Choosing Preschool Over Day Care

Some parents want to know if they should send their children to preschool or to day care. These are both great options for children, but there are a few things that you should consider before choosing one. First, you need to consider the age of your child and your specific needs. Take a closer look at both preschools and day cares in your area to determine which option may be the best for you and your child.

A Closer Look at Day Care

First, take a look at day care. Usually day care is available for children starting at around 6 weeks of age and going up to school age. Most parents that enroll their children in day care do this so that they can go to work during the day. You will usually be able to drop your child off early in the morning before work and pick them up after work when they go to a day care. This is because the hours of operation are usually somewhere between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. with extended day care hours available at some specific locations. Usually they will be looked after, fed, and given the opportunity to play with others their age while they are at day care.

A Closer Look at Preschool

Next, you will want to take a look at preschool. Usually children that go to preschool will go two to five days per week. Some preschools are every day, and others are only Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or Tuesday and Thursday- or some variation of days during the week. Normally, the hours will not be all day like a day care either. If you do not work, or you have only part time hours during the week- preschool may be a great option. It is usually available for children starting around two and a half years old and going up to around age five. This is meant for a time for children to be able to learn more about the concepts that they will start to learn about in kindergarten. It is really a chance for them to get used to the classroom setting before they are put into a kindergarten classroom for a full school day.

A Preschool and Day Care Combined

Another option that you may have is finding a day care that offers a preschool curriculum for the preschool aged children. This is a really excellent choice for those parents that need the flexibility that comes along with the hours of operation at a day care, but also want their children to benefit from the concepts and teaching that goes on in a preschool environment. This may really be your best option if both parents in the home work and you need to have day care for your child. Take a look at any preschools, day cares, and other establishments in your area and find one that will work well with your schedule, flexibility and budget and enroll your child today.

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