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Any insights/opinions on living in Toluca Lake?
Flushed and fed yesterday!

Ahh get a second job. Thanks Wired.

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It’s a mixed classroom of 3 to 6 year olds and the learning tailored to the pace of each child. The teacher will give appropriate lessons and then they chose what they want to work on whether individually or in groups. The older kids also teach the younger kids. I’m sure there are informational videos you can pull up on YouTube. It’s a system that’s been around for quite some time based on the work of Maria Montessori
Don't do either and save yourself a lot of money. There are plenty of free age appropriate activities that they can do with peers his age. Look at the local library, community center or even mom groups.
My son stayed at home the whole time until kindergarten with my wife and had absolutely no trouble getting right into school. We also did a bit of "home schooling " by teaching him everything that he needed to know for kindergarten, like numbers, letters, writing them out, colors, etc. You can get some of the primer books at the dollar store and sit at a table at home and do the work.
Then in your other free time go on little field trips to a museum, park and things like that.
Thanks A1! That was another option we were considering. But my wife is contemplating getting back to work / studying, so wanted to look at options for the kid.
My kids did full day out of necessity because my wife works but my kids are so comfortable jumping into any group of kids because of it. I can see the difference in family members whose kids have minimal to no social time with other kids. I highly recommend it.
We had a full time nanny, but had our kids go to a preschool from 9-12 or so for ages 2-3 and then we started a full day Montessori at age 3 from 8:30-3:30. I think it was really good for socializing the kids at ages 2-3 and the Montessori put them in a great spot for life. They are now in junior high/high school and doing really well in school, socially, and activities. They are really kind, curious kids. Good luck!
Second the Montessori approach. Both of my kids did three years from age 3 through kindergarten and then transferred to public for first grade. It gave them both an excellent start
If you are not sure, ask. Tell them flat out that you are comparing the two and you want to know what sets them apart from a day care.
What I have seen mainly as the differences is that preschool classrooms are run by someone with a teacher certification, while a day care usually is not. That can go a long way in creating a curriculum for kids and even how the teaching method is approached.
Makes sense. Thanks! Yeah will ask them and see what they have to say
... Mon-Fri, whereas daycare is full day thrice a week (all 5 days is slightly more expensive). Wife is a SAHM so taking care of our son the remaining time isn't a problem. Main objective is to get our son comfortable with a group setting and building his social skills to prep for public school next year onwards
What is special about the Montessori approach? (Pardon my ignorance)
Thank you all for the great inputs! So looks like some form of formal preschool, even if for a few hours each day, is hugely beneficial. I guess I'm still a little confused about going the preschool or the day care route, since the day cares we've seen all have the same format and activities as what we saw in the preschool, at a slightly lower / relatively same cost, but for extended hours. Guess what's throwing me off is the high price tag for a preschool for such limited hours. Is it just the "school" tag/brand that entails the additional cost?