opinions please

[sarahandeddie]

Hey ladies. I'm debating on what to do about preschool next year.

So we're buying a house that isn't exactly close to the preschool DD#1 currently attends. We've decided to let her finish her last year of preschool there.

Now we have to figure out what to do with Avery. We've pretty much decided to wait an extra year to put her in kindergarten already. She's super small and our cut off her is Sept.1 so she'd be one of the youngest. I also don't feel (at least as of now) she'll be ready. We had planned on doing 3yrs of preschool with her. She already cries when we mention her going to school and tells us she doesn't want to go. This has me contemplating if we should just hold off and wait a year.

The benefits would be: less money for tuition, only making the drive 3 days a week vs 5, allowing me to work more, and she'd start preschool in our home school district.

The biggest downfall is I was really looking forward to having 2 mornings of one on one time with DD#1 before she starts kindergarten. I worked fulltime until Avery was born so we've never had that time.

So what is the J12 opinion?

[xanthepants]

Well I am a huge proponent of listening to your heart if you don't think your kid is ready for FT Kindergarten. I have a few friend who have had to make this tough call and in each case they held back and they really didn't regret it. If she doesn't seem ready, I would listen to that. I'm not sure though that I am following the downfall part that you stated above? Is it that you would have both girls instead of one on one?

[vanessalc]

I'd skip this year. Maybe you could arrange a monthly date day with DD1 to get that one on one time.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

I think I would skip this year as well. It sounds like it will be better for DD2. You can let DD1 finish up the year at her preschool and then find one closer to your new house for DD2 for the following year.

[cookiesandwine]

Do they do any sort of evaluation at the school? I'd call the new school, voice your concerns and ask what they do to determine Kindergarten readiness. Sometimes an independent third party with experience (in our district all the SpEd teachers do the evals) can provide more info. Also, just to play devil's advocate, could your daughter be not wanting to go to school if she knows that she'd be missing out on fun things at home with you and little sister?


ETA: Sorry I totally misread and thought you were contemplating holding DD1 into another year of preK before starting Kinder.  I'll leave my response anyway. But I still would suggest a preK readiness eval for DD2.  For us it was really neat to see some of the things Sadie can do, what she's capable of, and conversely where she has room for improvement.

[sarahandeddie]

I haven't had Avery formerly evaluated. I'm just going off of my own "expertise" as a teacher (although I'm k-8, not preschool). Her speech isn't where I feel it should be and she's very dependent on me still. Obviously all this could change quickly.

And

[sarahandeddie]

Apr 17, 2015 9:31:50 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

Well I am a huge proponent of listening to your heart if you don't think your kid is ready for FT Kindergarten. I have a few friend who have had to make this tough call and in each case they held back and they really didn't regret it. If she doesn't seem ready, I would listen to that. I'm not sure though that I am following the downfall part that you stated above? Is it that you would have both girls instead of one on one?

Yes. I was looking forward to have 2 mornings a week with just DD#1. They would go on opposite days. I had planned on working with DD#1 on reading and math to get her fully prepared for kindergarten while Avery was at school.

[bantyrooster]

We are sending him to preschool at age 4 & 5 and kindergarten at 6. That's pretty normal here. We don't want him graduating hs at 17. Emotionally he will need another year.

[lainikins]

If you are planning in them going on alternating days, could you find a preschool closer for DD#2? That program could be just half days for 2 days a week. This would cut down on driving to the further away preschool 5x a week, you would get one on one time with DD#1, and DD#2 would be eased into going to school. We are also planning on three years of preschool and starting kindergarden the year later. DS is going to be going to preschool 2x a week next year for half days, then he will go more the next year.

[britbratjf]

Hum. I assume she sees DD1 go to school? Does DD1 like it and get excited about going? Dagny has been going since the fall and really enjoys it. It was an adjustment the first two weeks but she loves her teachers & friends. Honestly I would try it with her. Is there a withdraw procedure if she doesn't adjust? I would give it a month at least. Even though Dagny likes it now she still has days where she says she doesn't want to go and cries but once she's there and I'm out of sight she's fine.

[sarahandeddie]

Apr 17, 2015 13:36:05 GMT -5 lainikins said:

If you are planning in them going on alternating days, could you find a preschool closer for DD#2? That program could be just half days for 2 days a week. This would cut down on driving to the further away preschool 5x a week, you would get one on one time with DD#1, and DD#2 would be eased into going to school. We are also planning on three years of preschool and starting kindergarden the year later. DS is going to be going to preschool 2x a week next year for half days, then he will go more the next year.

The preschool close to us that we like conflicts with DD#1 because they'd be going the same days and I wouldn't be able to do drop off/pick up with both girls.

[sarahandeddie]

Apr 17, 2015 13:44:37 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

Hum. I assume she sees DD1 go to school? Does DD1 like it and get excited about going? Dagny has been going since the fall and really enjoys it. It was an adjustment the first two weeks but she loves her teachers & friends. Honestly I would try it with her. Is there a withdraw procedure if she doesn't adjust? I would give it a month at least. Even though Dagny likes it now she still has days where she says she doesn't want to go and cries but once she's there and I'm out of sight she's fine.

DD#1 LOVES school. That was a huge factor in keeping her where she is. We don't sign a contract so I'm assuming we could withdraw.