Preschool at age 2?

[bluedaisy]

I work part time, mostly from home, and dd goes to a baby sitter from 9-12 two mornings a week.  Her babysitter is a SAHM mom and there are a few other kids her age.  She really enjoys interacting with the other kids.

There is an early learning center affiliated with the university where I work for 2,3, and 4 year olds.  There are accepting applications for next year and offering tours and I am considering going to check it out.

It would be 2 or 3 mornings a week so I would do preschool instead of sending her to a babysitter.  But I am concerned that she is still too young for preschool.  I think young kids need free, creative, open ended play and not too much structure/emphasis on education.

What are thoughts on preschool vs a babysitter for an almost 3 year old?

[NicaG]

I think preschool is great, and at 2 there's very little emphasis on "academics" and lots of time for free play. I think it's nice for kids to have a chance to play with other kids, and I think they learn a lot from other caregivers/new situations. But it sound like your dd is already getting a lot of interaction with other kids at the babysitter's house. Really, both situations sound great--if I were you, I'd probably tour the preschool and make my decision based on how much I liked it.

[physmom]

I agree with the PP.  If you like the place look to see if it will save you $$ or be convenient (due to have your child close to work) but otherwise it seems like your DD is already in a good environment.

That being said.  We are going to the preschool route for DD (I'll be starting back up at work full-time soon) and we found a Montessori preschool that DH and I both fell in love in. There's actually a really great daycare closer to our work but it ends at age 3 whereas the Montessori school goes all the way up to 9th grade.  We figure that if we like it she'll be able to keep the same friends all the way up until high school and since DD has had A LOT of changes in the last year it would be nice to give her that consistancy in her life.  So I figured I'd just add in one reason why parents might choose a preschool early on. :)

[Asiago]

I would think she'd get more individualized care with the sitter, but you could inquire the ratio of kids per teacher at the preschool. AAP reccomendations per ratio and group size and some info is in this article:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/child_care.html# 

You may want to find out the staff turnover rate too for the sake of comfort/security and consistency.

Also she'll likely be exposed to more bacteria and viruses at the preschool (if that's a factor).

Just some things to consider, but it never hurts to inquire and find out about the school.

[justKate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asiago 

I would think she'd get more individualized care with the sitter, but you could inquire the ratio of kids per teacher at the preschool. AAP reccomendations per ratio and group size and some info is in this article:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/child_care.html# 

You may want to find out the staff turnover rate too for the sake of comfort/security and consistency.

Also she'll likely be exposed to more bacteria and viruses at the preschool (if that's a factor).

Just some things to consider, but it never hurts to inquire and find out about the school.

I think these are important points. The only advantage I see in sending a 2 year old to "preschool" is the socialization, and it sounds like your DD is already getting that.  (Coming from a WOTH mom whose DD is 2, and in preschool.)  It will probably be more expensive.  They will (probably) want up to date Vax records (if that's an issue with you, as it is with me).
 

Good luck with your decision.
 

[bluedaisy]

Thanks for all the replies....I had never even thought about the vax issue...DD is unvaxed so I will have to ask about that. I just found out my sitter might not be offering care again next year, so I might have to find another situation anyway.

Another big concern is the commercialization aspect - we are trying to severely limit dd's exposure to commercialized culture so we don't allow her to watch toddler TV and we don't buy her things with licensed characters.  Plus, we eat healthy and there are a lot of toddler "junk" foods that dd doesn't even know exist so I'm little concerned about her exposure to those as well, which I'm sure will be almost inevitable to some degree in a preschool, but possibly not with a babysitter who shares our parenting values.

I have an appointment to see the school next week but I'm already thinking I probably will just keep her in a babysitter for another year

[tzs]

Originally Posted by bluedaisy 

Thanks for all the replies....I had never even thought about the vax issue...DD is unvaxed so I will have to ask about that. I just found out my sitter might not be offering care again next year, so I might have to find another situation anyway.

Another big concern is the commercialization aspect - we are trying to severely limit dd's exposure to commercialized culture so we don't allow her to watch toddler TV and we don't buy her things with licensed characters.  Plus, we eat healthy and there are a lot of toddler "junk" foods that dd doesn't even know exist so I'm little concerned about her exposure to those as well, which I'm sure will be almost inevitable to some degree in a preschool, but possibly not with a babysitter who shares our parenting values.

I have an appointment to see the school next week but I'm already thinking I probably will just keep her in a babysitter for another year

you might just find what you need at the "preschool." i just ended a stint working in a toddler class and in addition to the day being mostly play, reading, cuddling, a little art, and outside time....the whole center was on a strict "no characters" policy (which i don't imagine is that unusual.) we only used quality open ended toys, no battery stuff, no little people junk....for sure no tv or videos. the meals were very good, homemade, and balanced (IMO). when parents had dietary concerns we always accomodated. sometimes it was intolerances but i had a kid in my class whose parents really didn;t want her having so many refined white flours. so when we had cheerios she ate the puffins that they brought for her. we just took white bread off her plate and replaced it with a provided substitute and if we were having a special treat or party i'd ask the parents and it would either be ok or they would bring in her own treat. i think you could find alot of centers that would be similar, especially one affiliated with a university.

oh...and in our state you just sign a personal convictions vaccine waiver. no biggie.

[curious&eager]

My DS is 1 and he goes to a preschool that he loves.  He enjoys being with the kids and all the activities that they do.  At his age, there is certainly not an emphasis on education.  They teach a color and a shape each week and that is about all.  Rather, during the 3.5hrs that he is there, they do art, music, storytime, snack, playroom, lunch, and have free time.  He gets to do a lot more than I have the energy to do here, like painting.

 

I will say, the parents bring snacks or the school provides them and in either event, they are often far from healthy.  But, my son would clamor and beg for what the other kids have even thought the school would let me send a seperate snack, so I let it go and he eats what they eat.

 

He also has been sick a lot.  But, he's always been sick a lot.  I bet you would far better with a babysitter in this regard.  Less germs, less sickness.

 

For us the preschool is a lot cheaper than a babysitter and it allows me to work at home very parttime.  I think he gets to do a lot more stuff at his school than he would with a babysitter unless they were very crafty and super energetic.

 

Yes, they do want vaccination records.  You would have to talk to them about it.  I am on a delayed schedule, so we are not up to date, and my school has no problem with it.

 

Oh, they don't teach any characters and they is definately not tv or videos being shown.