https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:34:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1472019 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:59:14 +0000 lamariniere 1472019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's school is divided by nursery and preschool. Nursery is 18 months to 3ish. Preschool is about 3.5 to 5 or 6, depending on when the kid starts school. It's a Montessori school, so the nursery is still somewhat scheduled. I understand that the preschool follows a curriculum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471982 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:44:13 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1471982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>here daycare is for kids 3 months and up. starting from 2 they have preschool programs that are more structured. there definitely is a difference here between daycare and preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471947 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:20:17 +0000 78h2o 1471947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter goes to Goddard and my understanding is that there is overlap between the preschool and daycare programs, with the curriculum being the same for everyone, but those enrolled in preschool having shorter hours, abbreviated schedules (sometimes just 2-3 days a week), and the option not to attend during summer. At age two, the daycare kids are in preschool though (5 days per week). Right now I tell her she is going to school, but to other parents I refer to Goddard as daycare....I think when she's a little older, I will universally refer to it as school/preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471940 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:13:01 +0000 Smurfette 1471940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Mine is the same way......it is the Goddard School, not day care! I still call it day care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471938 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:11:53 +0000 Smurfette 1471938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My day care is curriculum based. Even in the infant room. They have a lesson plan every day. </p> <p>I agree with @JennyD: I think of day care as an all day thing. Preschool is more of a couple hours in the morning type thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471927 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:59:33 +0000 Mamaof2 1471927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids attend the Malvern School and good grief don't call it a daycare center in front of the director :silly: </p> <p>Its from 6 weeks to 8 yrs (before and after school for older kids)</p> <p>Starting at 12 months you are on a schedule/curriculum. The teachers actually submit lesson plans on a weekly basis for what the kids will be doing/learning. There is foreign language, civility lessons, arts, special guests, computer time, etc.</p> <p>School is open year round but the summer program is a little less "learning" and more fun with weekly field trips and swimming starting at age 4.</p> <p>I love it and its totally worth the $$$!</p> <p>I have friends whose children go to daycare and its basically someone watching your child and keeping them safe - arts and crafts are included but no learning per say - not saying ALL daycares are like this but the ones I am familiar with are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471526 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:49:34 +0000 pinkcupcake 1471526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyD: that's what I thought, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471522 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:47:33 +0000 workingmom 1471522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there are educational differences. I think the differences are in scheduling and logistics. Daycare starts younger and goes through the summer/breaks etc because parents need care. They generally move to a preschool curriculum as is age appropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1471012 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 18:28:51 +0000 blackbird 1471012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I called around and most preschools here are on school schedule. Not open in the summer, snow days, etc. Not a good working mom option </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470956 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 18:10:24 +0000 Mae 1470956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on your daycare. Ours is very structured with curriculum from the start. Once the kids get to a certain age it is automatically "preschool." But regardless they are learning stuff that is age appropriate throughout. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470951 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 18:08:16 +0000 daniellemybelle 1470951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyD: Agreed. Daycares can &amp; usually do have curriculum when it becomes age appropriate. I think the biggest difference is that daycares operate on a schedule that works for working parents, and preschools operate more on a traditional school schedule. Not only do most preschools end at 2 or 3pm, but they are often closed over the holidays &amp; the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470808 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:23:27 +0000 Weagle 1470808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That is true of all of the preschools we're looking at right now. Which is fine, because I'm a SAHM. I think I would feel weird sending her all day when it's not becessary. Overall, I have low expectations of preschool academia, but this child needs to be around people to be happy. And I think she will actually love the classroom aspect of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470796 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:19:58 +0000 looch 1470796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschool is also a lot shorter, like 4 -5 hours max, where daycare runs earlier and later.</p> <p>My son learned songs, colors, numbers, shapes and letters in daycare. He even learned some Spanish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470780 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:16:15 +0000 Mrs. Polish 1470780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: gotcha. Thank you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470779 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:16:01 +0000 autumnlove 1470779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschool starts at 3 at our center and it has a curriculum. There is also a young preschool that starts at 2.5 that is half daycare/preschool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470761 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:11:45 +0000 JennyD 1470761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought day care was more "I work all day and someone needs to take care of my kid" and preschool was more for kids who stayed home with their parent. I thought it was sort of like pre-kindergarten. A place to learn about a classroom structure and some skills like colours and numbers and stuff. </p> <p>Our day care does a ton of learning stuff with almost all ages of kids, but as they get older, they have more structured reading, writing and math times and activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470747 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:08:00 +0000 littlek 1470747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: yes, he does. It's an amazing curriculum. We choose the center based on curriculum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470742 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:06:45 +0000 Weagle 1470742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: Does he go to a larger center? My BFF's son goes to this amazing daycare that has a pretty structured day (music time, art, play, etc). He definitely gets more structured activity than LO does - in a good way! I have not the patience to do some of the things that they do :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470732 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 17:03:41 +0000 littlek 1470732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Weagle: our daycare has a curriculum. LO has a very structured day it's just more age appropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470719 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:59:55 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1470719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At our school the preschool (starting at age 2) has a specific curriculum that they follow with more specific goals, for example learning the colors. We get a detailed list of what they will be learning each month. The nursery does have monthly themes for activities but it is mostly play based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470697 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:54:37 +0000 Weagle 1470697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschools have a "curriculum". At the least it's more of a schedule, with emphasis on developing skills and learning. Daycare is more about play. Though, larger daycare centers seem to do both. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-vs-preschool#post-1470679 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 16:47:03 +0000 Mrs. Polish 1470679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is the difference between preschool and daycare? I was just looking up ages and saw they were separated. </p>