Seeking Advice on Starting Preschool

I am a preschool teacher with 3 and 4 year olds in my class. Starting you son in a summer program a few days a week would make the transition for both he and you easier. My experience with 4 year olds is that they do really well with a 9-3 day. They are ready for and thrive in the preschool environment. They soak up knowledge and are very proud of their "work".

My 5 year old daughter is starting Kindergarten in the fall and it is still only 1/2 day.

Good luck with school next year. Preschool was a great experience for my daughters.

Jeannie

I agree, full day for a 4 yr old! I'd find another place. My son had PreK from 8:30 to 12:30 then Kindergarten was 8:30 to 2:30. I think its a nice progression to grade school.

My son is 4 (just turned 4 a couple days ago). In February, we put him into a pre-K program 5 days a week. We get him there anywhere from 8:30a to 9a & we pick him up at 2p. The first month (February) was the hardest. He had a lot of anxiety about being left there. He was afraid we would not pick him up, but we reassured him that we have never forgotten him. We followed what his teacher told us to do by continuing to bring him every day. March was a little better. April was a lot better. He loves school now.

My son has been home with me, too. The separation from me was the hardest on him, but he wanted friends. He was sad he had no friends so we knew that preschool would be the answer.

I thought the same as you that a full day would be long for him, but he loves going to school. We have full day Kindergarten here & I knew that if we took him out a couple days a week that it could hurt him in the long run with all day K.

Any questions please ask them.

I'm a teacher at a Goddard school and we offer full and half-day programs. Your child has to attend a minimum of two days a week, but they can be half days. The school opens at 7 am, but we have kids getting dropped off anywhere from right at 7 until close to lunch time. Generally, the half day kids arrive around 9 am and are picked up by naptime at 1pm. There are a few kids in my class who only attend two half days a week, but there are also a few who come four or five half days a week. It's entirely up to you to make the schedule that works best for your family and if space is available, you can choose to add additional days in the future.

I agree with the moms who suggested you find a different preschool. Although I am sure he could adjust, half day is really the norm. I am in Mount Lebanon and my son goes to half day kindergarten! It still wipes him out although I do think at 6 he is ready for the full day. To go from being home to a full day at age 4 may be quite a shock for your son. Or you could try some summer programs that are half day before starting the longer preschool. Also, keep in mind that there is a nap in there, so it won't be as long as you think. If they nap from 12:30- 3, then it is really just preschool for 3 1/2 hours, right? Good luck!

I would look at another preschool...half-day is the norm, so it shouldn't be hard to find a school with hours that you like.

I would look for another preschool period. he is still to younng to be moved to such a big transition. get a part time preschool in the fall and then go full time when he is 5.
K. B

I don't know if I would be able to handle a full day of preK! I know that my son went 2 days a week for nursery school and then 3 days a week for preK (9:30-12) I thought that was a long enough day. Is a full day program your only option?

When my daughter and I were planning to move to PA from OR I made it seem like the coolest thing since sliced bread! I always asked her "How cool is it that we are moving to PA?" and "Your going to have your own room!". Maybe try the same with your son. "Your going to get to go to school!", "When you start school you will get to play with all these really cool toys!"

My daughter was with me since the day she was born as well...her father walked out on us when she was a year and a half, I did this approach when she was about to start preschool as well.....her first day I could barely even get her to say goodbye to me!

Good luck, and I think you will have a harder time than he will!

Hi M. ~

I was home with my son from birth as well. Although our pre k was not full day, because I didn't want him to have trouble with the transition, I did put him in a pre k 'summer camp' program that was 2 days a week, 2 hours a day. We also attended story hour at the local library, and we did Little Gym. Kids love spending time with kids, and my son loved all the programs that he was involved in. I hope you won't have any issues...it's usually tougher for the moms than it is the kids! Good luck!

You must be looking at a specific preschool, because there are a lot of preschools out there that are only 1/2 days. Both my youngest children went to a 1/2 day preschool, and my son still attends there, while my daughter is in kindergarten (1/2 day in Downingtown School District!!!!) If you want me to recommend our preschool (it is a Christian Preschool, but open to everyone!), please email me back.

Thanks!
E. :)

Are you in the Butler area?
If so, I strongly recommend Butler Montessori School! It's a 2 1/2 hour program (morning or afternoon). You provide transportation. My 2 oldest go there and it is an excellent school! This is my daughter's third year - she's in the kindergarten program. She started at 3. My son started this year at 4yrs. old and he can already read! Pretty darn cool!
This is a private school, so there's a tuition. $1700. (Which is super low if you check into other Montessori schools.) And you can make payments. I believe it's $600 at registration, $600 around the time school starts, and the final $500 a few months later.
My kids absolutely love the school, the teachers/aide, and the other kids! It's a more personal atmosphere than a public school, and they all really get to know each other. And the kids are taught acording to what THEY need individually. Nobody gets left behind or held back.
I could go on and on. I simply can't say enough about this school! I love it! And I highly reccomend it to everyone!

