When to start "school"?

matt'sbride · September 2012

When did your LO start going to a Mother's Day Out or Preschool? We try to have play dates when we can so that she's around other kids, but the majority of the time it's just me and her. She's still young, but when she gets older I'd like for her to be around kids enough that she's good at sharing and playing with others. TIA

Rink08 · September 2012

We started DS1 in preschool at 3.5 years old. He went 5 days a week for 3 hours.
We've moved from that area but hope to find something similar for our younger two when they are that age as well.

Arnegard · September 2012

We didn't start any programs to take them away from me until preschool at age 4 for both Alex & Taylor. We do not have a MDO program here.

Mrs.Hizzo · September 2012

Mine started MDO at 15 months.

JAM2000 · September 2012

he did 3 mornings a week at 3 in PreS. This year he's in 4 mornings a week at PreK.

There is a place by me that does the 2 1/2 yr old play-school type thing 2 mornings a week and the kids don't have to be potty trained yet. I thought about it, but couldn't justify the cost. We stuck with storytime at the library and kids programs through our Rec Dept instead.

HarrietNJMommy · September 2012

You can start whenever you feel it's right for your family and your budget. There's no right answer on this one.

We don't have MDO around here. I had never even heard of it before TB.

I started all 3 kids at 2.5 in preschool. They will all have had 3 years of preschool before K. While I know it's not necessary, it works for our family.

GL!

regenab · September 2012

My girls started preschool at age 3. They went two mornings a week for 3 hours. It was a great transition for them because my DH is a Geo-Bachelor in the military (only home 6 days a month) so my girls were with me 24/7. They needed to experience being away from me for a couple of hours a week and I needed a break a couple of hours a week. This year at age 4 they go 5 mornings a week for 3 hours a day, but this is a free program for every FL child paid for by the state. It is to prepare them for full day kindergarten next year.

barnwife · September 2012

HarrietNJMommy:

You can start whenever you feel it's right for your family and your budget. There's no right answer on this one.

We don't have MDO around here. I had never even heard of it before TB.

GL!

This.

FWIW, we will homeschool our children. At least, that is the current plan. We already attend library storytime and play dates. We will continue to do these things until age 3 (and beyond) and then we will consider adding in more structure as well.

MrsBalletStar05 · September 2012

My older one went to daycare for 3 years, was home with me for about a year when DS#2 was born, and then went to PreK at age 4 (5 full days a week). I was confident in sending him, especially because of his outgoing personality and his previous daycare experience. He was used to playing with others and being away from me was not a problem.

DS#2 will start a public PreK3 for special needs when he is 3 (so next fall). It's half-day, 5 days a week. If we didn't have that program available to us, I'd probably try to do a MDO 2 mornings a week. I've been really anxious about it lately, he's my baby, and it's a YEAR away! He's had baby sitters and been to the church nursery, but mostly he is around me. It's going to be a rough transition for both of us.

eaglesfan700 · September 2012

We just started DS this year at 4.5, he goes 3 days/wk from 9-11:30. K is 5 half days/wk, so I liked the progression into 1st grade. DD (just turned 3) is still home with me

I am not worried about socialization though. There are tons of kids on our block and I use gym childcare every day, so they are used to being around other kids. If they didn't have those things I may have considered starting him earlier

sophie206 · September 2012

I haven't heard of any MDO programs around here, either. We are starting a co-op preschool next week with DD. She'll be 28 months. Class is 2x week, 2 hours each time and I stay and help in the class 1x/week.

Angela814 · September 2012

We just started DD2 at 2 years. She's going 2 days/week for 1 1/2 hrs. She loves it and was sad she couldn't go back today.

Worcbride · September 2012

3yo--2 days/week 2.5 hrs each day

notkateanymore · September 2012

We live in the same city, OP, so if you want MDO recs, let me know. DD started one day a week when she was 7 months old. MIL was sick and I was the only one who didn't work so I needed to be able to help st the hospital. The next year she went to 2 half days, when she was 3 she did 3 half days. When she turned 4, she started 4k at the private school she went to. AL doesn't have public pre-school for the most part. All pre-schools are church based or private school 4k.

susanmosley · September 2012

hocus:
FWIW - sharing is developmental milestone. Most kids don't share well until over 3 and it doesn't really matter how much you socialize them if they just aren't ready cognitively. There are individual differences of course. My daughter was under two when my son was born so she's had a "friend" for over a year. She still can't share. I think it will get better around 3.5 or so.

DD started 2 weeks before she turned 4. This will give her 2 years before kindergarten. While she loves going so far (uh, it has only been a week), I'm still not sold on multiple years before kindergarten. But, I work and it was the best child care option for our child and our needs. And that is more info about our specific situation than you needed.

jnksmom · September 2012

DS started when he was 4y4m and only went one year before Kindergarten. He went 3 half days.

DD just started last week at almost 4years. The cut-off for Kindergarten here is Sept. 30 so she meets it by 4 days. I am still on the fence about whether or not she will start kindergarten next year. She is going 3 half days this year. If she goes to K5 next year instead of kindergarten she will go 5 half days.

