Ideas on getting DCG ready for K

[daycarediva]

I have a meeting with the parents tonight after closing on how to get my dcg (5 next month) ready for K in fall.

I have offered her a SA placement, and I am SUPER selective about SA. I am letting go my other SA dcb (8) either before summer or after summer. I don't take older SA kids anymore.

Dcg is ahead of the game academically, socially and behaviorally. Any K teacher that gets her will adore her.

Issue is NAP. She still NEEDS a full 2.5-3 hours/day. She goes to bed at 7:30-8, falls right to sleep and sleeps until 6:00. Mom has her change clothes and she comes right here. She often goes back to sleep from 6:30-7:30 when other kids arrive and she is EXHAUSTED by naptime. If she lays down, she falls asleep and she is a SOUND sleeper. She will also fall asleep in random places (sitting upright even).

Mom and I are obviously concerned about her making it a full day. Holding her back would do her a great disservice, as she is reading, can sit and follow directions, has impeccable behavior and self help skills.

Dad can drop her off at school, but it's a big inconvenience as he works in the opposite direction. It WOULD give her an extra 45-60 minutes in the morning, though.

I don't even know what to suggest!

[Blackcat31]

I have a meeting with the parents tonight after closing on how to get my dcg (5 next month) ready for K in fall.

I have offered her a SA placement, and I am SUPER selective about SA. I am letting go my other SA dcb (8) either before summer or after summer. I don't take older SA kids anymore.

Dcg is ahead of the game academically, socially and behaviorally. Any K teacher that gets her will adore her.

Issue is NAP. She still NEEDS a full 2.5-3 hours/day. She goes to bed at 7:30-8, falls right to sleep and sleeps until 6:00. Mom has her change clothes and she comes right here. She often goes back to sleep from 6:30-7:30 when other kids arrive and she is EXHAUSTED by naptime. If she lays down, she falls asleep and she is a SOUND sleeper. She will also fall asleep in random places (sitting upright even).

Mom and I are obviously concerned about her making it a full day. Holding her back would do her a great disservice, as she is reading, can sit and follow directions, has impeccable behavior and self help skills.

Dad can drop her off at school, but it's a big inconvenience as he works in the opposite direction. It WOULD give her an extra 45-60 minutes in the morning, though.

I don't even know what to suggest!

Holding her back for academics may be doing her huge disserve but sending her when her body or sleep needs aren't at the level they should be at developmentally would or could be doing her a big disservice too.

Also, ALOT can happen between now and then too. I've seen kids change lightyears between spring and fall at that age.

[Unregistered]

Is it full day every day there? We had a 2 days one week, 3 days the next for awhile. I had one little one who napped on the alternate days, but was still a bit of a mess come the Fridays on a three day week. Others managed through the day okay, but about a 1/2 hour after school were just crashing and falling asleep for the first few months (even the ones who didn't nap for a year before starting school.) I let them power nap for a 1/2 hour to get them through the evening. They start kindergarten at age 4 or sometimes 3.8 years here, so there are often ones who are just not ready in the sleep area They do adjust after a few months though.

[Leanna]

She still has six months. Maybe you could slowly decrease her nap time: 3hrs. to 2.5 to 2 and over the summer get her down to 1.5 or 1 hr. They could compensate by having her go to bed a half hour earlier if need be. Even though it would be an inconvenience, maybe it would be best to have dad plan to drop her off at school - at least in the beginning.

If she comes to you after school, can you offer her a place to rest quietly for an hour?

Also, does the Kindergarten have a rest time where you live. Some still have a short rest period.

[preschoolteacher]

I've read articles/studies on the importance of sleep... many say that kids who are chronically tired perform far below their abilities at school. As bright as she is, sending her to school exhausted isn't going to be good for her academically.

What about a half-day kindergarten program?

I would suggest cutting down the nap time, but I wouldn't start that until this summer. If they cut back on nap, they need to move bedtime earlier. I'd suggest that Dad drops off too.

You could tell them if she no longer needs the nap later in the year, then maybe a spot would be open at your place. If you're up for that!

[daycarediva]

Holding her back for academics may be doing her huge disserve but sending her when her body or sleep needs aren't at the level they should be at developmentally would or could be doing her a big disservice too.

Also, ALOT can happen between now and then too. I've seen kids change lightyears between spring and fall at that age.

That's what I am hoping for. She and my ds are so similar and he had a VERY difficult transition and is FINALLY doing better now. (at almost 6)

She still has six months. Maybe you could slowly decrease her nap time: 3hrs. to 2.5 to 2 and over the summer get her down to 1.5 or 1 hr. They could compensate by having her go to bed a half hour earlier if need be. Even though it would be an inconvenience, maybe it would be best to have dad plan to drop her off at school - at least in the beginning.

If she comes to you after school, can you offer her a place to rest quietly for an hour?

Also, does the Kindergarten have a rest time where you live. Some still have a short rest period.

That's what we discussed, but when she doesn't nap well here (or on weekends) she is MISERABLE and has crashed before dinner before.

These are the parents who want face time with their child and only send her when they are working, pick up early as often as possible, keep her home when she is just 'off', that sort of thing. She is already in bed so early. UGH.

I might suggest we cut nap to 2.5 hours, and see if it affects bedtime, and then start pulling it back by 10 minutes every week or so, see what happens.

I hate waking this dcg. It's like waking a log. LOL!

[daycarediva]

Oh, and no rest period whatsoever. 8-3 M-F.

Dcm thought there was a half day option and she was FREAKING when she went to orientation and it was full day only. We had talked about my own ds having a hard time and she said "I thought he was in PM kindy!" ::

[spinnymarie]

I would also think about trying to push her nap later - TBH, a full day at K is a lot different from a full day at DC - 7:30 - 2:00 (or whatever the school time) could easily warrant a short nap at 2:30.

[itlw8]

during the school year dgd HAS to be in bed by 7:30or she will not do well in school that day. If I were them if she is still having problems come fall I would mover her bed time earlier.

[kathiemarie]

Oh, and no rest period whatsoever. 8-3 M-F.

Dcm thought there was a half day option and she was FREAKING when she went to orientation and it was full day only. We had talked about my own ds having a hard time and she said "I thought he was in PM kindy!" ::

Wow no rest time? That is crazy! Our kindy is full day but the kids have a rest time everyday after lunch until Christmas break and then after Christmas if someone needs it the teacher has them lay down.

[cheerfuldom]

I wouldn't do anything about it. I would let her nap as long as she wants and not transition till that last month. A lot can change till then and I wouldnt be willing to deal with a cranky 5 year old till I absolutely have to.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't do anything about it. I would let her nap as long as she wants and not transition till that last month. A lot can change till then and I wouldnt be willing to deal with a cranky 5 year old till I absolutely have to.

This!

[Starburst]

If you are doing after school care for her, you can always make sure she gets a nap (or suggest that the mom have her nap after school but with a few hours between bed time).

Also something to consider, Do they have 1/2 day kindergarten there (either only morning or only afternoons) or only full day?