Will a 4 or 5 1/2 year old adjust better?

[connorlevismom]

We are looking at schools at the moment and all the schools we are looking at have a preschool. DS currently goes to a daycare center were it is pretty much preschool. We really like the center and the things that he gets to do there are really cool.

If we find a school that we really want my son to attend, it would be nice to put him in the preschool so that he can get to know the kids that will be going to school with him from K-8. Besides that, it is WAY cheaper to send him to a school preschool than his current center. BUT I don't want to switch him if it is going to be really hard on him. So do you think it would be easier to do it now when he is just going to be 4, or wait until he actually goes to K at 5 1/2? Does that question make sense?

Kristine

 

[WDWorBUST]

I think your question makes sense. I just went through this same type of scenario. DD (4) currently goes to a Christian preschool that is also a private school through 6th grade. I absolutley LOVE her school and because of her birthday she is in the 3 year old program and will be starting pre-K this fall or could stay in preschool in tehe 4 year old class. Part of me really wants to keep her in the school she is currently in - however I have decided to move her to public Pre-K this fall. My reasoning. Even if financially I could make it work for her to attend her school she is at now I hate the thought of her going to public school at the 7th grade - to me that is just a terrible time to uproot a child and put them in the position to have to make new friends and since at that time I would put her in public school she might or might not end up with very many of her friends continuing on that path with her. I considered leaving her in the 4 year old program next year - but my thought process on that was that she is going to change - I might as well do it now and let her get accustomed to her new school sooner rather than later. And honestly I love how small her school is....but at the same time it gives you a much smaller group of kids to make friends with.

 

[bigbabyblues]

It depends on the child, but I would move him as early as possible. My 4-yo ds has been in the same private preschool for two years, but since we've decided he won't be going to K next fall even though he's going to be 5 well before the cutoff, I wonder about how he'll adjust next year. He'll be in the same preschool but with a different set of kids, as the rest of his class moves on to K.

He doesn't seem to mind at this time. We started a new church in Sept where he knew absolutely no one, and he adjusted really. He has made friends and doesn't mind going at all.