So after going back on forth on the question of whether or not to send my son (who turned 3 in December) fo pre-school next fall, I finally decided to send him to a local pre-school 2 morning a week. Well, they are filled for their 2-day program. Of all the 5 schools I checked out, none of them have a 2-day program that will work for us. So now I decide whether to send him 3 days, or not at all. I'm looking for advice, experiences, etc. Here's our situation, briefly...son just turned 3 in December, well-adjusted, has plenty of playdates and outings, I am really on the fence about formal education--I keep wondering if he'll be better off staying at home with me--we do all sorts of activities together. I have a 10-month old--the two kids play together well. I really wanted a Christian pre-school if I was going to send him, because I would prefer to have a school that will impart similar values to my own. Right now we go to a bible study once a week where he is in a pre-school bible class--they do craft, story, snack, circle time, etc. So if I send him to 3 mronings of pre-school, plus the Bible class, that will be 4 morning a week, which will only leave one morning for other activities (like library story time, music class, tike hikes, etc.)
I'm not sure if I should send him next fall, or just keep him home with me.
Sign him up for 3 days and take him 2 days as you were planning to do. Cost wise, it's not that much different. There's no rule that he *must* go the 3 days if you're paying for it. GL --You may find that he will change a lot between now and when you send him in fall and he may prefer to be in school.
I would send him. My second son has just blossomed and is so much more outgoing, has lots of friends and is catching on to learning and loving it. Asks for school and his friends on days off. he is almost 2 1/2. So much more than my older son (who did not start until 5, a year before kindergarten)
I am also very active with them and did lots of playgroups and playdates, musueum, parks etc.
I think giving them a new environment and experiences are good for them
I am not an expert but it sort of seemed like I could feel your hestitation coming through, which, for me, is enough of an answer for you. Don't do it if you aren't ready. He is only this young once and time with you is NOT wasted!!! He's not going to be behind or less advanced just because you didn't put him in pre-school! So, go with your gut and have fun with your kids! (I have one that just turned 4 and one that just turned 1 so I know where you are)
I am a Mom with 4 boys 1 in school whom went to 2 years of pre-school (at Christian Schools) and a 3 and 4 year old and 10 month old baby. My 4 year old is enrolled for kindergarten in the fall. All my kids also attend church and are in the kids world child care for a bible study I attend. Our church has a great program that is very structured class room. They sing songs have a story lesson, craft project....My oldest after attending 2 years of pre school knew LESS going into Kindergarten than my now 3 and 4 year old know. I have homeschooled my preschoolers due partly finances and time. I have used simple school curiculum from the store. Focusing on letters, shapes, numbers we do little projects with cutting and pasting. Anyways I am AMAZED how much they have grasped....My 4 year old can count to 100 knows his address, phone number is begining reading. On average I spend about 4 hours a week on school......My 3 year old know at least 3/4th's what the older one has learned. I will never waste my time on preschool again! You know your child and know if they don't get the structure of a class room. Also it's important they have the foundation of education. If anything send him the year before kindergarten. Hope this helps!
One on one learning cannot be beat. I'm keeping my kids home for as long as possible. They have the rest of their lives to be in structured environments with lots of rules.
Hi A.,
If I was you I would keep him with you if you can. If it becomes too much for you, then I would send him. But you mentioned that both your kids get along and play well. So for now, just enjoy him and let him enjoy you and the family. He'll have time to go to pre-k when he is 4 if you want to send him, remember once they start school they are in for a long time. So, if it's okay with you and he doesn't have any social issues that you are concerned with, if he plays and socializes well with other kids, why send him? Keep him home and enjoy him as much possible.
:)
i kept mine at home until the yr before kindergarten and even that i'm only doing 2 days. If you feel your kid is learning everything like letters/numbers/reading etc i feel they are better off at home. I feel like its just a fad and a push to get our kids into school earlier than they need to be. if you decide to home school.... there's really no point except social : )
There is nothing wrong with not doing 3 year old programs or even pre K. He'll only be 3 1/2. I'd keep him rather than send him. My daughter did pre K 2 days, my son is doing 3 year old 2 days and pre K next year 3 days, but that is because he sees his sister going to school.
