Daycare!

[lmk1]

Ds has always been home with me. I work at home, full time. We used to have a nanny before, but we've changed cities and haven't found anyone here. Dh is looking for a job, and is home, but hopefully for not much longer. My mom helps out with ds by taking him out, playing with him, drawing with him, etc.
I know that we are not stimulating him enough. We never used to turn on the TV, but it's becoming a crutch now. Ds also is very drawn to the kids wherever he sees them, so I really think it's time for him to attend a daycare where he can play with kids, rather than us looking for another nanny.
What should I be looking for in a daycare? We went to one today, which seemed alright, but it didn't strike me that it would be mentally stimulating to him. They did circle time where the teacher was basically drawing numbers on a blackboard. I know this is just one hour that I've observed this daycare, but I just didn't feel like it was a good fit. What I would really like is something like a Montessori school, but we'd pretty much have to commit to a year, no? And with dh looking for a job, we don't know where we're going to end up living.
I'm also having separation anxiety as I've never left ds with total strangers before I just can't imagine the walking away and leaving him.

[dollyanna]

Lots of things to look for. You might want to post over in working & student mamas for this topic also.

Here's a thread about interviewing day care providers: http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=794909

and here's one about daycare vs. preschool
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...find+preschool

You might want to do a search for more pre-school specifics as well. I know in my area at least, after age 2 there are a lot more options for pre-schools, some of which have "after care" that is basically daycare.

Mostly, I agree with the mama in the daycare thread who said her #1 priority is if they LOVE the kids. My DD's daycare does some "academics" and art projects & all of that, but the thing I appreciate the most about it is how gentle they are with the kids. They hug them. They don't yell at them, and they don't punish the kids when they do something wrong instead they talk to them.