j*w*

Yodajo

Thanks for responding below!

The preschool I really like for Sam next year only has afternoon openings for their 4 yr old program, but they do have openings in their 3 yr old program.  Sam won't be four until 10/29 next year.  So, did you feel like the 3 yr old program was appropriate for your DD?  I know every program and child is different, but I'm just looking for some more info to help make my decision.  I'm going Fri to talk to the teacher, but over the phone, they did say if Sam was ahead, they could give him some prereader books, etc to work on. 

I kind of hate to do the afternoon for the reasons you stated below and because I would like to have some one on one time with Max.  If Sam goes in the afternoon, Max will be napping while he's gone.

 

j-w

I forgot to mention below that G and I have been doing tumbling or Kindermusik, etc. while E is at school.  And those toddler classes are not typically offered in the pm, in our experience.

Our preschool is a joint venture between the park district and the school district.  So the cut off is the cut off for preschool as well.  I had no choice but to send her to the 3 year old program.  I will say that I think about 1/2 the class was 4 by January.  So, she is definitely one of the oldest, but not by too, too much.  I have a late July birthday and so I was always the youngest in my class.  It is new territory to have one of the oldest kids in class, but I really have not noticed it being a problem.  I guess if I were you, I would send Sam to the 3 year old program...for the simple fact that those are the kids he will end up attending school with for kindergarten on up.  

I was just the snack/helper mom in DD's class today.  And, it just seems like at this age, you can't really see HUGE differences in the kids.  Some are better talkers, some can cut out a perfect circle, some are very social, some are super shy.  So, it ends up being very balanced because there is something for everyone to work on.  Our program also does an open evaluation in the fall.  So, local children can be assessed and if any are identified as having some sort of deficit, they can attend school a year early.  I have noticed that those kids get pulled aside to do some more individual stuff...hearing tests, pronunciation exercises, etc.

Yodajo

Good point about those being the kids he will attend school with. It seems like the trend here is to have them start later vs earlier when they have fall bdays. There is no cutoff for the four year old class though, so I am still wondering if he will be way older. The director is the teacher though, so I will trust her opinion when I meet with her. I do like that they can offer him different work if need be! Thanks for your insight.

j-w

Let me know what you decide!  And, I would ask for sure, about parents deciding where to place the kids based on the elementary school cutoff.  Plus, would he repeat the same class for the following year, since he won't be old enough for kindergarten?  DD will be attending 4 year old preschool next year (and will turn 5 shortly thereafter).

Yodajo

I will!

I talked to the principal of the elementary school that he will be attending and she said that a lot of parents are waiting with their fall bday kids and she really seemed to encourage it even.  Sam will probably do a junior kindergarten at the elementary school the following year.  His bday is 10/29 and the cutoff here is 12/1, so I have the option to send him or hold him, but based on what Ive been learning, I am 95% certain I will have him start the following year. 

j-w

OH!  It changes everything if he makes the cutoff!  I figured your's was the same as mine!  I guess the wait and see approach is what I'd do too, since he is a month away from the cutoff.