Daycare or montessori for 3 yr old...

Breeze, whether to choose a daycare or a Montessori completely depends on what you believe in and what you feel comfortable with. When my DD was 14 months old, I joined her in a home-based daycare. I wanted her to be in a home environment at that age where there was a right mix of regulated play and motherly cuddles. She still continues to go there and in sept she will be joining school.

Since he is 3 already, maybe its better to consider Montessori setup where the day is more structured and school like. He will be starting JKG soon anyway.

As for potty training, here the public schools expect the kids to be potty trained before they start JKG. not sure in US

 

Hi Breeze, my advice would be to get a tour of both Montessori and the daycare you want him to send to. We looked at Montessori for our son (he is ~2.5) and didn't like the concept/ structure. My son goes to a daycare and he has been there since he turned 18 months (before that we had a nanny). He loves his daycare. You can ask teachers to help him potty train. Since most kids in the room will be using toilet, your son might want to try it too (kids like to imitate). My son is not fully potty trained yet either but we are working on it. Our daycare offers a lot of activities- swimming 3 days a week, once a week gym bus, ballroom, sandpit, dress up room, indoor bicycle track, outdoor play area, painting room with easels, number of projects, reading, singing etc. They have a very structured day and even my non-napper takes a 2 hr nap because they run around a lot and get tired. Most daycares also have a preschool/ kindergarten program as well.
Just get a feel and see what you like. Good luck!

 

So true.

My son is soon to be 4 and he used to go to a traditional preschool until he was 3 and the last 7 months in a montessori. He is a super shy kid. Positives are he gets more individual attention and for shy kids, the extra attention seems very important. Downside is he is becoming more silent. In a preschool too, we had the same complaint - he is very quiet...he did not learn anything there...the teachers often did not even realize that he was around. We have now changed him from full day to half day(3.5 hrs) at the montessori...with grand parents around most of the day, he is opening up now...my mom now complains that they cant get him to shut his mouth...

 

I have a feeling he is going to enjoy the montessori method. You will see him get more structured. Do make sure the one you are going to is a certified montessori....there are a lot of places that are not really montessori around.

 

Nuss,
That seems to be a very good daycare which has so many programs for kids.
Montessori would be good but the montessori nearby our home only takes potty trained kids. My son isnt potty trained yet. he doesnt show any interest on it. we had to reserve it before year and half to get admission. finally they said it will be available in septmeber but he needs to be potty trained.