School at 3 or 4?

Sue&Pasquale · May 2013

How many you put or are planning on putting your kids in nursery school age 3 or do you just do pre k at 4? . I Am leaning more to starting luca at 4.

what are your reasons either way. personally I feel he gets a lot from my parents in laws and me. I only work 3 days a week. my dad was a math teacher so he gets that when he goes to their house. My inlaws talk Italian to him and are teaching him that. And I teach him a lot and he really is smart and talks up a storm. For the social aspect of it, he gets 1 hour of daycare whe I teach my muscle class at the gym and he plays with the kids next door to my moms When he is there.

Thoughts. Thank you.

MyLittleSweetPea · May 2013

When is his birthday? As an elementary teacher, I can tell you there is a big difference between boys and girls between 3-5 and with a boy, I'd wait. Our son has a July 4th birthday. He will do two years of 4K and start kindergarten at 6.

Sue&Pasquale · May 2013

He is 3 in October.

kcisthebombdotcom · May 2013

I really don't think the important thing in preschool is education. It's getting used to the routine of the classroom, following instructions from an adult other than family, and learning to navigate socially. For a kid who's shy, has some social issues, or has/had delays in any area should get that extra year of preschool IMO. In a social, typically developing kid I think starting at four is sufficient.

memali26 · May 2013

My girls will each get one year of preschool before starting kindergarten. For DD1, she will start preschool at 4.5, DD2 will be about 2 weeks shy of 5. I want them to have that one year as a transition into school, but I don't feel more than one year is necessary. They are getting other experiences home with me, through Sunday School/VBS classes at church, play dates, etc. If I had concerns about them transitioning to school I would consider an extra year, but so far I have none so we will stick with one year.

Angela814 · May 2013

My personal preference is at least 2 years of preschool.

I worked full time when DD1 was young, so she was in daycare full time. She moved into the preschool room at her small daycare center at 2 years. She was there at 2 and 3 yo and started 4K when she turned 4. Our school district has a public 4K program that is 5 half days.

I was only working part time on a variable schedule when DD2 turned 2. She is now in a 2 yo preschool program at our YMCA. I chose it partially so that I could workout while she was there and partially because she was really upset that DD1 got to go to school and she didn't. It's 2 days/week for 1.5 hours.

Next year I would love to put her in a 3 or 4 day/week preschool program, but with me averaging 10 hrs/week at work, we just can't afford the 300 to 400/month. We're going to do the 3yo program at the Y again; it's 2 days/week for 2 hours. Then we'll supplement with other preschool activities like swimming lessons, gymnastics, dance, etc. IMO, the most important part of 3 yo preschool is for the child to learn to separate from parents and follow directions from another adult in a classroom setting. Oh, and socialization also. I think going from nothing to 5 days/week at 4 yrs would be a tougher transition.

AimeeL85 · May 2013

They will both start when they are almost 4 because they have December birthdays, and for them to go when they're 3 years old they would have to be 3 by October, for most of the programs I know of.

This will give them 2 years of preschool before starting Kindergarten at almost 6 years old.

lite-bright · May 2013

My DD1 started at three, but that was a bit different -- she's on the autism spectrum and having two years of preschool has been awesome for her. She's heading to full-time kindy this fall.

DD2 will start this fall at 3.5, five days a week. Partly because I WAH and need a program for her to be in while I work (we currently have a nanny), and partly because she is SO excited to get to go to school. She drops off DD1 with me every day and sometimes she is so upset about leaving; she's been asking to do preschool since two, frankly, b/c she sees her older sister going and wants to do the same. She likes to tell me "I'm going to school today," even though she really isn't.

She does a toddler class for one hour once a week and likes it, but now that we've enrolled her and she's been to visit her preschool, she talks about it frequently. It would break her little heart to wait another year.

grlmom16 · May 2013

My DD has been going 1 day per week to a Wee School, 9-1p. Starting in September she will start 3 days per week at the same school. She'll be 3 in October. This year was kind of a test run to get her used to it and she LOVES it. She will probably continue with it 'till Kindergarten. They also have a pre-K program. Plus it gives my grandparents who watch her while I work a 4 hour brak on those days, and the day I'm off I get one as well. It helps to come home & clean in an empty house for 4 hours, lol.