My daughter is also 4 and goes to preschool from 9-4. In the beginning it was a little rough but she has adjusted wonderfully. Most days she doesn't even want to come home. He will be fine. The sooner he gets to interact with other children the better his social skills will be,

My kids too have been home with me since birth. Where do you live, I'm in Bloomsburg and there are many preschools and most aren't required full day. The one my children go to is a choice of 3 sessions, 9-12, 12-3 or 9-3, and you choose the # of days they go, minimum of 3 sessions a week. Since kindergarten is half day for our school district I chose to send my daughter half day. Bloomsburg school district however is full day kindergarten and so my daughter has some friends that stay all day just to prep them for kindergarten. I would check into kindergarten in your area and decided what you are going to do from there. And you may be surprised, my daughter would stay all day if I let her, she loves the preschool, she meets new friends, it has more a structured setting, she gets new snacks, they play outside, there are birthday parties, just to name a few of her favorites. Initially I too would have thought all day would have been too much, but about 1-2 weeks into preschool she would have been happy to stay! Especially since she has many friends that stay now and she would love to stay with them. Our preschool also has 3 rooms, because it works as a daycare before and after preschool hours. So my daughter actually did about 6 months in the 3 yr old room to just get her an idea of what preschool would be like, its less structured. She loved and was sooo ready when preschool started the following fall. There is also a "baby" room that takes 1-3 yr olds and my son gose in 2 days a week just for a change of rountine and to socialize, his room is mostly gross motor oriented, but they read stories and sing songs. Also, there are many preschools or daycares that do "camps" over the summer when parents still work. You could think of sending him to a few days here or there depending on the requirements, just to get his foot in the door and feel it out! You may be surprised! Good luck and any questions feel free to ask. J.

My 3 year old goes to a Goddard school and loves it! After my son was born, I took her down to 4 half days a week while I was home on maternity leave. I could drop her off as early as 7 am and picked her up between 12:45 and 1:00 (after she ate lunch but before naptime). I am so happy with our Goddard. She goes to the Sentry Park Goddard in Blue Bell. The staff is so fantastic. I recently started my 5 month old there when I went back to work and he loves it. They also have a summer program. I am a teacher, so I pull the kids out over the summer, but I am toying with the idea of putting my daughter into the camp for the month of August just because she loves school so much! Please let me know if you have any further questions about the Goddard Program. Take care and good luck.
J.

I was just curious to what state you live in? I was shocked to read that there is full day preschool? Or am I just niave? My daughter will be starting preschool in the fall as well, she will be 3 in July. We are sending her to the church right by our house and she will go from 12:30pm-2:30 three days per week. Maybe my state is behind because our Kindergartners just started all day, but I think all day preschool is a bit much. They are like sponges at this age, however preschool is supposed to be for socialization and practising numbers and alphabet. Please don't think I am being negative, I am just surprised. I truly hope it goes well for you both. thanks

I had the same thoughts and concerns. This past fall my 4 year old son started preschool. He goes from 8:45-3PM, this is 4 days a week Mon-Thurs. I am married, have 2 boys 5 and 18 months, and work evenings part-time. He was my shadow. We would go everywhere together and he would stay up at night with me when I got home from work, until school started. He does fine at school, that is after the separation crying fit, that he occasionally still has. He likes school. They take a nap there which helps. I thought full day was long for a 4 year old too, but I was surprised how well he is doing and how well he likes it.

I really think that it is more about your child and what you think he can handle. My son was 2.5 when he started preschool - 2 days/week, 9-3:30. That was shortly after I had our daughter and he is a kid that needs alot of stimulation. Even now (same program and he is 5) he comes home from a full day and if the kids in the neighborhood aren't out, he complains how bored he is! My daughter is the opposite - she is happy doing anything for any amount of time, then she's content. She just turned 3 and she will start pre-school in the fall but only go 2.5 hours per day b/c that's all she needs. She has only been home with me but will be kicking me out the door the first day, I am sure. Now my son, who was in daycare until 2.5 and pre-school ever since, will be clinging to my leg on his first day of Kindergarten. There are so many pre-school options (alot run through churches) that I'm sure you could find a lesser program to start if you think that is best? Or maybe go with the longer day but not a full week - maybe 2 or 3 days? I'm thinking he will have to adjust either way which might take time but will be so good for him in the long run to be with other kids and learn, play, express himself, etc. Good luck!