My daughter will be 4 in June and I put her in the school system for pre-k for 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and she loves it. I really recommend trying to use the public school system if they provide it. It gives them the atmosphere of what school is like and the familiarity of the surrounding for their transition to Kindergarten. It is a little bit cheaper I found than taking them somewhere private.
A lot of the preschools that are full now might have openings by the end of summer or fall. If you decide that you do want to send your son to a two-day program, be sure to check back with the school of your choice later. Some parents may have pulled their child out of school by then. Good luck in whatever you decide!
Hi A. - We have a similar 4-day schedule so we have Friday mornings off which we really look forward to. We do most of our playdates and activities with his little friends after school over lunch so we dont feel like we're missing too much. It's also not a huge deal to pull him out of preschool for a day here and there if we want to do a certain activity.
If you find that most of his "fun" activities are in the morning, perhaps consider enrolling him in an afternoon preschool.
I totally understand your desire for a Christian preschool - In my area, the prices are comparable between Christian and public preschools. We have my youngest in public preschool because he is in a special speech program - it's been fantastic and he's thriving.
The question to ask your self is your son ready for preschool a few days a week. I hesitated to send my 3 year old last fall but she was ready and very eager to make new friends. She is in a public preschool through the school district 4 days a week for 3 hours each morning. That still leaves us with a three day weekend to spend extra full days with her. She will be going this fall too only part time because when she goes to kindergarten I wont have that extra day with her even though I know she would love to go full time.
Just because he's enrolled 3 days a week that doesn't mean he has to be there.... If you have plans you can always keep him home that one day a week. In August 2010 I'm sending my Dec 7th boy to an all day 3 yr. old preschool, then next year 2011 he'll go to regular school to the Pre-K program, then he'll start Kindergarten when he is a full 5 1/2 years old. We don't have anymore little ones at home so it'll be nice to have some time at home to clean house and do those tedious things I often put off...LOL.
I have also wondered this. you can always try it out and if it does not work pull him out I am sure. I think it is good ot have time away bc they will learn things differently with out their parents around and then you can have time alone with your other children. it can be hard to send your children outside of the home, I completly understand bc I am really worried about diff. values too....but trust that you have set a good example and a good thing is they will learn from others. (hopefully mostly good stuff LOL) good luck.
At our school, the classes are structured by age-appropriateness. The 2 year olds go 2 days a week for two hours, the 3 year olds 3 days a week for 2 hours, and the 4 year olds go four days a week for 2.5 hours. This system was created because that's what MOST kids that age are developmentally and emotionally ready for. Especially because your child would be one of the older kids in a 3's class, he should do really well. We chose co-op because I like how many different people she is exposed to and can learn from, plus we are like a big family, helping out, etc...Plus I get to be hands-on involved in what she is doing and learning. I know I can't teach her everything! Teachers and other kids will teach them social skills and many other things you can't possibly cover every single day.
We have a younger daughter as well, and they play well together too. However, the 2 year old who loves her sister also cherishes that one on one time when big sister is at preschool. And dropping her off and picking her up everyday is getting little sister ready for preschool herself!
We do have people who've started and dropped a day or left because it wasn't right for them or their child. That's why I said most kids, every kid is different. I'd give your favorite a try! And in my experience, a lot of the moms who don't think their kids are ready are not ready themselves, not so much the kid. ;) What does he want to do?
Does the Church have a preschool? The place where you go for Bible class?
And I assume he is potty trained already and able to read? If he goes to those things 4 times a week... then, don't feel you "have to" have something structured for him on his off-days, at home. Kids... really need just play time too, just hanging out, playing on their own. That is how they learn too. Kids can become over-scheduled... and at this young age, it is not imperative that they have structured things everyday... nor extra-curricular classes etc. Kids, need days-off too.
Next, go according to his readiness. I have heard, that with boys, they sometimes benefit from starting preschool later...
I have a 3.5 year old boy, I am contemplating the same thing. But, ultimately I will go according to my son's readiness and "want" for school. Right now, he does NOT want to go to school... even though he has been to school with me and his older sister... where I do volunteering at her school. So he does know about school... and he even has friends at my daughter's school. Yet, he says he does NOT want to go to school yet.. .and he wants to stay home. He is also still not 100% on the money with pottying. My daughter on the other hand, ASKED to go to school, at this same age. Begged us almost to start school. So we enrolled her.
all the best,
Susan
