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I am struggling with this. My biggest issue is we both WOH and most preschools don't accept younger than 2.5. We want to keep both kids in the same place. And a lot of "preschool" are not woh friendly.

I feel like daycare and preschool serve the same purpose....they prepare kids to function in a group setting, take instruction from adults other than their parents, etc. if i had my child in a daycare that i liked, i would not switch them. If they were with a nanny, i would.

Since lo is with me all day, i am going to have him start a 2 day, 3 hour preschool at 2.5, go 3 days at 3.5, and then 5 days the year before kindergarten. I feel like it will ease him into being away for longer at a time, but is still within our budget.

For sahp's, i don't feel like preschool is a necessity until the year before kindergarten.

We're in a full-time daycare / preschool, and that's where we'll stay. I need the full time care b/c DH and I both work 40+ hours per week. The school activities at DD's daycare seem great. She is learning a ton. She's only 2.5, but she already can recognize many of the letters in the alphabet. She counts to 13 reliably and sometimes as high as 20. She comes home regularly from school singing new songs about educational topics. I'm happy. She's happy. So in my mind there's no need to research other options or to move her away form an environment where she' s happy.

@NovBaby1112: at least where i live, good daycare centers also have a structured curriculum. I had to write lesson plans as young as the infant room, and it was based on a common curriculum that was used throughout the school. It was just as structured as a preschool would be.

@Mrs. Lion: that's true...I'm sure it's the same around here as well, but my LO goes to an in-home, so it's more play focused than structured.

I'm a FT SAHM.

DD1 is 27 months and starting montessori preschool in 2 weeks. For 3 hours every morning, though they said they would want to move her to the 3's classroom in a month or two which would be full day.

She hasn't ever had any other childcare besides me and grandma occasionally.

I decided to send her for a few reasons...
1. She is fiercely independent and curious. She loves learning and exploring. She is also pretty advanced verbally/developmentally so she likes a challenge.
2. She seems like she has been missing a social aspect beyond what I could give her, despite weekly play dates and kid classes/storytime.
3. With DD2 here, I'm looking for some time alone with her
4. NYC school system is crazy and this way I can keep her in a place until she's ready for Kinder and they will help with exmissions.

Parent status (WOH, SAH, PT, FT, etc.):
WOH FT
How old is LO?
2
How old was LO when you sent him or her to preschool?
She will be 3
-Daycare situation before preschool (nanny, daycare, etc.):
Daycare
-What decisions went into your making the switch?
Distance from home, kids in this school will live near us rather than near our offices. This daycare/preschool offers after school care if our daughter goes to local schools. Education. The education of the teachers and the education they offer the kids is better than where she is now. It is not a "specialty" school.

Parent status (WOH, SAH, PT, FT, etc.): SAH

How old is LO? 3

How old was LO when you sent him or her to preschool? 2

Daycare situation before preschool (nanny, daycare, etc.): at home with me

Type of school situation if already in preschool (Montessori, etc.):
It was called "hands on", like a play based school but more focused on the arts. It was between this one and a montessori, but this one was closer to our house, and more importantly I *loved* the teachers there.

What decisions went into your making the switch?
a) I had LO2 at home and wanted some time solo with him/to be able to take him to a baby class/be able to get some things done while he napped
b) all our playdate friends started preschool, so we would have been left with no social interaction during the week
c) he was very ready socially, and it was really good for us as a family

Aside- we moved and now I am trying to figure out preschool for this current year. It's tough!

Parent status: We both work outside the home, full time

How old is LO? Just turned 2

How old was LO when you sent him or her to preschool? He started in a Montessori center at 15 months and is moving to the 2 year old room this week.

Daycare situation before preschool (nanny, daycare, etc.): n/a

Type of school situation if already in preschool (Montessori, etc.): Montessori environment

What decisions went into your making the switch? We put him in the Montessori center as an infant because it was close to our home and a high quality center. We like it because he'll get a consistent quality of care until Kindergarten. Plus, they have extended care hours from 6:30am-6:00pm.

If your child is in a center daycare, its totally possible that he could get the same quality of "education" as at a traditional preschool. If the school is accredited (certified on criteria from an organization like NAEYC), has qualified teachers (in CO, all lead teachers need education in child development), and/or is a "high quality" facility (some states have lists of these places) then I'd say he's not missing anything by staying there.

Parent status (WOH, SAH, PT, FT, etc.): I SAH 3 days/week and work PT 2 days/week.

How old is LO? 24 months

How old was LO when you sent him or her to preschool? 13 months

Daycare situation before preschool (nanny, daycare, etc.): We use a nanny for the two days/week that I work.

Type of school situation if already in preschool (Montessori, etc.): He goes to a cooperative preschool where the parents help in the classroom. It's T/TH from 9-12pm during the school year.

What decisions went into your making the switch? It;'s not really a switch as he still has a nanny on M/W but I felt like he would benefit from more socialization and a structured environment. It will also be a nice opportunity for me to have some one on one time with #2.