How much $$ for preschool?

[2littleones07]

My son is only 3


we pay $70 a month
2 days a week 2 1/2 hours a day
privite
loves it so much glad we did it

religion is part of the curiculum at my sons preschool and its on there level and I love that he is learning I dont come from a religious background so I wanted him to be very involved with it they learn songs, stories with crafts and just in an overall fun way

[aimeebee]

I have a question for those of you who use a faith based program. How much religion is part of the curiculum? Our church does not sponsor a preschool program, but I wouldn't be opposed to sending her to another church's program if the extent of the religion is bible songs and basic bible stories.

Our preschool is at the Christian church, but it is mostly academic. At Christmas, I remember one craft activity where they made a little nativity and one religious song at the Christmas program out of about 25 songs they sang. The worksheets, crafts and daily activities are almost entirely about learning things like letters, numbers, writing, shapes, colors, very basic reading, etc.

I'm guessing that the amount of religion incorporated in their curriculum depends a lot on the specific preschool, church, or teacher.

[momof2inohio]

We paid 95.00 a month for 3 afternoons a week 2 1/2 hours for my daughter. When my son was in preschool we paid around 150 per month for the same hours and days but we lived in a different city at the time. They both loved preschool and couldnt wait to go.

[cintinative]

Honestly, I have to go with thewoman on this one. Only if you absolutely have to would I put my tiny one in preschool at that age. Playgroups would be a much less traumatic and less expensive option. There just isn't a lot that a teacher can do with one so young for 4.5 hours, and I wouldn't want mine away from me just for the heck of it for that long.

I was just looking into a church one for my son who is turning 4 and it is 3 days a week/2.5 hours per day and $1155 per year (9 months). Expensive!

If you are looking for play groups, try the MOMs club. They have geographic based groups for SAHMs with playgroups and social outings. But I would agree--at 2, your child needs you more than anyone else. =)

[smiles]

My sister has just started my 15 month old nephew in daycare. She is a single mom and has to work. He is an only child and has stayed home with him to this point. She pays $195 per week for the daycare. She does get some assistance being a single mom. He can go anytime from 6am-6:30pm are the hours. She has been taking him there from around 9am-1pm for now until he gets used to it. It's great for him being an only child to get social interaction with other children. Since he started he has been walking more, which he used to not walk at all even though he could. He is a lot more verbal. With the toddlers they have a morning program where they have structured play, language lessons through play, art, music, ect. They get breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The afternoon they have nap, and then play until the parents get them.

It just depends on what your child needs. If you just want social interaction for your children then maybe just a mom's group though a town or church would be good. If you want your child used to school check out different programs and see what they have to offer. Anyplace will allow you to visit and check things over, and some places do have a waiting list.

[justmama]

Ds7 has a Oct birthday, in Feb following his 2nd birthday, he went to a co-op Kids Morning Out 2 days a week, for $15 a MONTH. After 2 weeks, he came home and during nap time, wrote all 15 kids in his 'class' names on his bedroom wall.

He went 2 years at the preschool at our church, we also have a full school through 12th grade. Ds10 also went, before it was a full school. When ds10 went it was 75/month, it was 110/month when ds7 went. It was for 4 days M-Th 8-11:30.

[sns4063]

Directly from my kids' daycare handbook, the goals:

"We want each child to: 1. Enjoy many experiences of being successful; to find out that he/she is a person valued for his/her unique being. 2. Develop a good self image. 3. Satisfy a natural curiosity to question, explore and experiment. 4. Develop cognitive and readiness skills to equip him/her for elementary education.
We seek to provide an appropriate atmosphere and optimal learning environment for our children, allowing them to grow creatively, emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially at his/her own pace."

The "Curriculum": "We use a development approach to early learning in our classes. The child can seek his/her own pace with activities that interests him. It allows ach child to be an individual and encourages independence. How a young child learns is as important as what he learns. "Play" is how this learning takes place. A child learns by doing. Constructive play helps him acquire confidence........"

In regards to the religious aspect of the daycare: "We celebrate holidays from a Christian perspective. We celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday and Easter as His Resurrection and New Life. We use some of the secular symbols that children are familiar with and link them to the Christian experience. We dye Easter eggs not in preparation for the Easter bunny, but rather to celebrate Easter Sunday and Christ's precious gift to us."

I'm not really religious, but don't mind my children being exposed to this. As for the rest of the "curriculum", not one thing that it says (and what the daycare actually does) seems like it's pushing kids further than necessary. My children love learning new things. If you think it's too early for a two year old to learn their ABC's, then good for you. My kids enjoy it.