Of course if I didn't think she was benefiting from being there I wouldn't do it, but I feel she is.

rlyttle · May 2013

DS will be 6 right after he starts K. So I'm going to keep him in daycare (which teaches many preschool concepts) until he is 4. That will give him 2 years in pre-school. I think 2 years in preschool will be plenty, especially since he goes to daycare full-time now, and they teach preschool content.

chardonnay24 · May 2013

We are doing pre-preschool at 2.5, preschool at 3.5, and pre-k at 4.5.

My son is speech delayed and has sensory issues, so he has trouble functioning in a structured environment. I want to slowly expose him and give him a lot of time to adjust before he gets thrown in to half time or full time school.

Emilia0101 · May 2013

Like others have said preschool really has nothing to do with education so to speak. Most kids that did preschool could go toe to toe academically with a child that hasn't had preschool and not have an issue. The biggest benefit that I have watched this year is my daughter being able to engage socially without me, listen and follow class room rules, and learn to socially navigate with her peers.

I really don't think their is a right or wrong answer, but I can say it has been an amazing change for DD this year and it has been worth every penny for us.

Spin313 · May 2013

We started DS in preschool at 3.5 on TuesTh mornings, then at 4.5 he went on MWF mornings. This has worked really well for us and we will do the same with DD.

TiffanyBerry · May 2013

We started DD in preschool at 2.5. She will be with the same group for three years, as she will start kindergartn whe.n she is 5.5. It works forus - I wanted her to have to learn more social navigation without me, and, honestly, I wanted.a little time to myself.

08summerbride · May 2013

We are waiting until 4. DD is at an in home day care that I am very happy with, and socially developing fine, so we are just doing 1 year of preschool. I don't want to have my kids in 2 different places, or monkey around with getting transportation to and from a part time place right now.

shaw · May 2013

I live in Ohio. Around here most people do 2 years of preschool. Preschool teachers are certified teachers that specialize in early childhood development. Preschools have curriculum (state mandated) that cover reading, writing, math, science and social cognition. It incorporates music, art, and free play. I believe it is both academic and social. Children that grow up in daycare transition very well while many kiddos home with mom have a bit of a tough time. I'm a junior high teacher (full time) and my little one spends all day with grandpa. He is two and I already take him to a class one evening a week. He will attend preschool when he is3/4, 4/5, and begin kindergarten right before he turns six.

logoz80 · May 2013

Emma will go at 4 when it's free. All the Pre K3 programs here are ridiculously expensive and frankly I'll teach her what she needs and worry about the socialization factor later. There are really no programs here under $2500 and we just don't have it.

WestCoastMommy · May 2013

My son went to a summer camp June to August 3 days a week from 9-12:45 and age 3. Then that fall he started a 3's preschool program. He is 5 now and in tottal did 3 summer sessions and 2 years of preschool and loved every min of it.

DD is a December baby so I have no clue when I will start here.

Proudmamma52 · May 2013

With 2 kids I really think 2 years is best of preschool to ready them for kindergarten. I have seen a huge difference with both of my kids and where we live they her k and cubdergartden at the school. Cubs is like a prek for the kids that are really young for k or for those that haven't went to preschool/ that are not ready for k. My dtr has done 2 years of preschool and is going to all day k next year.

BelhurstBride · May 2013

KC_13:
I really don't think the important thing in preschool is education. It's getting used to the routine of the classroom, following instructions from an adult other than family, and learning to navigate socially. For a kid who's shy, has some social issues, or has/had delays in any area should get that extra year of preschool IMO. In a social, typically developing kid I think starting at four is sufficient.

I agree, but with that said DD is starting this year. I wanted to give her something new and exciting that just about her with the new LO coming. She's really excited about it.

stever · May 2013

KC_13:
I really don't think the important thing in preschool is education. It's getting used to the routine of the classroom, following instructions from an adult other than family, and learning to navigate socially. For a kid who's shy, has some social issues, or has/had delays in any area should get that extra year of preschool IMO. In a social, typically developing kid I think starting at four is sufficient.

This. My kid is clever and socialized but he's still in preschool.

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