Both my children went to preschools that only ran for a few hours in the morning. It was not overbearing, they loved it, interacted well and made friends, and did great in Kindergarten. The kindergarten in our district is only 1/2 day (which I agree with), and then they go full day starting in 1st grade. 1st grade was a big adjustment for my second daughter - she was very tired. Everyone always seems in a rush to send them to school full day - I say give them time to grow up! Look around for other schools, and compare costs andprograms. Alot of churches hold preschool programs, and my second child went to a preschool held in our local high school that the students help teach - she loved it! Good luck.

Where are you located?

Starting part-time in the summer would be helpful.

If you don't want the full days, then look elsewhere.

No matter how many hours he goes, the transition may be more difficult for you than for him! He'll be busy with peers...and you'll be missing him!

Good luck!

Hi M.,
My son was home since birth too. I started him at a 2 day (T/R) half day nursery school and this year, he is in a 3 day (M/W/F) half day preschool. I personally feel that this is enough. They are still so little! You know your child, and if you feel it will be too much, too soon, I would look for another pre-school program that offers half day. O. thing you could try is a Vacation Bible school for a week at your local church this summer. Usually they are every morning for a week and low cost. It would be good experience for him to get used to "going off" in the morning and being picked up. Just a suggestion. In my area, lots of local churches have VBS, so you may want him to try O. per month this summer! My son loved the activities and meeting new friends. Good luck to you (and him!).

my son started preschool when he was 3 (turned 4 a couple months later) their school is only for 3 hours in the morning, twice a week. that is how most of the preschools run around here. if you are not comfy with him going that long, look into sending him somewhere else. if that is not an option, do the summer thing. you never know, the kid might adjust very well and it will be the mom who has a hard time adjusting!

I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old. When my oldest was born, I was a stay at home mom. that only lasted until she was 1 and 1/2. I had familyclose and they watched her while I went back to work fulltime. When my youngest was born, i had family again.

Once my youngest was 2 ans 1/2 i purchased my first home and had to put her in all day daycare. I think that her exposuer to other children her age and someone else enforcing the rules while I was away helped her a lot with socialskills. My oldest hassome issues with other kids while playing - she will let them push her around. My youngest doesnot have this same issue and I beleive it was the fact that she was interacting with non-related children at a young age. I think it will be a good thing for your child. It will probally be a big day - one neither of you will like, but after 1-2weeks I bet your child will love seeing their new friends all day and appreciate the timehe has with you.

Hi,
I see this is sort of a late response for you. My daughter will turn 4 in Sept. and I'm sending her to an all day Pre-K program too. The school offers both full and half-day options. Most attend full day. I considered both, but heard from the teacher that the kids in the half-day wanted to stay the full-day and several of the half-day kids switched to full-day before school ended.

I'm also a little concerned because my 3 yr. old often takes a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I asked the teachers if I should switch her to a half-day because of the amount of time that she sleeps. They told me they will let her sleep until it's time for her to get into the carpool line. I'm going to give it a try! Good luck!

Hi M.! When my oldest was 4 (many years ago) we put her in a full day preschool program at a daycare center 3 days a week. I didn't want to take her from her babysitter, but I felt she needed to be around kids her own age. She had no trouble with it and was usually at "school" from 6:30am til 4 or 5pm because of our work schedules.

To be honest a full day program is really better. In our home state when my oldest started kindergarden they only had full day programs. Most of the school districts around here are finally going full day...which is much better than half days inso many ways! If your honest with yourself you will find that YOU are the one having "issues" with the full day program, not your son. He will take his cues from you and how you handle ANY situation. It is sooo hard watching them grow and go...(and preschool is only the first step of many) trust me, I just watched my oldest get on a bus for FLA with her High School Orchestra! But as parents we have to be strong, calm, confident, excited and ready to go, so that our kids will be!!

Sure, it's a long day. And yes, your family routine will have to change a bit. But in the long run it will all be good. Have faith in your son, & yourself. Trust your common sense and it will all work out. Good luck and best wishes.

I certainly agree that you should look into other pre-schools to find one that is a better match for you & your family. My son will be starting 4 year old pre-school in the fall. It is 3 days/week & they only attend for 3 hours on those days.

My son has always been home with me too. To help the transition, we have been going to story time at the public library every Friday where he can meet other kids, sing songs & participate in crafts.
Best of luck to you!

I'm pretty sure there are preKs out there that aren't full time if you aren't comfortable with it. My son (who won't be 3 until October) will start attending a PreK in the fall that is only 2 days per week, 2.5 hours per day.