This is a TWO part question :)
1. Which age is best to start kids in Pre-school? And do you think that 1 year of pre-school before Kindergarten is enough?
2. Does anyone have any suggestions for a great pre-school in the SW suburbs (Chaska area)?
3. (I guess it is a THREE part question) HOW do working mom's manage pre-school AND daycare? (i.e. the logistics of it...getting the kids to preschool and back, etc)
Thanks!
Hi Christine -
There are actually quite a few really great preschools in Chaska. My son goes to Step-by-step Montessori which we love and I would recommend if you like the Montessori approach, there is also Jamboree in Victoria which I've heard great things about, the school district also offers a program, as well as several of the local churches that I've heard good things about too. I would go now and check out several of them while this years program is still in session so you can see which fits best with your child's learning style. You should check with your daycare to see if they offer a bus to one of the local preschools. I think each child is different with how long they should go to preschool - we are doing 2 years for my oldest son since we are going PT and he loves to go. Good luck!
I am going to start with your third question first. If your child is in daycare already, why do you feel the need to have him in preschool, too? He should be getting everything he needs at his daycare, so there is no need for preschool. That seems like too much for a child, especially at the young age of 2.5, to handle.
If you feel you would like him in another program on top of daycare, I would suggest looking into ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education). They typically have evening classes that work for working families. A typical ECFE class is broken down into age groups (your 2.5 yo ds would be in a group of 2-3 yos who would all go to kindergarten the same year). You attend class with your child. Typically, you spend the first part of the class in the room doing projects, etc. with him. Then you seperate and the kids are in the room with the teachers and the parents have a parent ed class (which also consists of time for parents to vent or ask questions and is a great support system!).
As a mother, daycare provider, and teacher, I would highly recommend an ECFE class one evening a week over a daytime preschool class when your child is already in daycare. But, to answer your other questions, the best age to start preschool really depends on the child. Some are ready at 2.5, especially if they are used to being away from mom and dad all day. Some kids dont have the attention span yet. Some kids love school and would do well with more than a year of preschool before starting kindergarten. There is no real need for preschool, though. Many kids enter kindergarten without having any preschool and are just fine. Kids will spend 13+ years in school once they start kindergarten, why add more years to that instead of just letting them be a kid and play?
As for your second question, you will have to call around and visit places and see what works for you and your child. There is a new program IN the Chaska Community Center that I have heard wonderful things about. As for getting your child to and from preschool during the daycare day, the only way that will work is if the provider or school provides transportation or if you use your lunch break to drive your child back and forth. Then you need to think long and hard if it is really worth it. With the transportation time, especially in the winter, what is your child REALLY getting out if it that he can't get at his current daycare? Probably not much, if anything. I will mention ECFE again, because it is a great mix of time with your child and classroom experience. This is the link to Chaska ECFE.
http://www.chaska.k12.mn.us/ecfe/index.html
Good luck with your decision.
Sharon