Preschool vs. Daycare?

[mamac]

So I asked this question in the wrong place (another thread) and didn't get any answers and I'm curious what your opinions are...
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What exactly defines a "formal" preschool curriculum vs. play based learning vs. someone like me who really has no clue what they're doing but wants to have a schedule of things to do so the kids will learn. (with no experience other than raising my own 2 kids)

I want to call my DC ***XX family daycare and preschool. I added the preschool part because I want parents to know that I will make every effort to teach their children and ready them for kindergarten and not just plop them in front of a tv all day, but I don't want to fall short of their expectations either by calling myself a preschool. But I also want them to know it's a home setting, hence the "daycare" part.

If my experience with this goes well my husband and I are considering getting a separate building and expanding in the future. I think advertising with the preschool name is more prestigious than just a "daycare" especially when there are people out there that just don't "get" what DC providers do.

Am I setting myself up for trouble using the "preschool" name with no formal teaching experience? If I am trying to teach them, even through play-based, can I still use that name?

[WImom]

I run my childcare like a preschool but since I don't have a degree I chose "Learning Place" at the end instead of preschool. I didn't want the word daycare/childcare/home in the title. I think it's helped get kids in here and all the parents call my house "school".

[Country Kids]

I run my childcare like a preschool but since I don't have a degree I chose "Learning Place" at the end instead of preschool. I didn't want the word daycare/childcare/home in the title. I think it's helped get kids in here and all the parents call my house "school".

I also left any words out of my name that relates to a daycare/preschool. It used to have those words in it but after a name change and changing some other things I find I'm drawing a much more "professional" group of parents. All my parents refer me also as a school and my kids refer to me as "teacher ***". Even when I did this as a daycare/preschool my parents refered to me as teacher **** and one of my the kids still refer to me that way and they are going into highschool-

[mamac]

I run my childcare like a preschool but since I don't have a degree I chose "Learning Place" at the end instead of preschool. I didn't want the word daycare/childcare/home in the title. I think it's helped get kids in here and all the parents call my house "school".

I also left any words out of my name that relates to a daycare/preschool. It used to have those words in it but after a name change and changing some other things I find I'm drawing a much more "professional" group of parents. All my parents refer me also as a school and my kids refer to me as "teacher ***". Even when I did this as a daycare/preschool my parents refered to me as teacher **** and one of my the kids still refer to me that way and they are going into highschool-

I thought about leaving out the daycare but I thought it might appeal to those parents, like me, that wanted their child in a home setting so they could still be a child and play and not in a regimented classroom. Learning Center sounds nice but I'm still not sure about "living up to what the name implies. Now I'm having second thoughts on the name I chose. :confused: I haven't started advertising yet so there's still time to change it. I'm not sure what would benefit me in the long run..... (providing I end up loving what I do and wish to continue long-term)

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have "Learning Center" in my name and I am a Preschool. I am a certified EC-6th grade teacher and choose to do this, it wasn't a forced option. Plenty of people still seek me out (every one of my clients) for Preschool despite my name not having "Preschool" in it. I advertise as such and my website makes it quite clear.

[mamac]

I have "Learning Center" in my name and I am a Preschool. I am a certified EC-6th grade teacher and choose to do this, it wasn't a forced option. Plenty of people still seek me out (every one of my clients) for Preschool despite my name not having "Preschool" in it. I advertise as such and my website makes it quite clear.

So what defines a "preschool"? Do I need certain qualifications to say that? I'm just a mom who wants to have more time with her own kids, while making a difference in other children's lives at the same time. I enjoyed teaching my kids everything I could while I was able to be home with them, but I'm worried that it might not be enough to live up to the name. (but I like the sound of it)

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

So what defines a "preschool"? Do I need certain qualifications to say that? I'm just a mom who wants to have more time with her own kids, while making a difference in other children's lives at the same time. I enjoyed teaching my kids everything I could while I was able to be home with them, but I'm worried that it might not be enough to live up to the name. (but I like the sound of it)

I would say you need to have a curriculum, a structured schedule, and developmentally appropriate toys that encourage exploration and learning. Some things that are important to my clients are writing, reading (beginning level -- phonics, blending, sight words), beginning math, science, and cooperative play.

You'll come across a lot of parents who LOVE worksheets, so if you don't (I don't! They aren't developmentally appropriate!) then you'll have to gently educate them as to WHY that is not appropriate.

[mamac]

I would say you need to have a curriculum, a structured schedule, and developmentally appropriate toys that encourage exploration and learning. Some things that are important to my clients are writing, reading (beginning level -- phonics, blending, sight words), beginning math, science, and cooperative play.

You'll come across a lot of parents who LOVE worksheets, so if you don't (I don't! They aren't developmentally appropriate!) then you'll have to gently educate them as to WHY that is not appropriate.

I do plan on having a schedule, but I'm not worried about activities overlapping or being skipped if they are really enjoying themselves. I don't have a curriculum mainly because I haven't quite figured out how to make one yet. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home for a good portion of the every year (prior to dc) and I think I did a pretty good job of teaching my own kids all those things. I just don't know how to organize it all.

As for worksheets, I'm [B]assuming you're talking about the type of papers my kindergartener comes home with. I hadn't planned on using anything like that. The only book I have is with pull-outs is a cutting book.(scissor skills)

You'll come across a lot of parents who LOVE worksheets, so if you don't (I don't! They aren't developmentally appropriate!) then you'll have to gently educate them as to WHY that is not appropriate.

I'm not sure even I would know..... I have no teaching background whatsoever.

Anyway, this is what I have for a schedule.
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Our Daily Schedule

7:00am – 9:00am Children arrive, Breakfast, Free Play

9:00am – 10:00am Circle Time – Morning songs, Calendar,
Letter & Number for Week

10:00am – 10:30am Snack Prep, Snack, Clean-up

10:30am – 11:30am Group Activity, Outside Play

11:30am – 12:30pm Lunch Prep, Lunch, Clean-up,
Free Play

12:30pm – 1:00pm Story Time, Tooth Brushing

1:00pm – 3:00pm Quiet Time, Nap Time, Infant Tummy Time

3:00pm – 3:30pm Group Activity – Colors, Shapes, etc.

3:30pm – 4:00pm Snack Prep, Snack, Clean-up

4:00pm – 5:00pm Free Play, Clean-up, Parent Pick up

*Group Activity is a time during which all children come together to participate in daily calendar and weather activities, story time, sharing time (show & tell), cooking, singing and learning about the theme of the week (colors, shapes, etc.). During this time the children practice sitting with their legs crossed, raising their hands and listening while others speak, which will help prepare them for kindergarten.

*Free Play is a time for self-directed play activities. The children use this time to make friends, cooperate, share with others and visit with the teachers. The self-directed activities include manipulatives (puzzles, lacing, sorting, etc.), building (blocks, Legos), dramatic (play house, babies, dress-up, workbench, cars) and an assortment of other toys and books.

**Note: This is only a general guideline of your child's daily activities; our schedule may vary due to infants in care, children's wishes, special activity days, school schedules, etc.
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Any help or suggestions on anything that would help me would be greatly appreciated! I'm running out of time to get my act together!!!!