When do you think you will be sending LO to pre-school?

bebeblues · June 2010

Or for those of us that are seasoned mama's, when did you/are you sending your toddler??

This is a big debate around here lately. DD is turning 3 at the end of July. I hadn't really even considered pre-school until next year. We're active in our church, and I'm a sahm (who is a certified teacher), and so I feel like what time I work iwth her is adequate enough for now. I feel like I will have so little time with her before she's wisked off into the "big girl" world as it is. She already knows the majority of her alphabet, counts and recognizes a lot of her #'s (mostly just to 12 accurately), knows all her colors, shapes, size differences, and even TRIES to write her name. (It's just scribble ofcourse, but you can make out the letter "A").

Anyway, I'm prepared for flaming and disagreements here....but what's your opinion?

I think 4 is plenty early enough for children to start school on a regular basis, as long as they are worked with and have other social outlets. I see where I would rather begin my LO in a pre-school program if I had to choose between that and regular day-care programs.

I do however know several moms who are starting to send their LO's as early as 12-18months. It seems so early to me just bc they're still babies at that point.

Ok-----:::::::::off to take shelter while flaming begins:::::::::

3ltlones · June 2010

I think it's a personal decision. I too stay home and always sent my children at 3 years old. But, I sent them to a social preschool, not an academic one. I teach all of the "school" things at home, so it was more for them to know what it was like to be away from Mom. I started them on 2 days a week, 21/2 hour days and then at 4 they go 3 days a week 21/2 hours.

bebeblues · June 2010

3ltlones:
I think it's a personal decision. I too stay home and always sent my children at 3 years old. But, I sent them to a social preschool, not an academic one. I teach all of the "school" things at home, so it was more for them to know what it was like to be away from Mom. I started them on 2 days a week, 21/2 hour days and then at 4 they go 3 days a week 21/2 hours.

The 12-24m programs here are 2x a wk for 3hrs a day.

The 3yo programs are 3x a wk for 3 hrs.

The 4yo programs are 4x a wk from 8-1pm.

These are the academic programs. DD does library school, Sunday school, and other church activities where she's away from me, so I guess I don't feel like that's an issue for her. I could see where it would be beneficial for some toddlers in that area though.

3ltlones · June 2010

bebeblues:
3ltlones:
I think it's a personal decision. I too stay home and always sent my children at 3 years old. But, I sent them to a social preschool, not an academic one. I teach all of the "school" things at home, so it was more for them to know what it was like to be away from Mom. I started them on 2 days a week, 21/2 hour days and then at 4 they go 3 days a week 21/2 hours.

The 12-24m programs here are 2x a wk for 3hrs a day.

The 3yo programs are 3x a wk for 3 hrs.

The 4yo programs are 4x a wk from 8-1pm.

These are the academic programs. DD does library school, Sunday school, and other church activities where she's away from me, so I guess I don't feel like that's an issue for her. I could see where it would be beneficial for some toddlers in that area though.

I have to say too, I have friends who send their kids early, 12-24 months and I don't really understand it, it just seems like alot for a little child like that. We do all of those things too, but I am the director of the Sunday school program, so I am there the entire time. And, library time, I am still able to be seen.

bebeblues · June 2010

3ltlones:
bebeblues:

3ltlones:
I think it's a personal decision. I too stay home and always sent my children at 3 years old. But, I sent them to a social preschool, not an academic one. I teach all of the "school" things at home, so it was more for them to know what it was like to be away from Mom. I started them on 2 days a week, 21/2 hour days and then at 4 they go 3 days a week 21/2 hours.

The 12-24m programs here are 2x a wk for 3hrs a day.

The 3yo programs are 3x a wk for 3 hrs.

The 4yo programs are 4x a wk from 8-1pm.

These are the academic programs. DD does library school, Sunday school, and other church activities where she's away from me, so I guess I don't feel like that's an issue for her. I could see where it would be beneficial for some toddlers in that area though.

I have to say too, I have friends who send their kids early, 12-24 months and I don't really understand it, it just seems like alot for a little child like that. We do all of those things too, but I am the director of the Sunday school program, so I am there the entire time. And, library time, I am still able to be seen.

I think it's a lot to put on little ones so early. Especially the 12-24m range. I'm the only mom NOT sending my 3yo from a local playgroup and I feel quite judged for it. Although, out of all the children, my DD is the most mature and seems to know the most material. The moms were quite impressed that you can give my daughter a phone and when she asks you to call mamaw or daddy you can tell her the # and she dials it herself. It may be different with this LO.

