At what age did your child begin Preschool?

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

At present our grandson nearly 2 1/2 is cared for most of the week by DH and I while DD works and attends school. Our daughter has been discussing with us the issue of when her son will start attending preschool.

(DD and SIL are divorcing and have agreed to allow DD to choose when and where thier son will attend school)

Anyway DD would like her son to attend preschool for at least 1 year before heading off to Kindergarten. He would be 4 1/2 at that time. However she is also wondering whether he should go for two years prior ( at 3 1/2 ) or perhaps attend for just a half week the first year and a full week the second year?

So I thought to ask what it is you do/did with your child. What age did your child begin going to preschool and was it for a full week or half week?

Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

*disclaimer* I homeschool and always have.


However--in my area, children usually begin pre-school at age 3 in PK3. It is pretty common.

Also equally as common is just waiting until age 4 b/c of VPK--the voluntary pre-kindergarten b/c the state now pays for it.

Unless a parent is working FT and has no other arrangments---

typically PK3 is a MWF program (2yo's typically are T, H).

PK4 is a M-F.

The pre-school we considered, the programs are all half day with most kids staying for "lunch bunch" and getting picked up around 1pm. The school has extended day for parents of children who are in the elementary school and the parent would only have to pick up once. They also have full day options. However the "academic" aspect of pre-school is always in the morning.

Typically, if you anticipate sending a child to K--it is always suggested to send to PK4 since the children require certain skills by Kindergarten to keep up with the PS K curriculum.

I do not know if PK3 is critical--but around here PK4 is based on everything that I have heard from teachers that I know, pre-school teachers and parents.

HTH.

 

[Bren's Mom]

My ds just started preschool, he is going to be 4 next month. HOWEVER, he's been in full-time daycare since about 8 weeks, has been enrolled in a number of classes (like swimming) and had many playdates. The biggest thing about pre-k is the socialization that kids need before starting k. Given the current situation I'd say starting him at 3 in a 2 day program (min) and then at 4 in a 3 day program (or more) would be good I'd think.

 

[stephie1012]

DD started last year as the youngest in her class...school started the beginning of September and dd turned 3 Sept 30th. The cut off here is Oct 1 so she just makes it. We sent her to a private preschool (no daycare program, not a lisenced daycare therefor they had to be potty trained) had to add that bit that was important for me that it wasnt a daycare lol. She went 2 days a week for 2.5hours a day. That was the 3yr old program. Now she will be 4 so that program is 3days a week for 3.5hours a day. And if we feel she is ready she will start K next year. In our town at 4 they can start prek at the public school for 5hrs a day 5days a week.

 

[skw444]

My dd4 just started Pre-K this week. Here in GA, Pre-K is paid for by the state and is full day (8:00-2:30). Prior to starting pre-k she was in daycare 3 days a week. You have to be 4 years old by September 1 to start pre-k here. What I've noticed this week...the kids who were in some type of preschool/daycare setting had a much easier time getting adjusted this week then the kids who haven't been. But that's what Pre-K does for them...gets them ready for Kindergarten. I think your grandson would be fine either way...starting half time now at 3 1/2 and then starting full time at 4 1/2 or just waiting and going full time at 4 1/2.

 

[May05 preemie mom]

I think alot depends on your grandchild's interaction with other children. If you gc is active, say in swimming, gymboree, gymnastics, regular playgroups, and is in a setting at home that is working on letters and numbers and colors, etc. then maybe they could wait another year. But if he's kinda just around adults all the time then maybe a part time program would work this year and then maybe full time next year. But you want to look for a quality preschool environment, not one that is just going to babysit all day.

 

[chefgirl96]

Both of our children, so far, have started 'officially' schooling at about age 4 1/2. My first daughter went to a private preschool for 1 year before we decided to start homeschooling. This was 3 days/week for about 2 1/2 hours a day. My second daughter will begin formally homeschooling for preK this year at age 4 1/2. I guess for me, I didn't really see the point of starting any earlier than that. They will have plenty of years of schooling ahead!!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My oldest DD went to free pre-k in GA at 4, DS went to the free pre-k at 5 because his birthday was 8 days after the cut-off date. The other 3 kids never went to preschool and the first two adjusted just fine, the other one starts kindergarten this year. I figure they're going to go to school long enough, why start them before they have to? Obviously I've gotten more relaxed over the years since DD was that little.

