AmerLisa

That is the nice thing about preschool - is that its recognized as day care so you can claim it as such.

bevinva

I remember when my kids started school the teachers said most of the pre-school kids had been taught to write in all capitals and they had a hard time reteaching them. Something you might want to watch out for, it's been a few years things may have changed! With my youngest I was doing in home daycare and the social aspect was taken care of that way. The school gave me a list of all the things they needed to learn and I "played school" with the kids at home. I always found it easier to deal with a small group of kids than one bored kid on their own.

TimFountain

This is true, with one proviso, you both have to be working. If only 1 is working and you put the nipper(s) into pre-school, you can't claim the fees as a deduction. I think this applies to the OP as she said she wanted to get the kid out of the house for a number of days per week....

- Tim

big_fish

Is that correct? - I thought if only one of you was working then you couldn't claim anything for childcare.

We start paying in Sept, about $180/mth for 2 mornings a week.

TimFountain

Fixed, you are right, I mean't to say can't....

britintexas

I paid $600 a month 20 years ago for my son to go to Montessori in the UK - it was full time - 8am - 5pm - the food was brought in by caterers and they were taught French! My son went from the time he was 3 mths old till he was 4 (started school full time) but went back for the school holidays!!

Michael

You can take a income deduction of up to $1000 per child per year if your income is below a certain amount and either parent is not working.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Child-Care...lify&id=287888

You can take a tax credit of up to $3,000 per child per year if both parents work.

scbrit

When I left the states in 07 I was paying $100 per week for full time (pretty average rate for the area), here in the UK I pay about $180 per week for part time

Lord Lionheart

Are you sure you have checked all resources? There are a lot of pre-schools here in CA where people feel a need to compete with the Jones' and pay ridiculous fees of $15K a year to give their toddler the right start. ( and they can afford it). We sent our kid to a State school, the cost was $90 a month.
Here in LA it seems it's the parents that feel the need to get their kids into 'the best schools' at a very early age ...................... when all they do is paint pictures, sing songs and count to 10. Social Darwinism and being competitive starts very early here in the States.
We prefer to let our kids be kids and have a childhood. Even in the State school my wife and I laugh at the attitude of some of the parents trying to push their 3 and 4 year olds. I've commented that it must be unbearable when the kids get older and actually start competing for scholarships and places on sports teams

ironporer

We have the exact same dilema...and all want $130-150/week. F***ing ludicrous for places that pay their "teachers" $7 / hr!!

pippermint

My daughter goes to preschool 3 days a week (9:30-3:30) and it costs $650 a month. How many days would you get for your $300??

pippermint

sorry ...$225

kins

My kids go to a co-op pre-school in Maine, which means I have to volunteer at least once a month helping out in the classroom, as well as doing plenty of other jobs to help cut costs.

We pay $95 a month for 2 x 2.5 hours a week, then it goes up to $125 a week for 3 x 2.5 hours a week when they're four.

They all end up in the Yarmouth school system no matter which pre-school they go to, and they seem very happy there - there's no competitiveness or pushiness.

It would've been cheaper in the UK (nursery vouchers for all three year olds) but then they would've been put in school at four and at least one of mine wasn't ready at that point.

JULIEROSE

Yes Lord Lionheart I checked all schools in the county within a 25 mile range of where I live and they range from $225 to much more. If we had a State pre-school for 3-4 year olds my son would have been attending one last year. Unfortunately, the State of Virginia does not give free pre-school so we have to pay and go private. I just don't want my children to have to suddenly go to Kindergarden full time when they are 5 for full days. I want to ease them into it and have them get used to a school a few mornings a week first.

I have found a private school called Busy Bees with great reviews from other Mothers in the area. It is for $225 for 4 half days a week. The school is not in my town but the next village about 15 miles away. My moms club have given the teacher great reviews and three have some of their kids there. She takes them on field trips and they get a year book and many have come on great so with writing skills etc. Even though I am being cheap (I cannot afford more than a few hundred a month right now being a military one income family) I think it is a good school and my son will have fun, learn lots and enjoy it. I hope... I would rather save the $15k a year pre-school fees for college later on.

JULIEROSE

Hi peppermint. 4 half days a week for $225 a month.