How common is it to send your child to preschool in NoVa? (daycare, income)

[ShannonMilligan]

Working Hard-that is a huge generalization..."finding a shelf to stick the kid on while you work." My kids go to Kindercare and we love everything about it. Now, we did check out 2 other Kindercares and 2 other facilities and found this particular one to be best for us. You can find a preschool where the teachers are just as disinterested in teaching as one at a daycare. Or you can go to a preschool and find great teachers as you can at some daycares. It all comes down to who is running the place and their beliefs as humans and educators.
Yes, there are a lot of spanish speaking individuals at daycares and preschools. BUT I think that is a wonderful ADVANTAGE. Not only do my kids get exposed to another culture but they also are learning another language-that can only benefit them when they are in school and in their adult life. (Lord knows I wish I knew more spanish than just the two years I studied)
I am glad your daughter seems to be doing great-that's awesome!

[Workin_Hard]

I'm glad you found an option that's the best for you. That was the whole point of my reply, to examine all the options and determine what is best for your particular circumstance. As for the Spanish language thing, that's also a matter of personal preference and I'm sure has been exhaustively debated in other sections of C-D. (I don't want to take this thread off-topic.) In our case, we ruled out several places for that reason alone in being concerned with the level of care provided or the people involved. My daughter is learning another language, which is my wife's first language, and doing quite well with it - much better than I am at times.

The school where she's at provides wonderful care and I have no concerns whatsoever knowing that she's in a safe, nuturing place with people I can trust. Being able to go to work each day without worries about her being there is priceless.

[ShannonMilligan]

That's great she is learning a language...I only wish someone had taught me when I was so young that I could soak it up!

[car54]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

I think most people in this highly educated, rich area send their kids to preschool. Preschool is much better than day care and really prepares your child for school. By the time my son left preschool he knew his alphabet and could read a little - he was even bored in Kindergarten because he learned it all already. Preschool also teaches a child social skills and gets them used to the structure of school. I wish they had it when I was a kid.............

Hey Mom, back in the Stone Age around here, they had something called "nursery school" for 4-year olds. Then, of course, Kindergarten for 5-year olds. I attended both....but I don't think FCPS offered either in the 50's because I went to a private school in Arlington for nursery and K.

The building is still there! Barcroft Community House

It was a one-room school in Arlington County Public Schools until 1925.

[springfieldva]

Both of my kids attended preschool for several years. 2 hours, twice a week when they were little. 4 hours, 2 or 3 times a week when they were older.

Preschool really helped them to adjust quickly to full day K. They easily separated from me and had the stamina to get through a full day of school.

[Denton56]

Yes, nearly every child in FC goes to pre school. In over 25 years, I've never met a child in NOVA who did not attend pre school.

[stacylee926]

Just another thought... sending kids to preschool helps them get their immune systems stronger. Granted that means more runny noses earlier on, but it does make a difference when they get into Kindergarten, so there are less sick days. Plus, I think the social environment is something that younger children really need. Sharing takes on whole new meaning when children go to school compared to home .

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

Just another thought... sending kids to preschool helps them get their immune systems stronger. Granted that means more runny noses earlier on, but it does make a difference when they get into Kindergarten, so there are less sick days. Plus, I think the social environment is something that younger children really need. Sharing takes on whole new meaning when children go to school compared to home .

Very true. My kids got lots of colds, stomach viruses, etc. when they were in preschool. But they haven't had to miss much time from elementary school at all.

And it was good that they entered K already knowing how to take turns, share, etc. It made the transition to K go very smoothly.

[claremarie]

Although preschool seems to be universal, I do know several families in McLean who chose to wait until kindergarten (or first grade, in one case) to send their children to school.
IMO, the best reason to send a child to preschool is to give him a place other than your own home for messy art projects, and to give him a person other than you to direct same, while you hit the gym.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

As an educator, I think that preschool is a huge must for developing social skills. When I was a kid, that's what we did in kindergarten, but academic standards are different now. You don't have to find a preschool that is going to teach your child rocket-science, but I think it's important for kids to get a good foundation for social structure, behavior boundaries and basic academics.