Parents, Honestly is this too much daycare for a 3 year old?

Question

Mon-Wed 8-3?

She will be home with me all day on Thur and Friday ( of course Sat. and Sun,) I figure I can use our off days for mommy and me time, we will spend quality time together.I love her soooooo much and this will be hard for me to do, but I know I have to.

My 3 year old has been a stay at home kid for 3 years but I have to work part time to support us, so I really have no choice. If I had a choice I'd stay home with my little one.

Do you think this is too much preschool/Daycare? Be honest parents , and don't say it is what you have to do,

I want to know if you all think that it is too much?

Answer 1

That is actually great for a 3 year old.  It is nice to put them into preschool at 3 years old for 2-3 days a week to gain social skills they will need in kindergarten.  If you start it at 3 years old you can get in 2 years of preschool to help prepare her for what is to come.

Answer 2

Thats not too much time in daycare. Plus it will give him good socialization skills. My step kids mom has them in daycare 5 days a week from 8am to 7pm, now that is too much time in daycare! I think that is a good amount of time plus it gives you a lil break and it will give her time to make new friends!

Answer 3

I didn't work but my kids went to the montessori 3 days a week from 9 - 2:30 since they were 2 years old.  This is when they start becoming really curious about the world they live in and when their intelligence grows by leaps and bounds.  I wouldn't want my kids to be limited by the things I can teach them.  I'm not a teacher nor have any experience teaching.  Also, I've noticed that at this age, they start inter-acting in group settings in a less "I, me, mine" manner.  So, it definitely, is a great way to get their social skills fine tuned by exposing them to many children their age.  The montessori was a great place - they taught my children how to work independently, work with peers, lead the younger set, and achieve on their own speed.

Answer 4

that is so not too much time!i understand your concern though..but all it will do is help her to be around other children and give her more confidence and make her less shy (if she is)i am going to put my 10 month old in day care soon 2 days a week for about 2-3 hours just so she can be around other kids (and to get things done)but trust me she will be fine it might be weird for her for a couple days but all it will do is help her!! don't worry and i promise she will have fun all they do is activities!!

Answer 5

No its fine. You have to work, to pay the bills, so its something that needs to be done :)

Answer 6

No I don't think so...If you think about it it might be a good social thing for your child.  She will benefit from being with kids her own age a couple of days a week and it will help her get ready for pre-school and kindergarten.  It's tough but it's only three days a week and be greatful that you got three full years.  And the fact that you only have to work part time!  Good luck

Answer 7

You must be doing quite well for yourself if you only have to work part time to support your family.  I work full time and am in school full time, so being home that much is a luxury I certainly don't have.  I actually had to more or less force my wife into putting my older son into a preschool/day care because I could tell that she needed some quiet, alone time.

The most important thing is, in my opinion, make sure that your child/children know from the get go that the time you spend away from them is necessary and that in an ideal but unrealistic world, you would spend all of your time with them.  They too will have to face the same decision as they one day enter the work force and your example of hard work over pleasure will be eternally important.

93,

--DH

Answer 8

no. its actually good for young children to interact with other children their age.

Answer 9

Oh gosh no that's not too much and she will learn so much and the time you get to spend just the two of you will be so much more special. My daughter was a stay at home kid (minus like a week of daycare that she loved but i couldnt afford anymore!) when she started headstart at 3 yrs. That was mon-thur 8-12:30 and she loved it!

Answer 10

I think it's too much.  But what choice do you have?  And as far as being "socialized" at daycare... who'd want their kid taught socialization skills by a bunch of 3-year olds!  YOU teach her her socialization skills and give her lots of opportunity to practice with all types of people and people of different ages on your time off.  Also, give her lots of time to play with kids her own age on Thurs. and Fri.  I think this is what people mean by "socialization" anyway.  Good luck.  She'll be fine.

Answer 11

I sure hope it's not too much daycare because ever since she was 3 months old, my now-2-yr-old has been in daycare from 7 am - 5pm.  My husband and I both work full-time, with no family nearby, so it was our only option.  She has thrived in daycare, enjoying friends, activities and education.  

And she will get socialization skills in daycare, by learning how to interact appropriately with other kids and other adults.   Maybe you can try to look at this as a learning opportunity for your daughter.  It will also help her get ready for kindergarten and 1st grade, when she will be away from you for long periods for time.  You might also be able to get some "me time" for yourself.  Quality time doesn't have to be in huge quantities, so 4 days a week plus afternoons on the other 3 days will be plenty.  Don't beat yourself up, mom.

Answer 12

Given your current closeness, I think this is going to be harder on you, Mom, then it will be your three year old. No one can make this choice for your family but you.

A great example of a child I believed to have gone to too much daycare was a 10 week old (yes 10 WEEK old, not month...it is not a typo) that went to his daycare institution at 6am and often didn't have a parent or grand parent pick him up until 5:30pm. Both mom and dad were "working professionals". Sure their income was phenomenal. Often times, mom and dad weren't the ones picking up baby from the daycare, it was grandma. Then she would continue to care for baby until 6:30pm or later. Sure mom and dad had to pay the late fees at the daycare but (of course) they could afford it! This couple did the same thing with their second baby boy. There were weeks where mom and dad traveled for work and the boys would go an entire 5 days without seeing their mother (there father was usually gone no longer then 2 or 3 days but still he was gone!) I remember my heart just bleeding for those kids when they were little. They are teenagers now...I still don't know if either of their parents have any ideas of who they really are.

*EDIT* A previous poster has a point. If you are doing this as a recreational thing for your child, 3 pm might get a little late if they have no nap time. However at three he may be ready to adjust. You know your kid better then we do.

Answer 13

no it is fine my cusin who is 3 runs almost the same scuduale

Answer 14

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll... I think it might be a little too much. Does your daughter still need a nap? I was looking at preschools for my 3 year old, and some had that schedule, but I was thinking ... ok, so you send them in at 8, and then they take a nap at school at like, what time? 1? Sleep for two hours and it's time to go home.

Or they don't have a nap, and in which case it's like hellish on them.