I was the pre-school VBS teacher last yr and I didn't do the LO's this yr so that DD would have that time w/o me. I don't teach Sunday school, and library school is in a separate room if moms "want" to leave.

Court1 · June 2010

:::Butting in from TTCAL:::, but as a mom of a 2 yo.

Different perspective b/c I'm a working momma. DS goes to a Montessori school that he started at 12 months. He has learned so much that I would have never thought to teach him & that he wouldn't have learned in an in-home setting. Beyond the learning, the social aspect is huge.

It's easy to say what you'd do if you were in another situation....but I'd want to send him at 3 if I was a SAHM. I think developing their social skills & learning how to learn with a group of children earlier will make the transition to Kindergarten much easier. That said, I'd probably have started an even earlier, very part-time mothers day out or similiar program while he was a toddler to get him started.

::::Butting out now::::

Addicted2thenot · June 2010

I agree it is a personal choice, no wrong or right, because every child is individual. DS started PK3 last year (he turned 4 in October), I felt he was bored at home & since I am a SAHM I also thought the socialization would be good for him.

The school we chose will be his school from PK3-12th grade.

He went twenty hours a week last year.

During the week he has Spanish 2x a week, drama, art, music, P.E. & time spent in his homeroom doing preschool type education.

HE LOVES IT & we are amazed at how much he learned in the first year

He went in knowing colors, alphabet, counting, shapes, writing name.

He came out speaking & counting in spanish, writing his entire alphabet, in general just much more confident in every aspect.

I must say that last year right before school started I was excited for him but sad to lose my buddy. He is only in school 4 hours a day so we still get plenty of opportunities to enjoy his childhood & continue learning together at home.

audrey10607 · June 2010

Well, depends.

If I continue to work FT (which I'm planning on doing) then baby will just wind up going to preschool because it's a transition in his/her daycare now.

If I were to be a SAHM, I'm not sure. Maybe 3yrs a couple days a week --then 4 FT?

bebeblues · June 2010

Addicted2Thenot:
I agree it is a personal choice, no wrong or right, because every child is individual. DS started PK3 last year (he turned 4 in October), I felt he was bored at home & since I am a SAHM I also thought the socialization would be good for him.
The school we chose will be his school from PK3-12th grade.

He went twenty hours a week last year.

During the week he has Spanish 2x a week, drama, art, music, P.E. & time spent in his homeroom doing preschool type education.

HE LOVES IT & we are amazed at how much he learned in the first year

He went in knowing colors, alphabet, counting, shapes, writing name.

He came out speaking & counting in spanish, writing his entire alphabet, in general just much more confident in every aspect.

I must say that last year right before school started I was excited for him but sad to lose my buddy. He is only in school 4 hours a day so we still get plenty of opportunities to enjoy his childhood & continue learning together at home.

This is what I'm hoping to do next year. DD's bday falls in the summer. She's just 2. Will be 3 in a few weeks--so basically near the same as what your son did last year, just next year for her. Next yr she will turn 4 just a week or two before preschool starts. I think that's the perfect age to start, although the 4yo preschool here is a bit longer. I have found a more expensive private school that offers a 4yo program more along the lines of what your son attended, but I'm not sure that's where she would be attending school in kindergarten.

grr_aargh · June 2010

Well, IMO, it really depends on the kid and your own circumstances. I'm a FT SAHM, but I also work - nearly FT - teaching at a local community college. I went back to work when DD was 2 1/2 years old - teaching 2 classes - I needed her in a program in order to do my on-campus work. DD was also HIGHLY social and needed much more stimulation than I could give, so it worked out really well for all of us. She went 4 mornings a week for 3 hours each morning - this allowed me to work and her to have good social time.

DS wasn't ready for preschool until he was about 3 1/2, so he went at that point - and was very successful. He went 2 mornings a week for 3 hours each morning. This fall, at 4 1/2, he'll go 4 mornings a week for 4 hours each day. This will allow me to do my work (I teach 4 classes now), prep for baby, and give him awesome social time and some actual learning time (as I'm hoping to send him to school next fall - he'll be a young kindy kiddo so he needs to be on top of his game).

