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Preschool at 3 years or 4 years?

rnin02rnin02 member
in D.C. Area Babies
We are trying to decide if we should try preschool this fall when our son will be 3, or wait till he is 4...can anyone share what they did, and how it went? I've been asking around at work and so far its a tie vote:) We have an in-home daycare right now that works well for us, great price, and very flexible...but I'm thinking maybe more structure and learning would be good. We would only do 2 days a week probably. Thanks!
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Re: Preschool at 3 years or 4 years?

  • vtkgirl77vtkgirl77

    I think it's a very personal decision and depends on a lot of factors. We are starting DD at preschool a few months after she turns 2. She is currently in an in-home daycare with providers who are wonderful but whose first language is not English. I can communicate with them well enough but there is a bit of a language barrier. So, I am putting DD in preschool to give her a bit more of a structured environment and so she can learn from teachers whose English is a bit more advanced.

    As far as your situation, if you have the money and can swing the logistics of putting him in preschool twice a week, my inclination would be to do it age 3. My personal opinion is that early education is really important and creates a strong foundation for elementary school. So, I feel like it can't hurt. At the same time, if you never put him in preschool, I'm sure he'd do fine.

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  • ArtslvrArtslvr
    As with pp, for us it was clear - our in home provider does really well with babies/toddlers.  Once the kids are 2 or 3, most of them move to a preschool setting.  We found a full day preschool we loved, so we moved DD #1 to it as soon as she was old enough and potty trained - so 2 1/2 yrs. old.
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  • AgrippaRidesAgainAgrippaRidesAgain member
    Both of our kids wilp get two years of preschool. So, for DS, that means starting him at 3 and for DD, it will be at 4. I SAH, so two years is important to us--the first year for leqrning how to socialize without me around, and the second year for getting used to a school setting. 2 or 3 half days the first year and 5 half days the second year. I know it is different if your kid is already in dc, but that is our reasoning.
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  • L'EtincelleL'Etincelle
    I think it depends on the child's personality and if you can just tell that they are READY. Are they always asking to see/play with other kids, and love doing activities/crafts? My son was so ready at 2 so we started him at 2 years old and he is LOVING it! I would say go for 3 years old. There are great options at just 2 mornings a week, and it's only for 3 hours or so, so it's a good slow transition to school, and you will love the little break!
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  • amh_navyblueamh_navyblue

    imageArtslvr:
    As with pp, for us it was clear - our in home provider does really well with babies/toddlers.  Once the kids are 2 or 3, most of them move to a preschool setting.  We found a full day preschool we loved, so we moved DD #1 to it as soon as she was old enough and potty trained - so 2 1/2 yrs. old.

     

    This is pretty much our situation...DD#1 started at 2 and we are planning the same for DD#2.  Our in home DCP is wonderful, but it was just amazing to see the learning that DD#1 did in just the first month of preschool and I feel like she is really well prepared for kindergarten in the fall even though she'll be one of the youngest in the class (she makes the cut by 7 days...). 

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  • JKM416JKM416 member
    DD started at 3 years 3 months, and she was more than ready (previously she had stayed home with me).  It has been so good for her, and I can't imagine her having missed out on this year.  The social aspect can't really be had anywhere else, and most kids will benefit from the structure, learning and exploration opportunities, and class-like setting (like respecting a teacher) by that age.  I assume you'll be continuing to work, so if DS goes only two days a week, does that mean he'll stay with the daycare you like the other three days?
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  • BabyHatchBabyHatch

    We started DD in a preschool program at 18 months...5 days/week from 9-1. I drop her, go to work, pick her up, and then put her down to nap at home. And then I start working again. We had her with a nanny before then and she was SO ready for more social stimulation. She has thrived! I agree that it really depends on your kid, needs, etc.

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  • rnin02rnin02 member

    imageJKM416:
    DD started at 3 years 3 months, and she was more than ready (previously she had stayed home with me).  It has been so good for her, and I can't imagine her having missed out on this year.  The social aspect can't really be had anywhere else, and most kids will benefit from the structure, learning and exploration opportunities, and class-like setting (like respecting a teacher) by that age.  I assume you'll be continuing to work, so if DS goes only two days a week, does that mean he'll stay with the daycare you like the other three days?

    I actually work night shift 3x a week, so he doesn't have to go to daycare every day. I'm not sure what we will do about daycare, he may just go once a week, instead of twice a week like he does now. Still trying to figure everything out;)

    Thanks for the input everyone!

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