Thoughts on 5 day per week preschool?

ans1999 · February 2011

I am trying to decide what to do about my 4 year olds preschool next year. Our district has all day kindergarten. Our preschool offers either MWF from 9:00 to 11:30 or 5 day same hours. I really want to match up my 2 and 4 year old. She can only go on Tuesday or Thursday. Do you think it is wise to send him 5 days per week? I am a SAHM so I feel guilty putting him in that many days. He goes 2 days per week right now and loves it.

ccm1203 · February 2011

DS went 2 days at 3 yo and 3 days at 4 yo (9-11:30). He is now in full day Kindergarten and has done fine. If you feel he would benefit from going 5 days I would send him, however that would limit your ability to things.

ans1999 · February 2011

ccm1203:
DS went 2 days at 3 yo and 3 days at 4 yo (9-11:30). He is now in full day Kindergarten and has done fine. If you feel he would benefit from going 5 days I would send him, however that would limit your ability to things.

That is what I was thinking. It is his last year home and I would like to still be able to do fun things and travel to visit our parents when we want. I am glad to hear the full day transition went well.

Temp108743750006959 · February 2011

DS has been in preschool 5 days and just loves it. If he misses a day or more, we never worry about it (and neither do his teachers).

DevonPow · February 2011

DS goes 5 mornings a week (9-12:30) and will next year as well (I am also a SAHM). That is what the majority of preschools around here are, so I never really thought about it. He really likes it, I like to see all he is learning, and having the mornings to go to the gym and run errands is great.

mattswife91805 · February 2011

I just enrolled DD in the 5 day pre-k for next year (9-11:3-). Her teacher feels she is ready for it and needs the challenge.

hikerbeth · February 2011

It would be a good transition to kindergarten.

My DD has a preschool with very flexible hours.

She was in a daycare 3 full days a week until she was 3 years old so she was pretty used to being at "school" for many hours a week.

At 3.5 I put her in 4 half days (8:30-12:30) preschool per week and she flourished.

This year she's in 3 half days and one full day (8:30-3:30).

Next year she will go to three full days of kindergarten (7:55-2:30) and two half days (7:55-10:45).

I like the way this ramps her up to full day school.

CleoKitty · February 2011

Ds's school only offers a 5 day/week preschool program. Ds went half-days starting at age 3, again the year he turned 4, and then continued thru to kindergarten when he was 5 (the preschool and kindergarten classes are combined at his school).

He's just now finishing up his kindergarten year and dd (who just turned 3) will start in August. The 5 day/week program worked out very well for ds and I'm sure dd will be fine too.

ETA: I feel like we still have plenty of times to do things since it is only half-day and I also have no problems at all with not sending him to school occasionally if we have something else planned (it is, after all, just preschool.) Oh, and I'm more or less a SAHM too.

NewNameSameGame · February 2011

I debated this myself for my 3 1/2 year old...next year is his last year before Kindergarten.

I finally listened to the advice from an elementary principal who said the following:

1. 3 day or 5 day isn't going to change the adjustment to kindergarten...all kids adjust, it takes a couple of weeks, but with an entire summer between preschool and the start of kindy, it just isn't going to change a thing.

2. It isn't going to change whether your kid gets academic scholarships or does well in school.

3. You can't get that time back and once kindy starts, its a LOT of school for a LOT of years.

So we did 3 day. I'm happy with my decision.

KoriBrett · February 2011

I think it purely depends on the kid. DD is in prek 5days, 840-1155. She complains that she's not there all day like the rest of the kids. (she's in an elementary school) If he is loving it and isn't exhausted & cranky, send him. If he's not so sure, having cranky & tired issues, etc, don't send him 5 days.

JOEBunny · February 2011

DD goes 5 days a week to pre-k. It is really the only option here. A few have 4 days, but it is impossible to get into the small number of spots available.

*Amy* · February 2011

My DS has been going to 5 day (2.5 hours) preschool since he started at 2 years 10 mo). He absolutely LOVES it and has done wonderfully. I am so glad I chose it for him and plan to send Jackson to 5 day next year.

ETA: I don't think doing fun things should sway you from enrolling him. If you want to take him to the zoo, take him. It is not the end of the world to miss to do the things you want to do as a family. I live in New England and with all the snow we have had this year if he weren't in the 5 day program he would have had a lot of weeks with no school at all b/c of all the cancellations and delays.

jlw2505 · February 2011

I really think this is totally a personal decision and either way will be fine and will work out. YOu need to do what works for your family. My DH and I both work FT so my kids have been in daycare/preschool full time since they were infants and we love it but I know tons of people that do part time and their kids have not had an issue with the transition to full time kindergarten.

KrisBriMcBunny · February 2011

Michelle goes 5 days a week in the afternoons. Since my parents live a few blocks away from the school I go hang out with them. 5 days a week had done alot of wonders for Michelle.

DandelionMom · February 2011

I debated this one last year. I decided to go for the 3 day program. I just wasn't ready for my baby to be in that much school. I'm glad I did, we really are enjoying our days off.

But our district still offers half day kinder so I don't think it'll be too hard of a transition.

Bellisimo · February 2011

DS started 5 days a week K3 this year. He turned 4 the week school started. He LOVES it. Seriously, there hasn't been one day that he's said, "I don't want to go to school today!" It's been REALLY good for him as he is incredibly social and curious and thrives in social environments. It's been great for him and ME!

ans1999 · February 2011

Thanks everyone! Good points from everybody. DS is super social so I think this is why I think it might be a good idea. He is definitely an extrovert. I am going to keep mulling it over. It's so hard to decide!

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