 

[MSSANDRA]

It depends very much the situation as well. Preschool director here and we serve children 2-kindergarten. DN was in full time day care that included a preschool as we all worked. DS went just one year before kindergaten as I was a stay at home mom and loved my time with him. DGS is starting our program this fall. He stays with my older mil when I am at work and has little interaction with other kids. He needs preschool now.

 

[tinkermom23]

I am a SAHM and with our oldest DS, we did lots of playgroups. He had tons of interaction with other kids his age and I worked on lots of educational things at home. D]So we waited and he did preschool at age 4(almost 5) for 2 days a week. Then kindergarten was 3 days a week

Now with DS3 & DD3, they have not had as many playdates or social time with other kids. Although they are fine in learning the educational part, they need more time to learn to get along with others and interacting with others their own age and not just each other!
I have signed them up for 3 yr-old preschool 1 morning a week. They have summer Birthdays and for now I only feel comfortable with 1 morning a week. They do offer all day preschool for 3 yr-old here but I think that is too much for my 3 yr-old babies!

This is just my opinion, and I do think you'll get lots of differing opinions on this as it's a personal decision. It's great that your DD is thinking it over now, it's never too early to think about your child's education!

 

[PrincessMickey]

My oldest started at 3 1/2. He went 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. Last year I was going to send him 3 days a week same hours but we were able to get into a pre-k program paid for by the state. That was all day 8-1and provided breakfast and lunch. If I didn't get him into a free program I just would have kept in the 3 day class.

My younger one started last year 2 months after he turned 3 for the 2 day a week class. We are moving next week so we will not do the pre-k. He will go to a 3 day a week class.

We currently live in PA where the K is full day. I didn't mind doing the pre-k because I wanted him to be able to adjust easily to being in school all day. We are moving to CO where the K is only half day. I chose the 3 day class for the younger one because K will not be as big of a transition for him.

 

[cuppycake]

I think either would be fine.

I'm a SAHM and didn't see the need for our girls to be in school at a super young age. I'm with those who say they will have enough of that when they are older. We did pre-K the year before K for our older DD (she started at 4.5 yrs). It was 3 mornings a week, 2.5 hours. It was fine. She's a very social girl, anyway and had no problems adjusting at all.

Our younger DD is 4 and will be doing the same program as her sister this year. She's not quite as social, but has done dance class at the YMCA, and she went to VBS this year...she seems ready (but would not have been at 3.5). She's super excited to start, which is good.

To top it off, it's NOT free in our state, so we didn't feel the need to spend the money for 2 years each when I was at home with them anyway (and they LOVE learning through play at home).

All that to say, I think it depends on a lot...the parents, the kids, what they've done in the past, if they are social if they aren't, if they have a learning environment at home, or not.....I don't think either is the wrong answer, and wish your family well on the deicision!!

 

[smkiya]

DD started preschool 2 months before she turned 3. They do not accept children who are not completely potty trained (i.e. no pull-ups). She spent the past 2 years in preschool going 3 full days per week (M,Th, F), though she could have done 1/2 days, as the second half is lunch, nap, and playtime. She will be going to a private Kindergarten this year because I could not justify her spending an additional year in preschool just because she misses the Kindergarten cut-off by 12 days. She has been reading and writing, adding and subtracting, math puzzles, etc. She socially adjusted and mature. If I or her teachers think she is not ready for 1st grade, then I will just enroll her in Kindergarten in the public school where she would be anyway. Her preschool did a great job of working with the children and teaching them lots of different things from the very beginning. Three full days was a good amount for her, if she had done half days I would have done 4 or 5.

 

[allyphoe]

Our state has free 4yo pre-K (district has to offer it; attendance isn't mandatory), 5 days a week, but only half-days.

My DD started preschool at 3, at which point she still had a full-time stay-at-home parent, because there are no same-aged kids in our neighborhood and both of her parents are introverts who hated playgroups. DD was miserable and bored at home, and loved preschool. We did that full-day, 5 days a week, and it worked well for her. They did tons of fun stuff and she and her teacher really bonded.

