which preschool?

mommymegan831

DD went to a SAHM from 6 months- 1 ½.  She then went to a daycare for a year and this September I put her in a new daycare closer to my home.  So she’s been in a different childcare situation almost each year.  I like the daycare she’s in now.  I really like the teacher and she seems to enjoy the kids.  Her teacher used to be a public school teacher, her son is in the class now but next year he’ll go to public school so I suspect she’ll be looking to leave as well.  The teacher as only been there this year.  She’s also the youngest kid in the class, there are only 2 that will still be in the class next year.  So although I like things this year, there’s potential for a lot of change.  She’s there from 6:30-3 so she’s getting a full day of school, although it includes a 2 hour nap that she doesn’t need and I don’t think her teacher starts until around 8.

 

She can go to 4 year old preschool at the public school she’ll be going to when she’s 5 next year.  It’s 2 ½ hours, no nap or lunch.  I’ll talk to the SAHM we used to use.  My plan would be to drop DD off at 6:40, she’d bring her to school at 12:30 and I’d pick her up at 3.  The other option is keep her at the daycare she’s at now until she’s in Kindergarten.

 

I like the idea of her meeting the kids that she’d be in Kindergarten with.  I’ll have to price things out but I may have my 2 year old go to the SAHM 2 days and daycare 3 days, so it would be nice that DD and DS would have more time together.  I also feel bad that I keep switching her schools, although she’d be switching to this school the following year anyway.  DH would probably be able to drop off DD and I’d drop off DS so it may not be a big deal with 2 drop offs, but I might have to do both, they’re all around the same area but not super convenient.  We’re on a tight budget so if this would save us money this will be the route we’ll go, but if it doesn’t save any more, WWYD?  Keep her in daycare or put her in the public school pre-k?

jf198400

I would price it out and see how big if a difference it would be. Honestly I would prefer to keep both kids at the same daycare together. Seems a lot easier. Also public schools have a lot of days off, and with a sahm you have to deal with things that come up and make her unavailable. I find a center to be more reliable. I wouldn't worry about all the changes either way, kids are adaptable, she'll adjust.

jlaOK

I'd keep her in the same daycare to keep her days consistant. Going back and forth for a 2.5 hour pre-k program seems like a lot of work.

mommymegan831

I just spoke to the daycare.  It wouldn't make sense to send DS to the SAHM, so they'd both be going different places.  Depending on what the SAHM says it might still save us $50/week.  I like the idea of her getting to know the kids she'll be in kindergarten with, but I don't like the idea of her spending her mornings with other little kids and not her brother.  I'm a teacher so the days off aren't an issue.

jlaOK

I wouldn't worry too much about her not getting to know the kids that she'll be in kindergarten with.  If your school system works like ours, a lot of kids don't go to the public school preK program and there will be a whole lot of new faces in kindergarten anyway.

Next year we will be keeping DS in his daycare preK and then move him to the public school at kindergarten when school is all day.