Preschool vs daycare preschool?

Question

I've been a part-time stay at home mom for the past 2 1/2 years. I have only one daughter she's of course 2 1/2 years old and I interested in starting her in preschool/daycare in the fall. Most of the preschools in our area have session about 2 or 3 days a week for 2-2 1/2 hours each day. There are also some preschool/daycares in the area that will have them for pretty much the whole day.

My question is what is the difference between preschool and a preschool/daycare?

Answer 1

day cares are in the business of making money for babysitting kids, throwing in a little acedemics along the way. Preschools. however, are to teach social and pre-acedemic skills. If you can, choose a good preschool in your area, if money is an issue, try a parent co-op.

Answer 2

I have worked in both sectors, and I can honestly say that sessional preschool is far more educational, as the main focus is on the activities/educational experiences that they provide. With daycares that provide for the whole day, there is still some educational benefit, however...... they are a lot more bound by routine times and staff, no matter how much they do their best not to, get caught up in the daily routine aspects (cleaning, lunches, rest times etc) that it honestly does take away from quality educational experiences that they can provide, and simply the time that they can spend actually sitting down with the children and engaging them in learning.

My heartfelt belief is that sessional preschool is the way to go for parents, who are in the lucky position to have a choice/opportunity to choose between the two.

Answer 3

if you are looking for which one will be more helpfull to your daughter they will both do the same thing

Answer 4

Daycare offers care for your child from as early as 6 am- 6 pm.   Children in daycare have a structured schedule that is not all play or all learning.   Upon arrival, they are fed breakfast then they have free play till about 9.   At 9 they usually have circle time where they have "calendar/weather."   They sing some songs,etc..   Then they have a small snack and again free play for about 30 -45 min.   Before lunch, they usually have a craft where their theme is incorporated whether it be letters, holidays, etc.    Then they have lunch.   After lunch, more free play before "rest/nap time."   They nap/rest for about two hours.  Wake up, small snack.   Around 3:00, they may have Story time where again where the theme is incorporated.  Free play follows until parent picks up child.  

     Prue-school offers the same learning environment, however the child is only there for about 2 1/2 hours.   They do the same activities including a limited amount of free play.

Answer 5

I work at a daycare, but we also have preschool.......Preschool is in the mornings from 9am till 12:30.  Daycare is for like parents who work long hours and need care for their kids pretty much all day.  The school i work at is open 6:30am until 6pm. preschool is 9am to 12:30 but the kids learn all day not just in preschool.

Answer 6

In my experience, we had no choice but to enroll our son in a preschool that was in a daycare.  I am glad that we did now.  In my area, the public preschools are for lower income kids and those with "developmental" problems.

The difference IS what you pay for.  My son received an excellent education, even though he went for 2 1/2 hours, 3 days a week, compared to 4 hours, 5 days a week.  He and the others who are in his class who went to this school (very small community) are well ahead of the other kids who went to the public school, even though they could only start when they were 4, and the others mostly started when they were 2 1/2-3.  My son only had a year and a half in pre-school, most of the others were there for almost 3 years.

My advice would be to sit in on a class in each of the schools you are considering.  Many of them will let you bring your daughter for a "trial" day.  This way, you can find the one that best suits HER.

Answer 7

Preschools teach and daycares babysit.  Preschools have a curriculum which they follow to enhance your child's development.  So, I guess a preschool/daycare teaches part of the day and babysits part of the day.

It's a good idea to start leaving your child with the new caregiver for just short times for a couple of weeks before you need full-time care. Stay with your child and the caregiver for a little while each day, for the first few days, to help your child adjust. This also lets you learn more about daycare. Stay a little less time each day.

When you must leave your child, don't sneak away.

Explain to the child that you are going and tell her when you will be back. Explain to her that you have to go to work but will return right after work to pick her up and take her home. She may still get a bit upset, but not as much - and it will get easier as she learns to trust that you will be back. You shouldn't look anxious or sad about leaving her - that could upset your child. And once you've left, it's best not to go back in (for instance, because you forgot to tell the caregiver something), because that can be confusing for your child.

It will be hard for both of you at first, but it is better in the long run.  It takes time to learn that loved ones will return. It also takes time to get used to you not being there. Each child will deal with these things differently, in his own time.