering what I will do for my younger son, I don't know if will make the same choice a second time around. While the imposed schedule still seems harsh for a two year old to me, my experience watching the little ones at my son's preschool is that they are happy, having fun, and doing well... and potty training happening sooner rather than later doesn't seem so bad either.

As far as recommendations go, have you looked at Claremont Day Nursery? They have three branches; one in the Rockridge area. We really love the Kensington school, and I would imagine the others are very simillar. They have part time as well as full time programs, including short days, or three day a week arangements. Rose


I am a big fan of family daycare. Both of my kids had a (shared) nanny until about age 2 or 2.5, then attended a family daycare for a year, and then transitioned to preschool. The family daycare was a great situation for both of them -- small, intimate, loving, and yet able to provide more social experiences and resources than a sitter. Overall, a great mid-step between the closeness of a nanny and the resources of a preschool. When I first shopped for a preschool or daycare for my oldest, I found that 2yos seemed happier in small family daycares than in preschools. Yes, there are certainly many, many exceptions out there, but overall, I think a family daycare of 6 or 12 kids is a wonderful middle ground that works well for lots of toddlers. In short, if I were in your shoes, I would prefer daycare to a preschool EVEN IF you could already get into your favorite preschool. I wouldn't worry too much about creating too many transitions. A year is a long, long time for a 2yo. It's not like you'll be wrenching him from one ''home'' to another on a weekly basis. (That said, if your son is very slow to adjust and has a very hard time learning to trust new caretakers, you will probably disagree.) As for how to locate a family daycare, call or visit Bananas in Oakland. They can give you the names of all the family daycares in your area. Judith


Not sure about their openings for Fall, but in the Rockridge area I can enthusiastically recommend Claremont Day Nursery (director: Tom Morabito at 658-5208) on College Avenue for 2 year olds. They also have two other locations in Berkeley and Kensington, so maybe another can accomodate you if College Ave is full. I was going to wait until my son was 3 (next Fall) to start him in school, but we decided with the impending arrival of a new baby this summer to start him at 2.5. Several of our other friends started their children at 2 also at this school, and they have been very happy here, depending on their respective levels of readiness and history of interaction with other children. The two year olds are in a small class (7 or 8 students max per day,) but also get to interact with and learn from the older kids throughout the day. Mornings only, full day, and flexible schedules are available. The teachers all seem incredibly competent, experienced, and caring people to me, and our son actually asks to go to school every morning, even though he is only enrolled three mornings a week at this point. Another nice feature for a busy parent is that they feed your child a hot lunch every day, even if you are only a morning student, so that is one less thing to worry about when you pick them up. cheryl


I was in your same situation with my 2 year old last year when our share left the nanny situation to go to preschool. We bit the bullet and went ahead to preschool. I am very glad we did. Our daughter was really ready for more stimulation than her beloved nanny, and although the initial transition was rough (as we found with just about every new child in the school). While I would leave her there with both of us in tears the first few weeks, we have been thrilled with the results ever since. She is very happy, has become more outgoing, is talking more and isd becoming more social and extroverted. She enjoys her new little friends, and I enjoy meeting them and their parents as well. Our world has expanded far more than it could have in our nanny situation (although we still see our former nanny frequently). While I wish we would have kept the nanny for a few more months, I have no regrets about our decision.

Claremont Day School may have part time openings coming up in the next few months. The staff is so loving and wonderful, particularly with the younger children. I have seen them holding smaller kids and really giving them the kind attention that they have been accustomed to prior to coming to school. I think that sending a child to preschool is really tough no matter when you do it. However, if you find a good school with teachers who love and comfort the kids as they adjust to their new situation, it is probably not all that much tougher than adjusting to a new nanny share situation and then another new preschool.

I would also urge you, however, to keep in touch with your targeted preschools in the event that an opening becomes available and you need only make one transition. But then again, you might find an alternative that is even better for your situation. Best of luck! -- Been There


Hi, Our daughter turned two this past November and she's been going to Bari Nelson's home-based pre-school (on Cragmont in No. Berkeley) since September. It's been a fantastic experience for her. Bari is really fantastic with kids and she works with another woman to provide a terrific experience for them. She also brings in someone for music twice per week which my daughter has really enjoyed.

We will be sending her to Beth El Nursery School starting this Fall because we want to add some Jewish education to her nursery school experience. I'm not too concerned about the transition from one to the other especially since she'll know some of the kids in the new pre-school.


Check out Via Nova Children's School near Ashby BART. Deborah (former Via Nova Parent) Lisa