If DC is in daycare full time now, pre-K or straight to K?
The "norm" in town seems to be that everyone puts their kid in a pre-kindergarten program the year before real kindergarten. Most of these are half day programs that offer some sort of afterschool care until 5 or 6. Since John's bday is mid July he will likely start K as a new 6yo rather than a young 5yo. He can stay at the daycare center he in in now until he starts real K. Do you think these pre-K programs are worth it? It seems a little confusing to go from being in an all day program like he is now (8:30-5:00) to a half day program with some sort of afterschool then then next year to a longer day real K. What is everyone else doing? I don't want him to be bored by staying in daycare right up until K but I want him to be prepared for K, too.
Have you thought about what you will do??
Re: If DC is in daycare full time now, pre-K or straight to K?
Holly will stay in daycare until Fall 2014 when she goes to Kindergarten. She's in more of a playschool type setting now. At our school, when they're 3, they're transitioned to a more real school environment, until Kindergarten.
I'm sure every DC center works differently. But assuming your DC has some sort of educational focus, I can't see any reason to change. Especially if it's only half day, and you'd have to work out logistics fo aftercare.
Daycare = Pre-school to me, at least in a daycare center setting anyway.
It would depend on what the daycare offered. Our daycare does a pre-K program for rising kindergarteners, so I really see no point in moving him to a new place for that last year. But if your center doesn't, then I could see moving him.
IMO, pre-K programs are generally for kids that have stayed at home for the first few years and their parents want to get them prepared for K. Not something necessary for a child that is in a daycare situation with an established pre-K program for the 4 year olds.
This is pretty much my thought on it. His daycare does have a more structured program as they get closer to kindergarten age. For selfish logistical reasons I really don't like the idea of a half day program or afterschool care when I can really keep both boys at one location for a full day. Once he starts real k I will likely try to rearrange my work schedule so he doesn't need afterschool care with a combination of different work hours and MIL watching him a few days a week.
Most of the moms that I see doing this are SAHM who have not had their children in a full day daycare/preschool setting. So I guess that would make more sense.
I agree 100%. Since our boys will be at home with me until school time, we are planning to do a pre-k program to help with the transition. If I had them in DC instead, I wouldn't do pre-k.
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