There are so many preschools! How to decide?

CBKMRB · March 2010

So now that I have 1 ready to go to college (or at least working on it - he's gotten 3 acceptances so far) I am working next on sending the little one to preschool.

I did a search and in the 3 towns we are looking at there are like 35 preschools. In our town alone there are 16. Some are big centers, some are in-home. Some have websites, some do not. So I'm starting with 5, 3 are big centers with all ages and 2 are in-home with all ages. The big centers have ages 6 weeks - 6ish years with different rooms and have like 150 kids total. The in-homes take from infant to 6-ish years with different rooms and have like 50 kids total.

My DH is a SAHD but we want to start sending her to preschool 3 days (or just mornings) a week. Before her staying home, she went to an in-home daycare.

Do your kids go to a big center or an in-home preschool? How did you decide where to send them?

KrisBriMcBunny · March 2010

its in a methodist church but the church has nothing to do with the school. I went to this school when I was little...it was 3 yr old and 4 yr old classes. When my older kids went there it was the same thing.

Now with Michelle they added a 2 yr old program and dropped the 4 yr old progam and do the universal pre-k program.

Its set up like a regular schoool like an elementary school. 2 yr old goes tues & thurs mornings....3 yr olds go mwf either morning or afternoon. UPK is 5 days a week morning or afternoon.

To me anything more than half day is more like daycare with added preschool program.

*Amy* · March 2010

We didn't have that many to choose from, but I wanted an accredited program certified preschool teachers. It is in a center sort of speak, but it is just preschool, no daycare. We love our program. He goes 5 half days.

mauceddie · March 2010

Honestly, I just let my friends do the leg work! I enrolled dd in the same preschool as 2 of my friends. I didn't research anything else at all. She goes 2 afternoons per week.

JOEBunny · March 2010

We have 5 main types in our area.

1. Co-op

2. Church, play based

3. Montessori

4. Other, different or special philosophy, Waldorf, "Educational" (like baby can read),

5. Government provided

I ruled out Co-op because I am not interested in having to hire a baby sitter for DS for 10 hours a month, so I can work at a school I am paying for (and it is not cheap)

I ruled out Montessori because all of the ones around here are >$5,000, which we were not willing to pay.

There is not a special one that I really agree with that is close. The closest one that I liked would have required DS and I be in the car for over an hour a day, and I was not willing to do that for preschool

Ruled out government provided (available to all people in my state) for two reasons. One is that attendance is mandatory and it is 8-2:30 everyday. Two is because it is not neighborhood based, and even though we got into "the good one" some of the kids are from families that do not share the same values that we have (like child rearing, politeness, importance of education, not religion or anything like that)

jlw2505 · March 2010

I think a lot of depends on what you are looking for. Do you want certified teachers or just a place for your child to go and play and be social with other kids. In my area, most of the in-home places are pure daycare and not educational unless the sitter happens to do stuff but with having such a big age range, its hard. Most of my friends that started at in-home, moved their kids to a center based pre-school at age 3. You also need to look at hours and what options meet your needs. I personally do not like in-home so we never looked at those options but I asked a ton of friends what they did and why. I love my center - it takes infants (6 weeks) adn goes through school age (before and after school and summers and other school release/vacation days). Anyway, they are accredited, have great programs that are very age specific. I have one in the toddler program and one in the 3 year old preschool now. The center is play based but they do a lot of educational things as well. You can do full or part time (my kids are FT). My older DD goes to a speech class through the school district and her teachers at preschool work with her 1 on 1 everyday. The staff are all college educated in early education or working towards the degree. My older DD will be switching to full time Pre-K through the school district in the fall which is set up more like a kindergarten classroom but they still include a naptime/quiet period and more play than you see in kindergarten but it will be a great transistion.

birdnkaz · March 2010

DD#1 goes to a preschool that is only for 2 - 5 year-olds. I toured several schools in the area and liked it the best. Sometimes it's really about how the place and the people make you feel. We also liked the small class ratio (2's is 1:6 and 3 and 4's are 1:10). It's a big decision but once you get out there and start looking, you will know what you are looking for and what will fit your child best. Good luck!

hikerbeth · March 2010

I toured the options nearest our house (there were about 6) and made a big spreadsheet with pros and cons.

Ultimately, I went with the one that I got the best vibe from during the tour.

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There are so many preschools! How to decide?

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