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twins r fun
12-09-2003, 11:47 PM
Okay, I need someone to hash through this with me. Please give me some feedback, even if you're not an expert on preschools-just from a common sense perspective! I've been looking into some cooperative preschools to put the boys in next fall. They will be almost 3, but because of their birthday will go in a two year old program. I'm looking into coops because I want them in a preschool only setting, not a daycare/preschool combo. There are some non-coop preschools around here, but only a few that take two year olds and the ones that do, work on a lottery system and I doubt I'll be able to get both kids in that way.

Here's my issues: I started this preschool journey with the idea that the boys didn't really need to be in preschool at two, but it would be a nice break for me. If I don't do a preschool I will sign us up for parent/child classes 2-3 days/week, just so we have something to do. Now that I've observed a few preschools, I think that a preschool experience does have some advantages for them over parent/child classes-consistency, independence, more time in the activity (2-2.5 hours vs 1 hour at most parent/child classes). But I still feel we could manage without it. Now the drawbacks to the co-ops is that I'm not sure I'm going to get my money's worth in the "time for me" department. I would have to work once every 2-3 weeks (because I have 2 kids in the program). I would also have to serve on a committee and do some other things. That all seems doable, until you throw a third child into the mix. I'd be co-oping 1-1.5 years from now so a third child is a very likely possibility by then. Most places set up a babysitting swap, but of course I'd have to swap back so that would mean I'd lose another day of "time for me/time for baby" so out of a month of preschool. I'd only get the benefits of about half the time, the boys of course would get the benefits of all of it. I guess half is better than nothing, but I would be paying $175-200/month (total) plus $300-500 in other yearly fees. Does this seem worthwhile? What are some angles I'm not thinking of?

Thanks for any feedback!

egoldber
12-10-2003, 02:47 PM
Nicole, you've pretty neatly summed up why I'm not interested in a co-op preschool! LOL! Honestly, I also do prechool to get me time, and working at the preschool is not my idea of me time.

Sarah's preschool is a childcare/preschool combination and its a wonderful prgoram. The teacher is a preschool teacher, not a daycare teacher. She's only responsible for the preschool part of the day. And she is a trained and credentialed early childhood specialist and teacher, not a daycare worker, if you know what I mean. The two assistants in the classroom are daycare workers and take care of the kids who are there before and after preschool. (Both are wonderful women who've been there for years and Sarah adores them as well as the teacher.) Probably half of Sarah's class is preschool only and half are there all day.

Honestly, I'd keep looking. If you don't want a prechool/childcare combination, there are probably others in your area, although places that are preschool only tend to be a bit more expensive. And local churches may have Mothers Day Out programs that are essentially preschools.

HTH,

twins r fun
12-11-2003, 03:11 PM
Thanks Beth! I'm so tired of trying to figure this out-I like the way you did it better-quick, simple, and you're happy as could be! I did talk to someone with twins and she had no problem getting both kids in with a lottery system so I will check into the two or three non co-op preschools with two year old programs that use this system.

raynjen
12-17-2003, 01:55 AM
Yikes! I had no idea that "preschool" was supposed to cost that much! I guess we really lucked out. Our school costs $165 a month -that is for three days a week four hours a day. They have a 2 year old class, a 3 year old class, and two 4 year old classes. This isn't a cooperative at all, but they do ask parents to donate some supplies to help keep the costs down (paper products, baby wipes, cleaning products, etc.) The school is run through our church as an outreach program so maybe that is why it doesn't cost as much. DD was able to start the 2 year old class this year as the program director knew her through church and knew she was advanced for her age.

As an aside I highly recommend a school rather than parent/child classes especially since you will be trying for baby #3! Keeping looking, the perfect program is out there somewhere for you,
Good Luck

Jen in Okinawa
Mom to Noelle (10/25/01)

twins r fun
12-17-2003, 03:35 PM
That cost is for 2 kids. I think the non-coop three day programs around here are about the same as your cost (well, some are drastically more, but a lot of the church run ones are about that). Though I think they are in general 3 hours/day, not 4.

Anyway, still wroking on this decision!