Preschool Vs YMCA your opinions please?

[binny]

Ok Im talking this through because its going to help make my decision.

WE have done our budget ( OY) for the fall and decided with the new house and everything we would still have enough to either send Kate to preschool or have the family join the Y but probably not both ( theyre about the same price) so please weigh in with your opnions


Y Pros
Whole family can participate, free swim classes, free yoga and sports for Cam and the girls, free daycare for 2 hours a day.

Preschool pros,
Something JUST for Kate ( important to her I suppose), learning more from someone other than mom, I would be able to volunteer more at Cams school ( though they will let me bring her too)


SO I guess The Y is way ahead. I mean I can always keep working with her at the house as a homeschool preschool kind of thing she would still get the interaction with kids at Church, the Y, and Caravans.

An opinions?

ps thanks for listening to me ramble Im just trying to ease my conscious a bit.

 

[jldriscoll]

Sounds like Kate has a lot of outlets for socialization already so I say do the Y.

I send my Emily to preschool but don't expect a lot of "learning " to happen. Mostly I want her to learn how to pay attention to another adult and learn how to play and interact with other kids her age. The "learning" we can do at home like you.

The Y would be a good way to go!! I'm always looking for things my whole family can benefit from.

 

[bsnyder]

Binny, I definitely vote for the Y.

The fact that I'm the chairman of the YMCA board here has nothing whatsoever to do with that advice, LOL!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[CamColt]

Ill be the dissenter here and go for preschool. Of course, every child is different, but going on what preschool did for my DS, I find it is extremely important. He started his first year, screaming crying running down the hall to leave. He wouldnt talk or look at anyone(school or otherwise). By the second year of preschool he was running from the car into the school while I was still getting his brother out of the car. He made friends there and he would make friends anywhere. I almost died of shock last year in WDW when he went up to some kids at the pool and asked them their names. He became a whole new kid and I credit the school for that. Even my mother who originally thought I may have started him too young has said to me over and over "Sending him to preshool was the BEST thing!". So again, just from my DS's experience with preschool I find it very important. It may not be the same for all kids.
Oh and he did learn a lot too, but the social skills and following directions/listening to the teacher were more important and he never would have learned them at home.
Good luck deciding, Binny. It is a tough choice.

 

[Kermit]

As a former preschool teacher, I'd vote for the Y hands-down. Unless you have reason to believe that she'll need something you can't offer to be ready for kindergarden, preschool isn't necessary.

 

[Mskanga]

I had DD in the Pre-school program at the Y, it was a waste of money because other than play with other children she did not learn anything. I did it basically so she could socialize and follow someone else's directions but believe when I say she didn't learn much , so with that being said, I vote for the Y , not pre-school. BTW , did I tell you that my oldest DD NEVER went to pre-school and she's a straight A's student??

 

[shortbun]

I don't know how old your DD is. If
this is the year before Kindergarten,
I'd vote for preschool-learning to get
in line and socialization skills as well
as the concept of "working" in a classroom
versus stuff at home are skills that
I was glad my child had prior to going
to K. I could spot the non preschooled
kids immediately last year, everyone
eventually got it but these days a K teacher
expects they'll come to school with these
skills. The preschool I chose was non-academic,
I did the academic stuff at home. What does
your Y have to offer in the way of child only
programs that are free? Our Y charges for
almost everything even after we join.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Having done both...I'd vote for the Y. My oldest DS did the preschool program at the Y and I see such a difference in his learning skills and habits over my younger DS. Of course, their individual personalities come into play...but I still think the Y has a great program for the preschool set.