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Pre-School and Daycare
Madringal
member
3yr old in daycare AND preschool?
Madringal
member
My DD is enrolled in a day care (3 days a week) and in the fall she will transition to a "preschool" class. My MIL is wanting to enroll her in a pre school program on the other days (MIL keeps her those days), but I just don't think it is necessary. Do you? I hate that I would have very little interaction with these people since MIL would do all the drop offs and pick ups. I have asked MIL if she needs a break from watching DD - b/c we are more then willing to enroll her in DC full time - and she says no. She just thinks DD needs to go to a "real" preschool. Any thoughts or suggestions?
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Re: 3yr old in daycare AND preschool?
Multiple programs can be hard for kids. I do have friends whose kids are cross enrolled (my son is in a SN's program and so some do daycare in addition to the 1/2 day program). It works for some of the kids well other friends have struggled. I guess you could always try it and see. We do 1/2 days and then we have a nanny at home.
But if I were you I would probably just enroll her in daycare pre-k full time if your MIL is adamant about not having her be at home anymore. That way she has more stability and you have a strong working relationship with her school.
MIL may not understand the extent to which your daycare is working on "school" types of things.
No way would I do 2 programs at 3 yrs old.
Heck... I didn't even do pre-school for my oldest at all at 3 yrs old!
They've got the rest of their lives to be in school. At this age it's fine to do a part time program and leave the rest of their time for play and self-guided exploration of their world.
Do you have a visitation day? It might help if she had a better understanding of what DD is doing at daycare/school. Maybe a copy of the curriculum? We get a monthly newsletter outlining the learning objectives for the month. They also post a weekly curriculum including how they're tying the subject of study into fine motor, gross motor, reasoning skills, etc.
Could you ask your daycare for some information about the educational program to share with MIL?
ETA: I just noticed your ticker. My gut check is that MIL's a bit intimidated about juggling the baby and the toddler? I'd probe a bit deeper with her and see if she's got concerns about how the new baby figures into everything.
Total score: 6 pregnancies, 5 losses, 2 amazing blessings that I'm thankful for every single day.
My MIL is actually the one that toured the daycares with me (sort of in her career field) and helped me choose this particular day care based on the program. I have a raelly great relationship with my MIL when it comes to my DD -so I feel like she is being honest when she says that she wants to keep DD. In fact, she has talked a lot about retiring completely and watching the kids full time (which I am pretty against. Not because I don't want her watching them, but b/c I feel like she should be able to enjoy retirement).
I think she just really believes that a seperate pre school program is best - and it happens to be at her church where all her friends grandkids go. So maybe that has something to do with it?
I agree with you though, that 2 programs is too much. And I have a very social kid who adjusts to change really well - but I still think it is too much.
Anyways, I just wanted to see if this was normal and what others that use DC do as well. But my guess it that is is not.
I say do what you and your DH want to do. At 3 years old, it wouldn't hurt to put your DD in a preschool program that offers before and after school care. With this option, your DD can be at one place for the day and you would be doing the dropping and picking up---thus getting to know the school and the teachers.
This would give your DD a chance to explore the preschool environment and give her a good experience before starting Pre-Kindergarten.
Just my two cents :-)....
assuming your daycare has a good program- your MIL doesn't know what she's talking about.
my older son is in daycare 3 days a week- in a preschool program there - and there is ZERO reason for him to be elsewhere on the days he's not there. No way. He learns so much in those 3 days - it has never even crossed my mind to put him anywhere else.
I'm a former kindergarten teacher, too - so i know what is needed and not before Kindergarten - and by no means does your child need MORE school. Let her enjoy time being a kid and spending time with her grandma --- and if your MIL does need a break- full time at the daycare would be the best option - so she isn't transitioning to 2 school, etc.
daycare preschools ARE real preschools - if they are run well - just as any "preschool" is only good, if it's run well.
THAT is everything that has to do with it then. I will trust you when you say she knows about the daycare and it's her area of expertise (but usually I would say a lot of people don't realize that there are legitimate and licensed pre-schools/daycares in one) .
On one hand, I think it'd be ok and on the other hand, I think it's a bit of over-kill. Sorry, I don't much advice! lol
Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
It actually sounds to me like she wants to have ready made playdates. Do her friends also do drop off and pick up? If so it sounds like a social thing for MIL as much as a fun thing for DD.