Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I'm considering enrolling DS in daycare this fall. He will be 18m old in September.

Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preschool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

No, not necessarily BETTER prepared. I would say they are def. prepared though.

Jack has been home with me for the first two years and now goes to a nursery school twice a week. Next year he will go three times a week. There are plenty of ways besides Daycare to help prepare them I believe.

He was in numerous music classes, gym classes, storytimes, art classes. I really had him out and about as early as six months so that he didn't fall behind since he wasn't in daycare.

Message edited 5/11/2010 2:04:36 PM.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

My kids have been in Daycare and Preschool since babies. (They had to be) I personally think it's VERY helpful and they do learn sooooo much besides the socialization skills. I don't think I could find the time to "teach" all that my kids have learned in Preschool at home with everything else that needs to get done there. Don't get me wrong, many moms do it everyday, but for me, I don't think I would have had the time if I was able to SAH. But I guess you never know. I don't think that kids "need" to go to Preschool FT or anything, but I do think that some kind of PT schedule at some point is very good for them. From my experience, I feel that it does better prepare them as they grow! Good luck!

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

If I'm going to generalize, I'd say Yes.

But there are 5,000 variables that could make that go either way - so it really depends on the kid, the parent, the daycare, etc etc etc

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Judging my son alone, I say No. He is not in daycare but is exposed to many classes and activities with me, and he is so smart for his age. He already knows letters, counts to 20, etc.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Message edited 5/11/2010 2:10:06 PM.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Yes..I do, I really do....

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I would say in general, yes. Depending on the daycare.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I think yes, but I think that any child that is in preschool would have the same "advantage".

They are just more familiar with a classroom setting, paying attention to the teacher, mommy/daddy leaving, being with kids their own age, figuring things out and working in groups, etc.

I don't think it necessarily makes a huge difference in their success in school long term, but I do think daycare/preschool prepares them for the transition to real school. Not just the "academics" of letter, numbers, reading, etc but just being in a classroom environment.

I could see a child who has little or no experience in a classroom setting having a difficult time adjusting since it is so new. However, at one time daycare/preschool didn't exist and we all got through kindergarten so I'm sure they would work it out.

If I SAH and didn't need daycare, I would want my child in a preschool program for part of the day for that experience.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

No. I don't think so. My mom never had me in daycare and I did great in preschool and elementary school. I would expect my DD to be just fine when the time comes for preschool even though she never once stepped foot in a daycare. It's not to say kids in daycare don't learn a lot but kids at home with their moms learn a lot too and I don't feel she will be any less prepared having a SAHM than a child who was in daycare. Just my opinion!

Message edited 5/11/2010 2:48:25 PM.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I am only familiar with what goes on with MY child, so from my perspective, I'm going to say no.

I worked until my older DD was 20 mos. (she was watched by family) and have been a SAHM ever since. At 24 mos. she went to playschool for 2 hours on Fridays (and we did Just Wee Two together at that age). At age three, she went PT 3 days. At age four (currently), she goes to Pre-K full-time. She is shy by nature, but had zero transition issues. In a way I think that *may* be because she had varied experiences each year.

In November, her teacher told me, "Whenever the children aren't sure what they need to do, I always tell them to look at Katherine because she's always doing EXACTLY what it is we should be doing." She has never missed ONE day of school (or camp) ever--excuse me, yes she has...she had a mysterious strep issue last month although she had virtually no symptoms and was fine.

No regrets here that she hasn't been in school since three months. Although if she had, I'm sure she'd be the same kid.

As another poster mentioned, I think no matter the path you choose, I don't think it's going to have a long-term effect one way or the other...

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Posted by Hofstra26

No. I don't think so. My mom never had me in daycare and I did great in preschool and elementary school. I would expect my DD to be just fine when the time comes for preschool even though she never once stepped foot in a daycare. It's not to say kids in daycare don't learn a lot but kids at home with their moms learn a lot too and I don't feel she will be any less prepared having a SAHM than a child who was in daycare. Just my opinion!

Message edited 5/11/2010 3:09:20 PM.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by Hofstra26

No. I don't think so. My mom never had me in daycare and I did great in preschool and elementary school. I would expect my DD to be just fine when the time comes for preschool even though she never once stepped foot in a daycare. It's not to say kids in daycare don't learn a lot but kids at home with their moms learn a lot too and I don't feel she will be any less prepared having a SAHM than a child who was in daycare. Just my opinion!

I think the question is really more around being in some sort or preschool/daycare formal classroom setting prior to kindergarten.

I think the SAH child who has no exposure to preschool would have a tough time adjusting to kindergarten initially, but a SAH child who went to preschool and a child in daycare would probably be on par.

Ever kid has an adjustment period when they first enter a classroom-it's just a matter of when that adjustment happens. Whether it's an adjustment when they first start daycare as infant, an adjustment when the first start preschool at 3 or 4 or and adjustment to pre-K or K-it eventually happens.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Yes I do. I think they're in more of a routine of a "school" & used to being around other kids, navigating with sharing, etc.

That's not to say another kid couldn't be prepared. I just don't know a lot of SAHMs that have a schedule of "now we do arts & crafts, then we are going to do circle time, etc"

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I really think it depends on the child.

I do feel like MY child will be very prepared for school - if the childhood illness/immunity thing is true then she's DEFINITELY got that on her side since she got sick all the fricken time her first year in day care.

But *I* didn't go to day care. My mom was home with me until I was at least 3 and then I was with a babysitter... I walked into my first day of kindergarten and waved goodbye to my mother like it was nothing... so who knows?

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

I think they know a lot about socialization and following rules that they cannot necessarily learn at home (unless they are one of a number of siblings maybe). But is daycare better than preschool? I wouldn't say it is necessarily, though if you plan to look for work it makes much more sense IMO.

Re: Do you think daycare kids are better prepared for preshool?

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by Hofstra26

No. I don't think so. My mom never had me in daycare and I did great in preschool and elementary school. I would expect my DD to be just fine when the time comes for preschool even though she never once stepped foot in a daycare. It's not to say kids in daycare don't learn a lot but kids at home with their moms learn a lot too and I don't feel she will be any less prepared having a SAHM than a child who was in daycare. Just my opinion!

I think the question is really more around being in some sort or preschool/daycare formal classroom setting prior to kindergarten.

I think the SAH child who has no exposure to preschool would have a tough time adjusting to kindergarten initially, but a SAH child who went to preschool and a child in daycare would probably be on par.

Ever kid has an adjustment period when they first enter a classroom-it's just a matter of when that adjustment happens. Whether it's an adjustment when they first start daycare as infant, an adjustment when the first start preschool at 3 or 4 or and adjustment to pre-K or K-it eventually happens.

ITA with you in that yes, a child who is placed in preschool with fair better IMO as a teacher in Kindergarten than a child who has not attended preschool. But the OP asked if daycare kids do better in preschool than those who stay at home in which case, as I've stated, I don't believe that to be true.