Mommy2CB · September 2012

Never heard of MDO? I take DS to a bunch of classes (swim, little gym, music class) so he is around other kids his age a lot. I hope to continue to do this until preschool/kindergarden.

Princess_Lily · September 2012

We will be starting Fall 2013 (DS will be 4yrs.4mo)

We have tried this past fall, however combined with DSs maturity level and the expectations placed on the children these days, we felt keeping him home another year is the best option at this point.

However in order to keep up with proper socialization skills an encourage learning from others we have placed him in individual one hour classes that meet every week and teach various skills from gymnastics to swimming.

I plan to find a prek program which has meets 3x a week for a half a day...rather than 5x per week from 8-3p. However in our area this is rare to find.

Im not sure where the "push" is for kids to be in school for so long. Is it from parents who need to work so they rely on the schools to watch their children, or its the need for kids to learn quicker... who knows?

notkateanymore · September 2012

Princess_Lily:
We will be starting Fall 2013 (DS will be 4yrs.4mo)
We have tried this past fall, however combined with DSs maturity level and the expectations placed on the children these days, we felt keeping him home another year is the best option at this point.
However in order to keep up with proper socialization skills an encourage learning from others we have placed him in individual one hour classes that meet every week and teach various skills from gymnastics to swimming.

I plan to find a prek program which has meets 3x a week for a half a day...rather than 5x per week from 8-3p. However in our area this is rare to find.

Im not sure where the "push" is for kids to be in school for so long. Is it from parents who need to work so they rely on the schools to watch their children, or its the need for kids to learn quicker... who knows?

What expectations are you talking about?

notkateanymore · September 2012

Kimbus22:
Thank you for asking this, it's been a topic in our house lately.
There's a preschool walking distance from our house that had a 2 year old program and DS will be just old enough for it next fall. We were talking about putting him in it since he really only gets regular socialization with adults. He likes bigger kids but he's not fond of kids his own age at all so we thought it might not hurt to start him early. It's reasonably priced and 2 hour 2 days a week.
From the responses here, it sounds like it might be nice but that he'll still end up fine and normal if I wait until he's 3

These posts are definitely the exception, not the rule IME. I don't know any child, except 2 who wasn't in some sort of program by 2.

Princess_Lily · September 2012

KateMW:
Princess_Lily:
We will be starting Fall 2013 (DS will be 4yrs.4mo)
We have tried this past fall, however combined with DSs maturity level and the expectations placed on the children these days, we felt keeping him home another year is the best option at this point.
However in order to keep up with proper socialization skills an encourage learning from others we have placed him in individual one hour classes that meet every week and teach various skills from gymnastics to swimming.

I plan to find a prek program which has meets 3x a week for a half a day...rather than 5x per week from 8-3p. However in our area this is rare to find.

Im not sure where the "push" is for kids to be in school for so long. Is it from parents who need to work so they rely on the schools to watch their children, or its the need for kids to learn quicker... who knows?

What expectations are you talking about?

Long Class Days (3pm and later) & Less play periods - desks and required sitting for long periods of time. 5 hour days. Kids are even sent home with homework in some places

I'm not sure if these expectations are nationwide (US) though.

notkateanymore · September 2012

Princess_Lily:
KateMW:
Princess_Lily:
We will be starting Fall 2013 (DS will be 4yrs.4mo)
We have tried this past fall, however combined with DSs maturity level and the expectations placed on the children these days, we felt keeping him home another year is the best option at this point.
However in order to keep up with proper socialization skills an encourage learning from others we have placed him in individual one hour classes that meet every week and teach various skills from gymnastics to swimming.

I plan to find a prek program which has meets 3x a week for a half a day...rather than 5x per week from 8-3p. However in our area this is rare to find.

Im not sure where the "push" is for kids to be in school for so long. Is it from parents who need to work so they rely on the schools to watch their children, or its the need for kids to learn quicker... who knows?

What expectations are you talking about?

Long Class Days (3pm and later) & Less play periods - desks and required sitting for long periods of time. 5 hour days. Kids are even sent home with homework in some places
I'm not sure if these expectations are nationwide (US) though.

Where do you live that this is happening at 3and 4? China?

Princess_Lily · September 2012

Like I said the expectations are so high we decided to keep him out this year.

I'm not sure why, but the PreK-4 required attendance next year is 5 full days (8-3p) for all of the preschools.

In our state though, preschool IS NOT required for a child to enter kindergarten. Being a SAHM is not the norm (even with young babies) around where I live sadly.

notkateanymore · September 2012

Princess_Lily:
Like I said the expectations are so high we decided to keep him out this year.

I'm not sure why, but the PreK-4 required attendance next year is 5 full days (8-3p) for all of the preschools.
In our state though, preschool IS NOT required for a child to enter kindergarten. Being a SAHM is not the norm (even with young babies) around where I live sadly.

I din't really think that's crazy honestly. It's proven that preschool is a great foundation for learning.

Princess_Lily · September 2012

Our decision to keep him back this year was based on his maturity level though, and we are thinking by next year he should be ready

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