This kiddo, well, it'll just depend on the kid, you know? I mean, it always depends on the kid. . . I don't think there's a blanket answer for it, you know? Some kids are ready and NEED it at an early age, others don't need it until they are 4. I'm a fan of at least one year of preschool before actual school (just to learn the ropes of school-dom) but I'm an even bigger fan of leaving that up to the parents -- it's their call to make. I never judge on this issue because it's intensely personal and varies from kid to kid.

jay-tea · June 2010

DD has been in a daycare since 10 weeks and they started her on their pre-school curriculum about a month before she turned 3. She learned alot before - but it is incredible the way she is learning and growing now. My thought is the earlier the better.

vflipo · June 2010

DH and I both work FT with no possibility of either of us staying home once the baby comes. Our kid will start preschool at age 3 as a transition from the daycare we will be using. But, I'm picky about the programs for infants and toddlers. We will probably only use daycare 3 days a week. My sister keeps telling me not to pay for daycare and that she can take care of my kid because she's a SAHM. But, it makes me nervous. I would rather pay someone who knows what they're doing for a child developmentally. I feel like my sister judges me for choosing daycare over her, but it's my kid's development. Tongue Tied

I wish I could be a SAHM.

Jessicamz · June 2010

Like the PPs have said, I think it's a personal decision based on your situation. A SAHM and a working mom might have different needs and also if you have other children it might make a differene as well. I plan to play it by ear since I have no idea what I'll want to do when LO is a toddler or if we'll have another baby by then! The kids I nanny for will be going to pre-school in the fall. (They'll just be turning 3) It's only a few hours 3 days a week. They've been going to a Moms Day Out type of program at church 2 mornings a week since they were 1 1/2. I personally think it's a nice way to give mom a few hours to herself 2 or 3 days a week when the kids can play and socialize with other kids their age. I think this can be especially nice if you have other kids as well.

hutch0830 · June 2010

We both work, so we enrolled our son in a daycare that introduces pre-school at the age of two. For us it was perfect. He got to supplement what we taught him at home, but most important, it gave him an opportunity to socialize. And he just loves it! I think every child is different, but I found the social aspect of pre-school to be invaluable!

CoastieWife08 · June 2010

Our plan is to wait for next fall when she'll be just over 3. We are going to put her in a 2-3x a week program at a church more for social interaction than anything else. I am in no rush to send her to school yet.

babes12 · June 2010

I'm sending DS this year starting in sept. he'll be 3 in aug.

i work 3days/wk from home so i'm always w/ him but he's definitely showing signs that he needs some more social interaction. i think it would be really good for him and he'd really enjoy it.

his class is 2x/wk for 2.5hrs. i actually wish it was 3hrs or 3x/wk. lol

hopingwaiting · June 2010

If we ever get in off the waitlist, our LO will be in daycare run by an early childhood education program that also runs the preschool attached to it, so I'm hoping the staff will let us know when it is developmentally time for our LO to graduate.

KelzinBoston · June 2010

DS will turn 3 next June and we will start him in a 2-3 morning a week program the following Fall. It's more just for him to experience being away from me and being in a structured setting with other children. I think he'll love it. When he's 4 we'll likely do something at least 3 mornings a week, maybe more..we'll have to see!

I SAH/WAH, but try to take him to playgroups/classes just to let him have the experience of playing with other kids, but I think he does fine without it this early. I have to admit it's also a cost issue for us...Preschools around here are seriously unreal. The Toddler program at the local Montessori is almost $20K a year), and that's just for Mornings!

Winter*Mommy · June 2010

I put DD in a mothers day out program twice a week (9am-2pm) starting at 18 months. I will start DS this year and he will be 2. Official PRESCHOOL starts for DD this year, but its the same time frame (twice a week, same hours).

DD loved going - by the time she started at 18 months, she knew the alphabet and could recognize all of her letters, colors, and shapes and she was already drawing happy faces. Now she can write her name independently (she's 3.5), can count to 20, recognizes numbers 1 - 10, recognizes all upper and lower case letters and is drawing complex pictures (ex. of our entire family, plus the baby, my jewelry on my wrist, her clothes, and our house), can put together 50 and 100 piece puzzles and can read 3 and 4 letter words. School has been a perfect challenge for her and I'm really glad we started it when we did. I think she would have been bored at home with just me teaching her, but she is a person who thrives in an educational setting. DS is not at the same place academically as DD was at this age - he is almost 2 and just learned to count to 10 a week ago, can recognize the letter A, but does not know any letters or how to say the alphabet. I am mostly putting him in so that he will develop social skills, learn how to listen to direction from teachers, make some friends (since most of his friends are siblings of DD's friends) and to help him developmentally since he tends to want to do something challenging when he can watch others learn to do it alongside him. He loves learning as DD does, but his attention span isn't as great as hers.

I love our school and I am so thrilled that we chose it. We flew into DFW to sign them up in February of 08, had to wait in line at 3:45am for an 8am registration (and we were 7th in line!!) and school didn't start until the following September. It was intense just getting them in, but I am so glad we did it.

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