Not sending DD to 4 yr kindergarten...WDYT?

Ginger123

So I have been debating on sending DD#2 to 4 year old kindergarten next year. I actually posted about this a while ago. She will be turning 4 in May.

I think I am going to hold her back one more year. We have been home schooling her since September and she is doing very well with it and I plan to continue with that next year. The only openings at the school are for 3 day/week afternoons. She is still on the edge of needing a nap during the afternoon and get sleepy (this is usually the time when she takes a break from playing). This could change though by September. She doesn't want to go to school. I think this might be a separation issue and I am involving her in activities that are away from home and w/out a parent so that we can socialize her more and help her become more comfortable. She has fun once is there.

Do you think that she will be at any disadvantage to hold her back until 5K? Is anyone else waiting until 5K to start their DS in school? 

JOEBunny

I am not super pro-school, but here, 50% of 4 year olds go to public pre-school 32.5 hours a week, and the others are either go to daycare or are in some sort of private program.  Virtually none are at home full time.  I would probably do the 3X in the afternoon, but my DD has not napped since she turned 2, so I can't even imagine having a 4 year old who napped :-) 

My DD will be going about 15 hours a week and that is the minimum that is offered.  

ErinNConnorsMom

Do you mean a pre K program?  I think if you decide to continue to homeschool, your DD will have some social disadvantages unless you find a way to get her out and interacting with kids her age. 

According to Erin's K teacher, being socially ready is as important as coming to K with book smarts.  She highly recommends some type of preschool/ pre K program the year before K.  Erin went to 3 and 4 y/o preschool, and Connor will do the same.  Is there any type of program in your area that you'd be ok with?

DandR

For a long time I wasn't goign to send my kids to school until Kindergarten either...but then I realized that they need to learn appropriate classroom behavior....My kids had plenty of socialization and the knowledge/academics were there too, but knowing to raise your hand, what to do when you need to use the bathroom, etc are also important..and not exactly something you can teach at home.

Pre-K was the best thing for my kids, and I'm glad I did it because K was STILL a shock for my oldest..its a huge transition...full day, 5 days a week, lunch time, recess, etc, etc. 

 

JennyCraig

I'm from Ontario, Canada and I think you will be shocked as to what is going on here. Starting just this year, the gov't has begun a new junior kindergarten (4 yrs old) and senior kindergarten (5 yrs old) program where the children go all day 5 days a week and can go for extended hours if the parents are willing to pay for that service. It's great for parents like me that work FT and commute because the daycare expenses will go WAY down and I don't need to find a sitter for before & after school. However, I do worry about sending my sons so young. I don't have to face this decision yet but thought I'd share how it is here. I think the gov't decided to do this because there was pressure for them to fund daycare and they did this instead.

Ginger123

This is an actual 4 year old kindergarten. I have started checking out other programs in the area. The YMCA has a lot of programs for kids (arts/crafts, movement, etc.) that I think would be great for her. She would have fun and be around other kids.

When she does start 5K she will be M-F mornings. There is a full day option but I think the half days will work well for her.

Lina1123

I would definately send her. The socialization and structure is really good at a young age. She may not want to/like it at all, but she will grow to like it. Good luck, whatever you decide!

jlw2505

I personally think doing some sort of preschool or Pre-K program is really important and regardless of full time or part time, I think kids have a much easier time adjusting to kindergarten if they have had some sort of exposure.  A few teacher friends of mine echo this by saying that in those 1st few weeks of school, you can really tell the difference in the kids in how they act - not in just dealing with the seperation issues but with how the kids act all day.  Doing other classes is great but that is still very different from a classroom setting and routine.

We are open enrolling in a different district and have already started the process.  My kids are in a full time daycare (have been since infants) and my older DD who will be 4 in June is currently in the 3 year preschool program and we debated between keeping her at the daycare preschool program or doing the open enrollment schools Pre-K program.  Both are full time and include the summer and school breaks and before and after care.  We chose to do the pre-K program after talking to a ton of people.  Everyone hands down said the kids that did the pre-k program adjusted so much easier to kindergarten plus since its in the school she will be attending kindergarten at (assuming all works out with the open enrollment), she will know the building, some staff and a lot of the kids.  Her Pre-K class will have 20 kids.  Not all will go to the same elementary since Pre-K is only at 3 of the 6 elementary schools in the district and some people do this and than go back to their resident district but it will give her an edge up in a lot of areas and she will get a great start on her education. The daycare program is great but its still not the same even though she learns so much and I love it.  Cost is just about the same.  When she starts Kindergarten, she will do before and after school care, 1/2 day kindergarten and a 1/2 day of KinderConnection which is run by the group that does the before and after care.  She will learn the same things as the full day kindergarten, it is just a different set up.