https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 06:39:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846489 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:31:09 +0000 NovBaby1112 1846489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ok, thanks everyone for the input, that makes more sense to me now. I think if I decide to switch her to a daycare center, I would do so around 2.5/3 years, and I will probably look for a center that has a structured curriculum like preschool and has a preschool built into it...hopefully we have a few options near us, but we'll see...</p> <p>@bushelandapeck: yea, a lot of the ones whose websites I went to were the half day, traditional preschool programs...which wouldn't work for me. Oh yea, forgot about Goddard- that is pretty close by </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846343 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:44:08 +0000 bushelandapeck 1846343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NovBaby1112: Most of the traditional preschools near us that I have seen are typically 3-4 hours a few days per week. There are a couple of center based programs (Goddard, for one) that have full day programs that include a structured preschool component but I haven't seen very many. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846321 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:18:16 +0000 looch 1846321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschool is kindergarten readiness, which for me means following state mandated guidelines on a cirriculum. Preschool also follows a school calendar, meaning it runs on the school year, and it has shorter hours, not very working mom friendly, although some places have before and after care that you can add on for more $$$.</p> <p>Day care is looser, they have a schedule, but they do not have to meet certain requirements, such as teaching shapes or whatever on a week by week basis. They have all day programs and are open for the entire calendar year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846218 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 23:11:46 +0000 lovehoneybee 1846218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: Same here. It's called a Learning Center and E just moved into the Young Preschool class (at 2). They have structured days and lesson plans (learning play) and he can stay there until kindergarten. (ETA: They are open 6:30-6:30, and you can have your LO attend whatever hours as long as it doesn't exceed 10, and are closed only on normal holidays that I will have off). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846153 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:50:17 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1846153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>most of the preschools in our area offer full-time care, but many parents opt to do part-time programs (they are either sahm or wahm). daycares tend to be more working mom friendly like andrea mentioned. preschools usually follow the public school calendar.</p> <p>Olive is starting preschool soon, and the hours are less work-friendly than when she was at a daycare last year. Luckily I work from home so I have flexibility, but most preschools in our area are from 8-6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846129 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:32:14 +0000 Andrea 1846129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Preschools in our area, like Montessori or church based, do not run full day hours so they are mostly used by SAHMs. They are also closed for 2 weeks over Xmas, spring break, and over the summer. Some may offer a summer camp program though. </p> <p>Daycares run preschool programs within them and have full day hours plus less closure times so these are working mom friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846041 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:11:26 +0000 DillonLion 1846041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're about to start at a Montessori school. They have traditional school hours (8-3), but also open early (7am) And close late (630) so that working parents have extended care available. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846008 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:46:55 +0000 yoursilverlining 1846008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The Montessori preschools and other "specialized" preschools run full time hours like Blackbird described - aka, not working friendly at all.</p> <p>Our center (bright horizons) has a preschool and it's hours are the same for the entire center; about 7am to 6pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1846005 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:45:16 +0000 Smurfette 1846005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our day care offers preschool starting at 3. I think it is just more structured then the day care learning and activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1845982 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:34:04 +0000 NovBaby1112 1845982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: ahhh yea, I don't think that would work for most working moms! that would be a pretty nice schedule though :silly: </p> <p>@Mrs. High Heels: @lawbee11: hmmm interesting....that makes sense! by me, there are several preschools that only start at 2.9 years, but I think there might be 1 or 2 that also have a daycare built into them- and then they just keep transitioning the kids as they get older? I'll have to call and find out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1845974 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:26:49 +0000 lawbee11 1845974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was going to say exactly what @Mrs. High Heels: said. There is a daycare center near us but they have great preschool programs. So you get the curriculum and all that for part of the day but with center hours. We're planning to start her there when she's around 2.5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1845968 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:22:18 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1845968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the place our kids go to, the words daycare and preschool seem synonymous. They hold daycare hours (7-6 pm), but have a curriculum and structure, and go year round with just a few days off a year (the same days that most working parents get off like Thanksgiving, New Years, July 4th, Christmas, etc).</p> <p>We started DD at 20 months, and DS at 16 months. Prior to that, they were both being watched at home by my MIL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1845961 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:18:14 +0000 blackbird 1845961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I live, preschool doesn't cater to the working mom. It's an 8-3 kind of thing, with all major holidays and summers off. So....Yeah. I don't work that kind of schedule :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-moms-daycare-vs-preschool#post-1845949 Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:12:28 +0000 NovBaby1112 1845949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a little confused about this all. I've been looking at some preschools near us that start at 2.9 years, which is what M will be next Sept, and most of them offer half-day and full-day programs, but is preschool supposed to be used as a "childcare" method or is it just supposed to be a few days per week/a few hours per day type thing? </p> <p>If you WOH, what age did you send LO to preschool, if at all? Did you do full days or half days and how did it work logistically? </p>