https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:25:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-810853 Mon, 27 May 2013 08:31:27 +0000 Mrs. Twine 810853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I firmly believe that the best preschools serve more of a social learning and socialization function, rather than an academic (* <a href="http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ed_Academic_Preschools/" rel="nofollow">http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ed_Academic_Preschools/</a>, et al.) because research is pretty clear that pushing for academic learning at earlier developmental stages serves no long-term benefits and can actually lead to burn-out and frustration for the kids. This is different from a responsive environment which is open to providing information, resources, and discussion related to a child's expressed interests. That type of "academic" learning is less problematic. A good preschool (or daycare) provides a nurturing environment where children can learn both more about themselves and about their peers. This function can also be served at home. I would have your expectation be more that she have a good time, has an opportunity to play with peers/other children, and is in a safe and nurturing environment. :) I hope she loves it there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-810801 Mon, 27 May 2013 07:44:51 +0000 808love 810801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overall it is different for different kids at different stages of their development. Mine was ready and in preschool most of the day from 830 to 300 from her 2 yr birthday. She is loving it and I appreciate the social and educational benefits. We have lots of play dates, field trips, swim classes and such lined up for the many days when school is out. Or just lazing around playing. Sometimes i do my own educational stuff in addition. The only drawback is that she learns new stuff at preschool and I just love to be the one to teach her new things first.And I do sometimes wish the day was shorter for her because she is so young, but then I'd be taking her out of nap time.</p> <p>Eta: LO is at a Christian preschool--it is awesome when she surprises me with prayer she learned. Then she teaches it to me!! She really gets the 'empathy' and 'forgiveness' thing, though not in those actual words. They send home different storybooks to read every night and nurture strong parent relationships. We really enjoy being part of the preschool community and are glad we embraced it early even though it means our baby is growing up!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-778039 Mon, 13 May 2013 12:54:02 +0000 Maysprout 778039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both the teachers do have bachelors in early elementary education. I'm going to go observe next week since I'm still on the fence. Maybe there's other activities, like music classes or a gym membership, that might suit her better than preschool at this age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777808 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:58:49 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 777808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I think daycare is amazing, and some daycares do have the ability to provide licensed teachers as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777802 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:57:02 +0000 daniellemybelle 777802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: That's a great point! I didn't want to come across like daycare providers are somehow less qualified or lower quality than preschool, but only that the goals of a preschool (and the parents of the preschoolers) may be somewhat different from a daycare, and so that can affect the overall experience, even if the preschool is not super academic in focus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777744 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:35:56 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 777744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: To add to what you said, my daughter's teachers have all finished a bachelors and early childhood education credits. The lead teachers all have master's degrees and full Montessori training. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777739 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:34:09 +0000 daniellemybelle 777739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I don't have a LO in preschool or daycare, so please take this with a large grain of salt. :) However, I think one of the biggest differences that can exist between daycare and preschool is the overall intent of the program. A daycare and a preschool could both be play-based, but while a daycare's primary focus is to provide childcare for parents who have to work, a preschool's primary focus is the enrichment of the child. </p> <p>This not to say that there are not excellent daycares that function essentially as preschools (rather than simply babysitting). In fact, most daycare centers I have researched transition to more of a preschool model at about 2 years old. However, that is the distinction in my mind. It doesn't mean that preschool needs to be more academic in their curriculum to qualify as a preschool. I hope that makes sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777712 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:25:31 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 777712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daughter started going to a christian, play-based preschool at 20 months and I can tell she learned so much! She is naturally cautious and shy, but has really come out of her shell socially... she understands how to sequence events and to follow rules in group settings. She also sings songs, and knows words, animals, things that we've never taught her. It's pretty amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777672 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:13:13 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 777672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: Ours has a curriculum, it's just self-directed. You can read about montessori to better understand the philosophy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777660 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:10:50 +0000 Maysprout 777660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I guess that's what I'm asking. If at two years old preschools don't have an academic focus then what's the difference between preschool and daycare at that age that makes preschool worth it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777625 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:41 +0000 googly-eyes 777625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on the preschool and the daycare. Much of a 2 year old's learning is through play (as it is throughout childhood.) If there's too much focus on lining up, sitting down, and doing art projects the way the teacher does because it's "preschool," then daycare might be just as good, depending on the environment of the daycare. I say go and look around at the environment. Look at the dress up areas (looking for diversity, enough materials for the kids), the art areas (do all those shown look the same), the outdoor area, etc..look and see if they are something you think is worthwhile. And look at if the kids look happy and engaged. :)</p> <p>Just my two cents. My lo is younger and right now I'm a sahm but my grad degree focuses on early childhood...sorry for the novel, I tried to be as brief as I could. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777620 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:56:33 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 777620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I agree. I don't think preschool should have an academic focus. Sure some of that stuff comes with it, but our preschool teaches concepts abstractly through "works" positioned throughout the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777602 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:50:10 +0000 looch 777602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: It depends on what you think you can provide, you know? </p> <p>Academically, and I use that term loosely, my son has learned things as well...it depends if you think it's important for them to know their colors, shapes, etc. Some parents don't worry about that until later (this was common where I used to live). I mean, they're two, I don't expect them to learn how to read, but sing the alphabet song, identify some letters, that kind of thing. It's not that I couldn't provide that at home, but in reality, with another child, you have limits on your time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777539 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:26:54 +0000 Maysprout 777539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: She is super self confidant, outgoing and social already. That's partly why I want to put her in with other kids because she loves it so much and it'll probably be a bit harder to get out regularly when it starts to get cold with a newborn but if it's just social time then I'm wondering if maybe there's something else besides preschool I should be looking at. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777504 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:17:41 +0000 looch 777504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: exactly this...my son's not in Montessori, but the change since he started attending is huge.</p> <p>We went to a birthday party in January, and he was shy, we had to leave after an hour. Fast forward to another party at the end of March, we practically had to drag him out of the party. His self confidence had skyrocketed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-777495 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:15:55 +0000 Maysprout 777495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She does really respond well to other kids and they seem to encourage her to learn. I guess one of the things that worried about was online for 3 and older programs schools seem to have more defined learning objectives but for 2 year olds most of the programs just talk about socialization and independence from parents, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-776858 Sun, 12 May 2013 20:58:41 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 776858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our 2 year old went to Montessori and learned so much this year. It's hard to put into words what she learned, but her conversations deepened, her sense of autonomy exploded and her self-assurance blossomed. I don't know how other preschools are, but ours is amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-776843 Sun, 12 May 2013 20:52:24 +0000 brownie 776843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started preschool at 18 months old for a number of reasons. I love it. At first we didn't see much change, but recently he surprises us with what he learns (colors, numbers etc). They also help potty train him (and sometimes do a better job at it). At 2 he is also very clingy and I personally think it is good for him to get used to mommy leaving and coming back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-year-old-preschool-worth-it#post-776814 Sun, 12 May 2013 20:26:37 +0000 Maysprout 776814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I'll work in the fall so I'd be home to watch LO but with baby #2 being a newborn I think LO #1 might be happy having some time away from mommy a couple mornings a week. We would just send her to a little church preschool down the street that we can walk to but I'm not sure how much she's actually going to learn or if it's going to be just time to interact with other kids.</p> <p>If your LO went to preschool as a 2 year old did they seem like they learned more than they would in a daycare? If so do you think it was due to the type of preschool you chose and why? </p>