With all the shuffling between people, a good preschool could be a point of stability in his life. Or it could be yet another hard transition. That'll depend on the preschool and your grandson, and isn't anything any of us could probably have useful input on.

 

[woodkins]

Where I live (Long Island NY) many kids start preschool at age 2, almost all start by age 3 (there is no public preschool, only in poorer areas). In order to enter K they must be 5 by 12/1 of that school year. Nearly all kids have 2 or 3 years of preschool prior to K. Many are reading prior to entering K, and all are reading at the completion of K.

 

[JoshChristineplus3]

Mine go at 3 and 4 but its only a 2 day a week program. Then full day Kidnergarten at 5.

 

[dizneechic]

I did 3 different things with my 3 kids, only one I wish I had done differently, but hindsight is 20/20.

My oldest is an August baby, and while brilliant we knew we would be retaining him (starting K a year "late" having just turned 6 vs just turned 5). For him we started him in 4 day 1/2 day preschool at the age of 4 and again at 5. His preschool teacher was a former K teacher so followed that curriculum to a point and often had my ds help support the glad and work on building his social confidence. He's entering grade 2 now and of the 80+ kids in his grade (many classes) there are 12 older than him, so retaining has never presented a problem. He also receives gifted and talented services.

My middle child is a Spring baby, started preschool at 3 in a 4 day half day program. We sent him to K on time at age 5.25 and he's struggled academically, and is wildly social. He was where he needed to be to advance to 1st, and socially they wouldn't even consider holding him back, but is no where near where my 1st ds was academically even when entering K. We're going to push for some remedial services for him this year as well as work with him at home so he doesn't struggle with the 1st grade curriculum.

My dd started preschool at age 3, in a 4 day full day program. This upcoming year she will be in a 5 day full day program with 2 days extended. She is at the same level academically as my middle ds, and socially a bit shy (but coming out of her shell). Last year she begged me to do extended day and we said no, but this year it will give me time to work with my middle ds without the interruption. My 1st and 3rd children are VERY much alike.

At the time we did what worked for our family budget since here we have to pay for preschool (6k for full day, 3k for 1/2) and pay for full day K (4,500). Having 3 so close in age all of whom we needed to pay for school definitely swayed our choices some. I do wish my middle ds started in 1/2 day the 1st year and did full day the 2nd year, I don't know if it would have helped but I hate to see him frustrated that his sister can give him a run for his money.

 

[MiniGirl]

Both of my girls started preschool at about 2 1/2 years of age. It was 2 days a week -- 3 hours a day. The next year they went 3 days a week/3 hours a day. The year before K it was 5 days a week/3 hours a day. K is a full day program here. I am a SAHM and it was a nice break for me, and they really enjoyed it and were well prepared for Kindergarten.

We homeschool now, but I do not regret sending them to preschool. It was a good experience for all of us.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I am a SAHM. My three kids started preschool at 3 so they had two years before K.

The older two did a two day program the first year and a 3 day program the second year. My youngest did a 3 day program the first year also. But, when I say "day" I really mean a half day.


My older two loved preschool and so did I. I used to teach elementary but could easily see myself going back to work in a preschool. My youngest isn't such a fan. He starts his second year of preschool after Labor Day. We'll see....

For my kids it isn't about the academics but more the social aspect and learning how to behave in a classroom environment.

 

[DISNEYNV]

I was so not aware that some states have free PreK! Anyway, my DD was 4 when she went to PreK last year. This year she will be in Kindergarten 5 days a week. She was involved in Gymnastic classes, Gymboree, etc prior and didn't have a problem adjusting. I think if they are ready socially and cognitively then get them into a social setting with other kids their own age...whether 2 or 3, etc. It is good for them to interact with other adults besides you and children of the same developmental age. As long as the program is not too long and it's going well for the child. You might meet other moms to socialize with as well...a plus for you don't rush the school thing! Just let your child learn and socialize at his/her own pace. Even if it's just taking them to a local playgroung or play group they are learning and socializing at their level..even if they do not interact with a single child