Daycare or preschool – which is better?

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Daycare or preschool – which is better?

Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:54

It’s the last year before Sam starts School, and being a new mum I am watching the battle lines being drawn between day care and pre-school – or at least, the perceptions some people have that pre-school is by far superior. Sam will continue at his daycare center this year. Amongst our friends and acquaintances quite a few have taken their children out of daycare centers and sent them to preschool. The perception seems to be that pre-school is better than “wasteful time” at daycare, and that children will learn more and be better prepared for school. Mmmm. It’s a debate I am happy to not worry too much about. Sam is currently joyously playing with NSW Year 6 Maths books. And reading about space and the phases of the moon (did you know that if you bang something on the moon, there would be no noise because there is no air to carry sound?) So I am not sure that pre-school is going to do anything for him from an educational perspective. What I want for Sam is that he is happy. When I pick him up from daycare, he is bouncing around with energy. He seems to be enjoying all the social activities and just talking and running around with everyone. At his daycare, they will I am sure start to prepare him, along with all the others in his age group, for school later this year. They will have more routines, pack a lunchbox….. If Sam is maturing, happy and confident with all his other friends, then that’s the best environment for now I think.

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