Why do people call daycare centers "school"?

Question

I've heard so many times a daycare center referred to as a school. Why?

I've worked at one before, and there was very little real education going on beyond the developmentally appropriate activities that a parent would do at home. (and I'm not saying that is bad...children need to play and have fun).

Do parents realize that it often can cause problems? Confusion and misconceptions about what "real" school will be is just one? Feel burn out by 6 because they have been in "school" for, some, their whole lives?

Is it to make them feel better about daycare or are their other reasons? What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

It is school. For early-childhood children (0-5); they learn through play. It's very important that they learn social skills. While playing and interacting with others young children learn how to speak to others , how to take turns, how to settle disagreements, how to listen, how to make friends. They also learn how to follow a routine. Preschool is very important for the development of young children.The social skills they learn will help them succeed in their life. Basically they are learning the basics of socializing.

Answer 2

I have worked in a daycare and let me tell you I felt like I was the only one trying to teach the children.  The rest of the teachers played movies and music (noneducational) and let them play freely.  I had about 13-20 students that I worked with by myself and when they hear the class next door or across the room playing, they want to play too.

So I actually taught (or tried to teach) my class, but since I was paying for out of my pocket resources were limited.  Daycare teachers are only paid about $5.50- 7.00 an hour, trust me when pay day come you have spent your money on stuff for your class because the parent are expecting their child to learn something since they are paying.  Some parents actually believe that their child is learning something at the center or they want them to learn something.

Answer 3

The most important time in a child's life is from birth to age 3.  With both parents working, and a large amount of single moms, a GOOD daycare has never been more important.  Children learn through play.  Building with blocks, painting, using scissors, coloring, are ALL needed to set foundation for skills needed for future education like blocks=problems solving (math) ,scissors and coloring=handwriting, and so on. It is true alot of these daycares don't have teachers who understand child development, and the importance of everyday activities. Now I teach I teach at a daycare.  I have my BS in Education, so I don't fall into that category.  I teach three year olds, and have to use a curriculum,and state standards.  I also have to constantly assess my students, and refer them for any delays or problems I see.  Have you seen what kids need to know now for Kindergarten?  WOW.  I've worked in Kindergarten also and can tell you those kids coming into never being at a daycare or preschool lack social skills and come in not knowing colors, shapes, abc's, counting etc....These are things that they are REQUIRED to know before entering Kindergarten now.  So daycare is school, teaching these basics sets foundation for future.

Answer 4

IMHO, it depends on the nature of the setting. A place where parents put their children in can be called both day care centres or pre-schools. Day care centres and pre-schools are 2 different things. A day care centre suggests the taking care of children such as playing, feeding and in some centres, showering. It sounds a little bit of a more relaxed situation. A pre-school suggests a more educational approach with researched and approved ways of teaching. It must have an educational system that is registered and approved by the Ministry of Education of a country. Usually pre-schools are similar to primary schools. Children have uniforms, PE attires and journal books that are filled with the school's vision, mission, contact details, names of staff, rules and regulations etc. A day care centre may not necessarily provide such things and it may not even be registered with the government. Anyone can set up a day care centre wherever they like and it is usually by word-of-mouth that parents consider to leave their children in the care of that certain someone or people.

Answer 5

Why daycare centers referred as school?

It's the management's decision.

Going to the pre-school prepares every toddler for elementary schools, to help them get used to making friends and learn some languages and reduce their dependency on their parents.

It is very important that toddlers be taught by preschool teachers because they learn language/arithmetic fastest at that age. Not every parent can commit the time and have the relevant skill to teach.

Daycare centers or so called schools are profit making organisations and therefore a feel good factor is a way to please parents.

Answer 6

I have 2 kids and one is in kindergarten.  My younger child refers to daycare as school because her big brother refers his school as school.  They do teach the children at this daycare so I dont see a problem with it.  Why is it such an issue with you?

Answer 7

Hats off to you!  I thought I was the only one who didn't understand this concept.  Until the kids are in an actual preschool or kindergarten ... it's just DAYCARE!!  I totally agree with some of the others who say "the kids are learning social skills and how to communicate and take turns there", but in all reality .... aren't they learning EVERYWHERE they go?  My kids learn these same skills at home, at neighbors' houses, at the grocery store, at church, on the playgound, etc, so does that mean that everywhere my kids go is "school"??  NO -- and unless it's an accredited learning institution that is recognized by the state with actual teachers, it's NOT school .... IT'S DAYCARE!!  I believe this "school" label has been fabricated by parents who leave their kids at a daycare center or at a babysitter's house either to make themselves feel better about it or to create the facade to others that they are doing something with only their child's best interest at heart.  Please ... it's DAYCARE ... that's all it is ... DAYCARE!!

Answer 8

The only time I've heard this is when there's an actual preschool at the center.  Otherwise, everyone I know just calls it "daycare".  Just correct people if they say otherwise.

Answer 9

It's all dependant on what's done at the center.  If it's a place where the child is literally being watched, fed, changed and allowed to play then yes, that is Day care but, if it's an established Center that has a set curriculum then it should be called school.  We've called it school for our son since he was just over 2 because he was being taught things.  Granted, we taught him the same things at home but, we felt it was a good thing to call it as it would get him prepared for bigger school and allow him to remember that when he goes to school, he learns things.

Answer 10

Our family owns a daycare/school and we begin training and educating the children at age two.  In the two-three year old classes, they are learning.  Not only are the parents paying for a "babysitter" but they are getting a quality care center which educates their children.  They are learning their alphabet and numbers through songs, they can recognize and trace their first names.  The children learn good manners and begin to develop habits such as washing their hands and flushing the toilet, throwing away their trash, putting away toys.  They begin to learn fine motor skills such as cutting and gluing and sorting small objects.  They learn recall through story telling and reading time.  They are learning colors and shapes both in English and in Spanish.  And the list goes on!

This continues and then prepares the child for the Pre-K classes at age 4, which then develops the child for Kindergarten at about age 5.  

Our Academy runs K-12, but the daycare center plays a big role in developing the children.  I believe that most daycare providers realize that they are able to school and educate these young minds rather than only be a playground for them.  The final outcome regardless of what you call it is a brighter and happier child.

We love teaching the young two and three year olds and seeing them go home with papers and a smile for mommy and daddy!

Answer 11

P

Answer 12

for young children, everything is like a school. they learn everywhere that they go. Obviously at a school they will learn a lot but kids will learn things from being at their home, being around animals, and being around other people. At a daycare they will learn how to get a long with other kids. I went to a daycare and there was about an hour taken out of everyday for reading. It wasn't considered a school but i still learned there.

Answer 13

Being optimistic that the children may actually learn something while attending the facility.

Answer 14

OMG...someone is reading my mind. I have a friend that is a STAY AT HOME MOM that takes her two children (3 and 1) to "school"......I ask myself, if you are stay at home mom, arent you defeating the purpose of staying at home? Its crazy. What a waste. I guess school lets them off the hook.

Answer 15

Many parents call daycare or preschool "school" because it makes the child feel important. Especially if the child has older siblings that attend school.

Often times, young children look up to their older siblings and want to go to school with them, but can't because they're so young, so parents tell them that daycare is school.

Most good daycares loop learning and play together. Children do need to play and interact with other children to grow. Social development is just as important as cognitive (brain) development.

Answer 16

Parents do this so they can pretend that they aren't giving their infants and toddlers the most wretched upbringing imaginable.

Answer 17

It should be called a school. Why daycare. That is every school, elementary, middle, and high. They are all taken care of in the day.