Full Day Preschool Program Helpful ???

My son (now eight) was also transitioned into full day preschool when he was three. I feared that a full day might be too long for him too, since he previously had been at home with me. While he did go to a playgroup 2 days a week and receive services at home I thought a full day "working" might be too much for him. I decided to start him off just going half days. The school wasn't thrilled with idea at first but I thought he would need to build up to it. After about 4 months I let him go full time. My (and his) experience was wonderful. He was tired at first but he did get used to the routine. I thought the entire program was so beneficial for him. He did learn a lot of skills that I wouldn't have been able to teach him at home - and he loved his new friends. And a little side note - when he started kindergarden the transition was seamless becuase he was already used to going to full day school. Good luck!

I would agree w/ Carrie D! As she said, you can always change as his needs/abilities change.
As a teacher of students with special needs, I would say more can be better. Research shows positive results for early intervention.
As a mother of a typical 3-year-old starting preschool, I can't imagine a longer day than her 2 days/week, 3 hours/day program offers.
Good luck!
J.

I am complete againts this. Your child will be in school for the next 13-17 years. Why rush the only time they get to be a child!! I do know lots of children who at 3 and 4 are in these programs and the parents and children never have anything good to say about them. You are taking away their childhood not to mention the behavior problems that come with being overly exhausted. Where is the attachment between child and parent if they are away most of the day?

My son has been in full-day school all of his life, and he has always done excellently. I think kids fare really well with social and educational stimulation as well as exposure to germs, etc. All of this stuff strengthens them and prepares them for life in every sense.

At first they are tired, and even once they are in the groove they may have days that they are tuckered out, so it's important to give them the down time they need at home and not to enroll them in too many other activities. But in general, kids are active, energetic little folks! I think people underestimate them.

my oldest son (now 11 yikes) did the exact same program and it worked wonders. It did make his tired but a good kind of tired. for the 1st time he went to be easier. He blossomed in thtat program, made friends he still has to this day, and learned so much that when he got to Kind he wa right on target. One of the best things we could have done for him! Good luck!

Hi D.
My name is R. I'm 34 mother of 3 (16,13 and an boy 4 in Oct.) My Son is on the Septrum (ASD) and he was also in early intervintion and was picked up by the school system when he turned 3. I did not let him go to school full day I thought it was to much for him to handle. He was very stubburn if he doesn't want to do something he didn't and cried about because he has no speach and it was the only way he could comunnicate. Now he is almost 4 and he started school today and I thought he was going to have a bad day but the teacher said he did good. I do a gradual interduction for the next few days he will only go half a day and I will add a half hour every week until he is ok with the idea of been in school all day.

I have seen it work because I had to do that when he went to summer school so that he could continue his services. Try it it it is alot easer than you think.

Peace and Grace
and God Bless
R.

Hi,

My son attended the intensive preschool program in Beverly, 8:15am-1pm as soon as he turned 3 and it was wonderful. Sure, he was a little tired at first but he adapted very well and it really has improved his life. My son is mild/moderately autistic and is now 5 and started kindergarten yesterday. : )

Barb

HI D.,

My son has been doing the full day preschool now for about 6 weeks and there are some days he says he is tired but over all he has not been exhausted. I don't think you have to worry to much about him being exhausted often if they have nap time and he sleeps well at night. My sons school does a nap time after they eat lunch. I was actually hoping that my son would be more worn out at the end of the day to help make bedtime a bit easier then it has been...
I guess it also depends on his energy levels too.

Hi D.,

I work in a full day preschool program for kids on the spectrum and I think it's the best thing! I'm a speech-language pathologist in the system, and I see the drastic improvements with kids who stay for the full day. Some parents opt to take them home early (1/2 day as the models do), and it seems to hinder progress - or .... not allow them to progress as fast. Of course, you have to decide what is best for your child. You can also wean him in... start 1/2 day and fade into full day... that's what a lot of our 3 year olds do. They come morning only, then after a week or two, they start staying for lunch, and then eventually the full day. Hope that helps and good luck with your son! P.S. With the activities, ABA / discrete trials, speech, OT or whatever he needs - he's going to need the full day to fit it all in! He may be tired, but it will help him so much! Good luck!

Hi D.,

My son and daughter (at the time just turned 3 and 5) did the all day preschool. They did incorporate rest time into this specific program and the kids did fine. Yes they were tired, but not to the point of exhaustion. They were well entertained during the day and enjoyed the numerous activities that were being done. It worked out well for my two kids. I will advise that for mine, their first year in the "school system", they caught every illness I think the school children had. I was told that is common but it was a little taxing! Good luck in your decision!

Congratulations on having a system that is providing both social and ABA programming in depth. The amount of time in the program is necessary to make the gains that are possible before first grade, and all for your child's benefit. To ease the transition, I have a few suggestions. Keep to a schedule at home, with short meals together, an early bedtime, very little visual stimulation from tv, handheld electric toys or computer, and daily downtime outside or in a rumpus room. Best wishes, Rose

My son is not on the spectrum but has special needs and transitioned from birth to three to the preschool last year. He gets OT/PT/speech. He was eshausted after 2 1/2 hours which is how long preschool is for him and he went only 2 times per week to start. For the first 6 weeks I picked him up a half hour early because he was getting nothing out of being there so exhausted. Once he built up the stamina and felt less overwhelmed he stayed the whole time. Then I added another day and stayed at that level for a while before adding another day.
It is important that he is able to get everything out of the program that he can and also have enjoyable days. It is okay to modify according to his needs. You are the person that knows him best so if you are more comfortable starting off with less whether this means picking him up early or just going 3 times a week to start is OK.

He is going to be tired, most kids are when they start an all day program like that. I would ask the preschool what their schedule is for the day, chances are they do have a rest period. When you pick him up make sure he has some quiet time and if he is really tired, put him to bed early for a few weeks. My youngest went from being at home with me all day to daycare/preschool from 7 am to 3 pm. She fell asleep a few times at dinner! It was hard for her to adjust but, she finally did and loved it. Her kindergarten teacher told me today she was the best student she had, I guess having that extra time in daycare was worth it. Good luck and don't try to worry too much about it, he will adjust.

A friend of mine has a daughter on the spectrum. She started going full time (in a very similar program to your son) back in March when she turned 3. She's doing fantastically! It's been great for her vocab and social skills and everytime I see her, I'm very impressed at her progress. She comes over to play after school sometimes- and never seems tired. She's always raring to go. I hope this helps!