Preschool?

dale5689

I was thinking about sending my older daughter to preschool two days a week, 2 hrs. a day, in the Fall, she'll be 2 1/2.  I am a SAHM but thought the socialization would be good for her as well as being away from me for a few hours.  Yet at the same time I feel guilty about "sending her away" when there's no reason she has to go since I'm home.  Are these feelings normal?  I know it'd be good for her to be in a setting with other kids (we  have and still do weekly Gymboree and/or Music classes) but preschool is a different atmosphere.  I know it'd also give me some one on one time with my younger daughter.  Yet part of me feels she is still so young and maybe I should wait a year.  What are your thoughts on preschool?

Raffes484

I'm sending DD to preschool in the fall, but she'll be 4 in October. I wanted to send her last year, but she had to be 3 by the 1st of September.

I'm also a stay at home Mom. I don't feel guilty because i know she needs parent-free socialization out side of our home. I don't want her first time away from me like that to be when she starts kindergarten. To me, this is a great way to transition her for kindergarten. DD will have a year of preschool (2 days a week - 2 hours a day) and then a year of pre-k (3 days a week - 2 hours a day) before kindergarten.

12bailey18

I'm not sending DS to pre-school until 3.5. Anything earlier and I just see it as daycare. We do plenty of socializtion and community activities that I don't feel it's necessary any earlier. I also get plenty of one on one time with DD and I love doing activities all together.

12bailey18

12bailey18:

I'm not sending DS to pre-school until 3.5. Anything earlier and I just see it as daycare. We do plenty of socializtion and community activities that I don't feel it's necessary any earlier. I also get plenty of one on one time with DD and I love doing activities all together.

OK, I totally read over the part where you said it was two hours a day/ twice a week. LOL. I was thinking more of an all day setting or 5 days a week, which is usually what pre-school is here. I would do the times and days you mentioned. DS would love that and I wouldn't feel guilty at all.

StefB28

DS1 started Mother's Day Out (2x/week, 4 hours/day) last fall, just before his 1st birthday-- it's been great so that I can have some time bonding with DS2. At first it was just babysitting, but now he has little friends and is socializing. He loved it-- he gets so bored at home all day. DS2 is going to go one day a week starting next fall, so one day each week I'll have 4 hours to myself to go to the grocery store, doctor's appts, etc. (I'm a SAHM on Mon, Wed & Fri and I work on Tues & Thurs while my parents watch the boys.)