Preschool next year?

brachysira · December 2014

Did we already talk about this? I SAH, and we have little A.J. so that won't change. I am trying to decide whether to enroll M in preschool next year (so she would go for 3 years). I have to apply now. I'm interested in your situation, but here are the pros and cons for mine.

Pros:

M needs to get out of the house and will probably enjoy it

Might be good for behavior issues and help her developmentally

Will give me time to do things with A.J. without big sis

Cons:

Going to preschool for 3 years is pricey

We would miss some moms' groups things/playdates

This preschool is about a 20 minute drive away

Our mornings are the nicest part of the day, and I'm a little reluctant to start the get-up-let's-get-going thing that comes with school so soon.

Plus--there is a preschool within walking distance to our house that she could attend at 3.5, and if she likes preschool next year, I'm not sure we'll want to switch, which would be too bad since we really love walking places and I want her to meet kids who will go to K with her, which would be at the neighborhood preschool.

kleigh926 · December 2014

I'd do the neighborhood preschool at 3.5. It's not that much longer to wait, and the much closer distance from your house would be a major factor for me.

TarheelMama202 · December 2014

Well I am glad that you brought this up, because it reminded me to put my kid on the wait list for a couple of programs!

My situation is a little different from yours, though. I am at home with DS1 this year, but DS2 is due in May. I'm able to be at home this year because I'm in a full-time grad program where all of my classes are in the late afternoons/evenings. The second year of my grad program is a paid internship, so I will be back to work in August. My mom is keeping our boys while I work next year as she is retiring at the end of this school year. I want to do a part-time preschool so it gives her a little bit of a break from having two little ones all the time. Also, my guy definitely needs to spend some time with other little people. He's very well-behaved but his speech is behind. While our pediatrician isn't concerned about it, she did say that having him in a preschool program would definitely help his speech catch up.

ally2011 · December 2014

For all the reasons you listed, I would wait if it were me. We aren't doing preschool for the forseeable future. Maybe at 4 to get ready for school, but I doubt before. I just don't think it is necessary since I stay home. But I have plenty of friends that stay home and do it, so no judgement on that at all....just to be clear

I just think it sounds like in your case the cons outweigh the pros and it makes more sense to wait.

MalRiggs · December 2014

Can you schedule a tour visit at both places. And see which one you like best after that

SummerLove21 · December 2014

We will probably be starting pre-school for DS in the fall, because I want him to have the socialization and I want me to have some quality time with DD. He does really well in our church nursery and did great in our toddler class, so I think he would enjoy it. But ours is fairly close (5 minute drive) and I turned down the offer to start in another one because it is 25 minutes away and only 3 hours twice a week.

How many hours/day and days/week is the pre-school you are considering?

singingsea · December 2014

We don't have the $ for preschool. He'll just go straight into kindergarten. DS's sitter runs her in home DC like a preschool. Their day is very structured and she does lessons with the kids. They do story time. She teachers them numbers, letters, colors and shapes.

nlp1990 · December 2014

I think we are going to send E in the fall. Only one day a week. I SAH and have other kids in our home, daycare style. It has been really hard on E because he has to share his toys ALL the time. With a new baby coming I want him to look forward to something that is just for him. The only 2 year old program close to us is full day and I'm not sure I'm super happy with that. We are in a very rural place so there aren't a lot of other programs geared toward the little guys and the ones that are are sometimes hard to get him to because I have other kids (and I'm not paying for all of them to do it).

brachysira · December 2014

All of the private non-montessori preschools seem to go the same way--3 hours in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then 3 or 5 days if you're one year before preschool... I think that's enough time, but it would be nice if there were some other time options.

I have no concerns about her academically. She loves to read and knows her alphabet, colors, numbers, and a lot of words. But she is very hard to understand, and socialization might help with that. Plus, she just loves other kids, and trying to play with 3 year-olds at the park often leads to "we don't want to play with a baby!" which makes me sad (but of course preschool social dynamics are probably worse). I think if it were free, we'd be sending her. It's just pricey and really has to be worth it, and I'm not sure.

TarheelMama202 · December 2014

@byebyebooze wins.

djm31012 · December 2014

In your situation I would probably wait. It sounds like you have some other activities, etc to get her out of the house and social. Maybe sign up for things they can do together like a music class or gym class or something, so you have something planned a few days a week.

Our situation is a bit different. I am due with LO2 in May. I am enrolling DS in a 2s program next fall that will be 2 days a week (either mornings or afternoons, i prefer mornings but its in such high demand it just depends what we get). Plus the school is 5-10 min away, so much closer...by the time you drive the 20 min to go after drop off, you will likely almost have to turn right around and go back (most programs are 2-3 hrs at that age).

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