Counting, letters and penmanship — it’s hard to believe that Cohen will be starting preschool this fall. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital as nervous first-time parents.
For months now, I have been researching preschools. There are many different things parents need to consider while looking for schools including: morning or afternoon session, two or three days a week, prices, activities and locations. Who knew there were all these things to consider?
Trying to pick a preschool is more difficult than picking a college. Not to mention, you need to preplan everything. From paperwork to immunization records, making copies of this and that and filling out endless forms was a slight headache. Some preschools started taking applications on the first of the year — seven months before the school year even begins!
Many years ago when Mitch and I originally had the “children” conversation, we always agreed on two children. But that’s where the conversation stopped because we could never agree on schools. I attended a private school from kindergarten to high school. Mitch went to public school. So where would we send our children?
It finally came down to cost, time and location.
Consider Cost
We called and visited several different preschools. Some of the preschools even consisted of a tennis court and a nature center. There are even some schools that had waiting lists. I had no idea what signing Cohen up for preschool entailed.
The underlying problem was cost. I found out that sending children to preschool is not cheap. Between preschool and daycare, we could not afford many of the programs I wanted Cohen to join. I heard great things about these “ivy league” schools but we couldn’t afford them plus the added expense of daycare.
Think About Time
The other big factor was time. Mitch and I both work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and most preschools are three hours per day for two or three days a week. How do parents get their kids to and from school when they work fulltime? Sure there are some preschools that have full days Monday through Friday, but the full days are only until 3 p.m. After then, you pay extra for an afterschool program.
Look at Location
Preschool is not required for children to attend, however we felt if we didn’t send Cohen he would fall behind when he entered kindergarten. We considered changing daycare providers and sending him to one that includes school, but we like our in-home daycare.
After many phone calls, budget crunching and a discussion with our daycare provider, Mitch and I realized we needed a cost-effective preschool that was close to our daycare.
It was a difficult decision overall, but we know no matter where we send Cohen, he will flourish. Now, to finish the paperwork!
Mallory Connelly
Babies & Toddlers
In addition to the time I devote to being a mom, I also work full-time outside the home, which means my day is hardly ever as simple as nine to five. With an all-too-established schedule, as soon as I walk through the door, my day doesn’t end, but rather just begins. It’s a balancing act, especially with two children, but being a mom is one full-time job that I never want to quit!
