Need Advice on When to Send Child to Preschool and Where

D., I would recommend sending her to pre-school. If you start now with the "big girl" talk she'll be really excited about it. This will be good for her and good for baby. The little one will have some 1 on 1 time with you and your big one will have a great time learning and making new friends.

M.

I'll make this comment short:) my first child turned 3 in Aug. also and he started preschool when he turned 4. My other 2 children turned 3 in April and May and they both started preschool at age 3. its all worked out great! they all loved preschool!! And I'm also a SAHM:)

My oldest turned 2 in May, my baby was born in June, and I sent the new 2 year old to mothers day out. She loved it! She looked forward to it, and it was great to have time with just the baby twice a week.
I sent both girls to preschool at 3 and am happy they went!
I say go for it! :)

This is something that you have to decide what's best for your child. But, I know that mine loved going to preschool - it made her feel like a "big girl" while her brother was at home. Also, I think you should think even further ahead to Kindergarten, with an August birthday, do you think you'll send her when she turns 5 or wait to send her - it may be to early for you to decide, but something I know some already know what they would like to do.
If you decide you want to wait - I would recommend a mother's day out program - that would give you a day or two just to bond with the new baby, but a day for your daughter to feel like she gets to do something special too. (I am/was a SAHM too - and the preschool days were good for all of us - only a few hours a couple times a day. It gave my son and I time to bond and gave her a special thing that only she got to do.)

It's been a few years since we were in preschool - but, I was VERY happy with Monticello United Methodist preschool - basically off of 75th & K7 - you can see the sign off the hwy - to the West of that intesection. Also, if I recall, they generally start taking registrations for preschool in Jan. or Feb., so might want to start making some phonecalls to know your options.
Congratulations and good luck!

I think when she's ready is kind of up to you and how she acts. If she's used to doing activities then she can probably handle some preschool. I would have started my son at 3 if we could have afforded it :(

I go to a great pre-school that was recommended to me by several different individuals. It's at SM Pkwy and Long and is called Sunshine Preschool. They have programs for 3 year olds, 4 year olds and Pre-K. I think the 3 year old program is just 2 afternoons (or mornings) a week, so your daughter wouldn't feel like she was being booted due to the baby. It would just be 2 more fun days a week.

i have two thoughts on this. first my son turned 3 in september, and between finances, and the flu season, i am waiting until spring to send him. i have zero reservations about my choice, it's what is going to work for my family. S., i don't think she will be traumatized if you send her 4 weeks after the baby is born. if anything it will give her more of a sense of "big kid" and responsibility, and it will be something that is entirely hers, since she's having to share her mom and dad now. just make sure to spend lots of time with her, and praise her for being such a good big girl, etc. play it up and i bet she will love it. don't ever treat it like it's a bad thing or like you have reservations or she'll pick up on it. good luck, i'm sure she'll be fine!

I sent my daughter and my son at 3, and he loved it, she hated it. I guess that is a toss up depending on your child. With my 3rd child, I am waiting until she is 4.

Sunshine preschool in Shawnee does a great job. You may want to check them out.

I don't have recommendations on preschools because I live in Parkville (north of the MO river) but I can tell you when we started our older daughter in preschool and how it worked out.

I was pregnant and had our 2nd child one month after our oldest turned three. We started our oldest in preschool two weeks after our 2nd was born. I only started her in 1/2 days and she only went 2 or 3 days each week. Since I was home with the new baby, I picked her up and we all had lunch together. It gave her time to get used to school on a slower pace, but she got to get in the routine.

She had always either been with her grandparents or 1-2 days each week she'd stay with a lady she's stayed with since she was 1. It was a transition, but she did it happily and I think that's because we prepared her.

When the baby was coming, we told her she'd get to start to school when the baby got here. She was very excited about school. I think it really helped that she only went 1/2 days and got to come home to the safety of mommy and the house at lunchtime.

Since you'll be home, it may be nice to find something pt so she can transition.

Oh, I do have a referral. One of my friends used the preschool on 87th just west of Lackman in one of the huge churches (there are two together on the north side of 87th and she used the one on the east). She loved it. Her kids went 1/2 days and only 2-3 days each week.

Good luck!

Ummm... I'm going to sound a bit different than the other mom's on here. I too am a SAHM. I have lot's of "feelings" about pre-school. First and formost.. you and your child need socialization. Not just your babies.. in fact I think yours is almost more important becuase you are the solid rock in their life and to be that you must be happy and healthy yourself. So.. if you choose not to do preschool don't assume you will be locked down with the baby. You can still do stuff.. your baby will adjust and most likely enjoy the activity as well. I am due with our 3rd at the end of July... so I know what you are feeling. It's too hot to take a baby out, you can't take a baby to the pool that young etc... But...you can do something. I would suggest checking in the local MOPS groups in your area, and other play groups. A co-op play group would be great where each mom takes turns hosting the kids and the mom's can socialize with each other.

Personally I do belive 3 is too young. My oldest is going to Kindergarden in the fall.. but I just now feel like a "school" setting is something he would like. Again, every kid is different. But, I stayed home to be with my kids, and being with this is what I want. Now.. does a mom deserve and need a break from kids ... YES!!!! That why I suggest MOPS or something similar.. you get a break and MOM friends and the kids go to their class for a few hours... best of both worlds. I what I am trying to say is don't use preschool as a way for you to not socialize yourself.

Sorry this is kinda rambly... I'm multi-tasking :) Just don't feel pressured. Sometimes I think how we started Kindergarden so that the kids would be ready for "school" then we started "pre-school" to get kids ready for Kindergarden now we have "Mom day out" to get them ready for pre-school. Kids have their whole life to be in school or work.. let's just let them be kids at least for 3 -4 years. But.. that is just my personal soap box. Sorry :)