4 / 5 year old preschool..how many days?

ATSBRIDE

We are considering moving schools for S&N.  I am thinking of using their 3 day pre-k program for Sabrina rather than a 5 day.  Financially we can't do the 5 day for both of them. the 3 day is a good fit for us.

The principal assured me that its fine and on the days she isn't there (Tues/Thurs) they will send home worksheets based on what they are covering.

Just wondering how many days your 4/5 year old went to prek.

Thanks! 

FrancoiseFilly

Max goes 5 days a week. He has always been in daycare though (full time). I work full time so there's no other option for me and he loves school.

JAM2000

I plan on doing 3 days a week as well. The other days we have story time and swimming lessons. I know its a 'hot' topic on here but this is what we do and will do.

ATSBRIDE

I work 4 days a week.  She has always had 3 days at school and then 1 day with me and 1 day at my MIL's. Its worked well. 

 

melbride2005

Bella will be 4 on Sept. 2nd...I signed her up for a 5 day full day program (9-2:45) starting in Sept.

kmslwsmrs

If the Kindergarten she's going to next year isn't full day, there's no point in having her in full day now. M went to full day pre K because I was working, and this year our town was 1/2 day K, and we send her out to full day K because I couldn't imagine her doing full day stuff, going to 1/2 day, and then back to full day. 

ATSBRIDE

She would do their pre-k4 program which is 7:30 - 2:10. Then she goes to aftercare until I pick her up..around 5:30. 

She is currently doing 8:30-5:30. Our town is 1/2 day preschool..but she would have to go to aftercare..unless we continue with her current school which offers full-time kindergarten. 

Notwifezilla7

Mo will be going to preschool next year for three mornings a week and I have no worries about it at all. I doubt, Patriza, that you aren't stimulating for your kids at home.

Worksheets are BLAH! Life experiences are important at this preschool age. Exposure to language in a variety of context (books, magazines, speaking, etc). Drawing, cutting, coloring, etc are all things which can be done w/o a formal classroom. 

She will be fine and ready for Kindergarten!  

atwood345

ATSBRIDE:

I work 4 days a week.  She has always had 3 days at school and then 1 day with me and 1 day at my MIL's. Its worked well. 

 

Sounds like you have a good routine, I'd keep it. They'll be in school for the next 15 years anyway! My son, who is 4 1/2, goes 3 mornings a week.

Mc_Newlywed

We're doing 4 days next year from 9-11:30.   I wanted to leave time/days to do other stuff too - library, swim lessons, maybe soccer, play dates...    Plus, as you said, it's expensive!!  

TSD

Starting with camp this summer E will be 3 yrs old and going 5 days. He goes 3 days now in the 2's class but I wish I sent him five. Most of the kids in his class go 4-5 days and only three moms work full time.

Kristen81603

Kieran started at 3 and went 5 half days since the beginning- it is what works for him. Last year pre-k4 he went M-F 810-1200noon.  I think being in school is the important part, not necessarily how long or how many days-

wed2506

Five days a week 8:25-2:25. 

EricaD521

Landon goes to an actual preschool, 3 days a week for 3 hrs a day. it's not a daycare, and he's never gone to day care, so take that into consideration for my answer

we think it's great. it's the "normal" progression for a child with a SAHM, at least, around here and when I was growing up. He's doing science, math, writing, arts & crafts, social skills.. all the stuff that prepares him for kindergarten. i think 3 days is perfect for him. next year he will be 5 and going into kindergarten, which in our twon is half-day 5 days a week.

N&V0514

Ideally if I was home I would have sent him 5 days but for half days.  right now he goes 5 days from 8:30-2:30 and next year will go to 1/2 day K plus aftercare

HarrietNJMommy

B did 5-day (half day) last year, and E is doing 5-day (half day) this year. At our preschool you don't have a 3-day option at the 4 year old Pre-K level - just 4 days or 5 days.

ETA: we have a full day K, so for me, the transition would be too big from just 3 half days to 5 full days. 

Shoegal23

She did PK4 for 3 half days. This year she moved to a different Kindergarten program (a prek for kids who have already done 2 years of prek, but just miss the K cutoff) This program is 5 full days. I had a hard time committing to it, but she loves it. She just turned 5 in November.

LisaBRM

Alana will be in a 5 day program beginning in September, before she turns 3.  I really wanted to send her 3 days, but, after talking to the school director and other parents, really felt she would be missing out, if not educationally, then socially, so, I went with the 5 days.  But, regardless, she would have done 5 days when she was in the 4's program.

ATSBRIDE

Thank You!

We are going to start w/ the 3 day. We can add an extra day or 1/2 day  if we feel we need to.

They will both be going on the same days. Having 2 in daycare/preschool is killer! 

mrs.MC&mr.JC

this year, pre-k 3, S goes 3x a week; next year for pre-k 4 she'll go 5 days a week.

 

eta: S's school is an actual catholic school, not a daycare, and it's a 1/2 day program. we have the option for 3 or 5 days this year but next year it's a mandatory 5x a week for pre-k 4 and this is to prep them for K which is 5 full days.

ATSBRIDE

We are moving them to a catholic school as well. The pre-k3 is 3 days and the pre-k4 is also 5 days. However, they can offer a pre-k4 for 3 days. Our kindergarten is 1/2 days..however we are considering continuing with the catholic school for kindergarten...we'll see. 

mrs.MC&mr.JC

ATSBRIDE:

We are moving them to a catholic school as well. The pre-k3 is 3 days and the pre-k4 is also 5 days. However, they can offer a pre-k4 for 3 days. Our kindergarten is 1/2 days..however we are considering continuing with the catholic school for kindergarten...we'll see. 

s and aj will be continuing with the catholic school system through their education - funny being that i was a public school teacher for 4 years! lol

as of now, aj is not PT so he won't be able to go to prek3 this sept - he'll go to prek3 the following sept so the kids will be 2 yrs apart in school..but yea, tuition is going to suck when they are both in school!

ATSBRIDE

Nick will start pre-k3 in September. We're closing in on potty training.. Sabrina will be in the pre-k4 across the hall. IF they continue w/ kindergarten, Nicholas will be in pre-k4 when Sabrina is in their kindergarten. But I don't foresee us continuing with catholic school beyond kindergarten.