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Choice between Pre-K or 4 yo classes at preschool... difference & advantages?

bugglesbuggles
in Parenting

1. First of all, how old will/ should a child be who enters a pre-K class (typically)? How old in Kindergarten?

2. What's the difference between these two classes if you have a choice between the 4 yo classes and the Pre-K classes?

3. Are there any advantages to enrolling one's child in a Pre-K class over the 4yo class? Likewise, are there any drawbacks that a child might experience upon entering K after having taken a 4yo pre-school class (instead of a pre-K class)?

Opinions?

BTW: I know that pre-school is not a requirement either. 

Nutmeg, cilantro, sage, mint, thyme... these are a few of my favorite things! Visit The Nest!Visit The Nest! We have four children; one left us too soon.
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Re: Choice between Pre-K or 4 yo classes at preschool... difference & advantages?

  • littlemermaidlittlemermaid member
    In my children's school you have to be 4 before Dec 1st to enter the 4 y.o. preschool/pre-K programs.  Kindergarten is 5 y.o. before Dec 1st.  In my school district preschool and pre-K are the same thing, it's just depends what the school wants to call it.  Some schools go by preschool others go by pre-K.
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  • calico77calico77

    In GA and I think SC too (we just moved) the birthday cutoff date is Sept 1 for that school year.

    I don't know of any differences between Pre-K and a 4yo old program at the preschool (church) that my DS attends.  There is no option but K4.  I taught for 9 years and know anything is better than nothing so I'd definitely enroll DC in one of them....maybe talk to the director or other parents to see what they think.

    Megan--Mommy to Owen 1.10.07 and Gibson 5.11.10
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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    We just had to make this decision for fall.  My DD is currently in a preschool program at our daycare.  It is a FT program and she loves it and it is play based and she does wonderful.  They have a 4 year old preschool room that she would move into this summer/fall.  We are planning to open enroll into a different school district for elementary and they have a Pre-K program called Stepping Stones.  They only offer 3 classes with 20 kids in each class in the whole district and its a big district.  The classes are set up more like a kindergarten class but with a bit more play and they still do a nap time.  Its FT and you have the option of a summer program.   It is fee based.  We decided to go for the Pre-K option as I have heard amazing things about the program from friends that have either had their kids in the program or who are in that district.  It helps ease the transition to kindergarten since its in the same building plus, it gives us a leg up with the whole open enrollment issue.  What they will learn is not any different in the 2 programs but its more of the schedule of the day and the setting overall - its more school like if that makes sense although they really have a lot of play time with the educational aspect.  The daycare 4 year preschool program is way more play based although I love the staff and know my DD would have learned a ton in that setting as well.  It was a hard decision.  Cost is about $100 less at the Pre-K program so that was not part of the decision at all.
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    Oh and for the age, for the Pre-K program, you need to be 4 by Sept 1 and for kindergarten, 5 by Sept 1.
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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