Preschool

[SilverSabre25]

I have a family who sends their kids to preschool. It's sort of annoying this year because 4 days a week the older one gets picked up and then dropped back off. But, he's gone during nap and doesn't nap anymore so I really don't mind much.

next year they are sending their TWO YEAR OLD. I think THAT is stupid. He'll be going 2 mornings a week.

Granted, it's a play-based, not-academic-AT-ALL school....but still. It's a bit perplexing since they come here.

Now...I'm sending MY three year old son to preschool next year. It happens to be the same play-based school. Which happens to be the same preschool *I* went to as a child. And is the school my DD was enrolled in until we got her into kindy instead. My three year old is going because with the daycare he never gets out of the house except on weekends and *I* feel he needs something different. He'll be going with his same-age cousin and my sister will be transporting, unless DH takes a shift that would allow me to do the driving (this is what I'm hoping for). But...that's a very different scenario since he's leaving home and mommy to go to preschool....not leaving daycare to go to preschool.

[daycare_jen]

I think that parents do want to send kids to preschool for the status, I think if they have their children in quality daycare, that provides learning experiences for their children, then there is no need for preschool. Their kids are exposed to other situations and other people outside the home already and my opinion is that kids do learn through play if it is supported by an adult engaging with them. Years ago, I had my oldest daughter in prek as a 3 year old, when I started caring for a dck one year younger than her. The following year, dcg went to the same prek in the 3s class with my daughter who was in the 4s class, her family paid me the same as they had been. She didn't even ask to pay less. As my dc grew, many of the dck went to the same prek (it was the only one in our small town.) All of them paid their full weekly rate and I had no one ask for a discount. They are taking a spot in your dc, there should be no discounts if they choose to have their kid attend a prek.

Now...I'm sending MY three year old son to preschool next year. It happens to be the same play-based school. Which happens to be the same preschool *I* went to as a child. And is the school my DD was enrolled in until we got her into kindy instead. My three year old is going because with the daycare he never gets out of the house except on weekends and *I* feel he needs something different. He'll be going with his same-age cousin and my sister will be transporting, unless DH takes a shift that would allow me to do the driving (this is what I'm hoping for). But...that's a very different scenario since he's leaving home and mommy to go to preschool....not leaving daycare to go to preschool.

thank you for sharing that.. I have a similar situation, but I haven't figured out all the details yet. I have been thinking of sending my own four year old daughter to preschool next year. I am educated in ece and elem ed and provide the learning experiences I think she and my dcks need, but the only times she gets out of our house are the weekends and a few evenings to take older siblings to practices (which we just drop off/pick up.)

I have a dcb who will start kindergarten the same year as her, but she is 11 months older than him. She is one month after the kindergarten cut off date, and he will be a few days before the cut off date for the next year, making him the youngest. I think that dcm will send him to kindergarten, even if he isn't really ready, so that she doesn't have to pay dc for him any longer. I don't think that the dcf will send their son to preschool, and if they did, not sure that they would choose the same one. I have been trying to figure out transportation, though, as my husband is a teacher, so no flexibility on the hours and no family available either. If one of our kids get sick at school, he can leave to pick them up, so I haven't ever needed to transport the dcks. I think that dcm may have an issue if I want to transport all of her kids (she's the only family I care for) for my daughter to go to prek. I plan on bringing it up with her at the end of this school year, but if she pays attention to fb, she may see that I have inquired about prek rates at a couple of preschools and it may not be a surprise to her.

[SilverSabre25]

I don't think that the dcf will send their son to preschool, and if they did, not sure that they would choose the same one. I have been trying to figure out transportation, though, as my husband is a teacher, so no flexibility on the hours and no family available either. If one of our kids get sick at school, he can leave to pick them up, so I haven't ever needed to transport the dcks. I think that dcm may have an issue if I want to transport all of her kids (she's the only family I care for) for my daughter to go to prek. I plan on bringing it up with her at the end of this school year, but if she pays attention to fb, she may see that I have inquired about prek rates at a couple of preschools and it may not be a surprise to her.

You could let her know that you are looking into preschool at X school and if you decide to send DD then you'll need to transport everyone to go pick her up and drop her off. Don't ask--tell. You could possibly add, if you wanted, that if DCB was at the same school/same time then you would of course be happy to pick him up as well. Assuming you CAN transport all the kids (I can't; no van).

Honestly, I wish i would have been able to send DD two years ago. We were thinking about it and backed out of it. One DCM, whose son was not quite the same age but sorta close, actually said, "GOOD. I'm glad she's not going." when she found out. I was SO mad at her. Because her son wasn't going to go and she seemed jealous of this.

[itlw8]

Yep I would say ok.... but I do not transport because it interferes with our preschool time. I would not give a discount so the rate will remain the same and any projects missed will not be repeated.

I would do a better job of showing what you are doing in your program and what they are learning doing it. I have found a private facebook page is a great way to do that.

[daycare_jen]

You could let her know that you are looking into preschool at X school and if you decide to send DD then you'll need to transport everyone to go pick her up and drop her off. Don't ask--tell. You could possibly add, if you wanted, that if DCB was at the same school/same time then you would of course be happy to pick him up as well. Assuming you CAN transport all the kids (I can't; no van).

Honestly, I wish i would have been able to send DD two years ago. We were thinking about it and backed out of it. One DCM, whose son was not quite the same age but sorta close, actually said, "GOOD. I'm glad she's not going." when she found out. I was SO mad at her. Because her son wasn't going to go and she seemed jealous of this.

My plan is to tell her, not ask. I just don't think she will be happy with it, and since I have "all my eggs in one basket" by caring for her three and no other family I worry that she may choose to go elsewhere. I don't know that for sure though, so we'll see. She is a teacher and she has to tell me at the end of this school year if she wants to continue care for the next school year, otherwise her spots will be advertised. So, if I tell her my intentions of transporting my dd to prek a few weeks before her school year ends, she will have plenty of time to decide if she wants to continue or not. I am almost positive I will enroll dd in prek, my oldest dd went two years, my middle dd did not attend. My youngest dd did not attend this year as a 3 year old, I had thought about it, but it would have stretched us a bit financially. I decided that for her personality, it is a good idea to send her for next year at least 2 days a week, and then she will head off to full day kindergarten. I really don't think dcf would spend any extra $ to send dcb to prek with my daughter... but I would be totally fine if they did

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Do you see any advantage of 3 yr olds that are normally in daycare to go to preschool then? Why are people so drawn to it?

No advantage at that age. It is all about the title and why I changed the name of my tracking asessments to report cards and all parents are going gaga over them.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I concur with Ecs. It's NOT necessary.

Behavior.
Manners.
Respect.
Self help skills.


THOSE are the necessary skills my dcks learn with me.

Those are far more important!

[Jack Sprat]

Here its image as well. Its two days a week, for three hours. It cost about $54 a month. I have one dcb right now that may enter in the fall. If he does his rate won't be dropping and if mom asks me to transport which I am sure she will since they won't I will be charging an extra fee for that.

I believe all the things they learn at preschool (the one here) they are learning at my daycare. Without the stress!

[WImom]

I concur with Ecs. It's NOT necessary.

Behavior.
Manners.
Respect.
Self help skills.


THOSE are the necessary skills my dcks learn with me.

This is what the K5 teachers REALLY WANT!!