WWYD - PREK

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Is there a rule that you can only do one year of public pre k or something? I would send her to public pre k then make a decision about kindie based on how her teachers feel. If she's struggling socially all the more reason she should be in a public school.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I would do option 1 and re-evaluate after her year of pre-k. If you think she's not ready for k at that point, pay for private pre-k.

Of course, take my advice with a grain of salt...my dd's birthday is Sept. 16th. She did 3 year old preschool this year, will do 4 year old next year, and then I'm actually considering testing her to see if she's ready to start K even though she technically misses the Sept. 1 cutoff that my district uses. I'm doing what I suggested you do...doing 4 year old preschool (most of her class will go on to K after that, although some will do a 5 year old preschool), then evaluating if I think she's ready for K or needs an extra year. All preschool is private here though.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Jan 30, 2015 11:43:52 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

Jan 30, 2015 11:38:57 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Is there a rule that you can only do one year of public pre k or something? I would send her to public pre k then make a decision about kindie based on how her teachers feel. If she's struggling socially all the more reason she should be in a public school.

Yes, you can only do one year of public pre-k.  I was going to have her go to public pre-k then make the decision.  If she didn't seem ready then I thought she could repeat it but that isn't allowed here.  

[br

Eek that really sucks! It's tough to make a kindergarten decision this early because she will change so much in a year. Could you do public school then do private pre k if you feel she needs that extra year?

[toastie]

Is private preschool significantly cheaper that private pre K?

If not, I would send her to public Pre K and reevaluate at the end of it.

Our cutoff was Oct 1 and i just made it. I was the youngest one all the way up to high school. I graduated and went away to college at 17 years old and it wasn't a problem for me. Yet my friend was born the end of august and was a few weeks early so he ended up doing 2 years of preschool and starting K at 6 and that worked for him. So, it really depends on your DD and where she is april/may of next year.

[scattered]

With your second option will she be the oldest in her class? Is that a concern for you at all? I'd probably go with the first option, because it doesn't sound like she is leaps and bounds behind socially, it seems like one year of pre-K would be plenty.

What do her teachers think?

[lala]

Option 1. Imo, of course she's not ready for kindergarten yet, she still has 1.5 to go. What you describe doesn't sound that strange for a 3 year old. When will she be 4? I

What do her teachers say about her interactions with the other kids.?

[scattered]

If the teachers give you the thumbs up, then I'd follow their lead.

[quesyrah]

Jan 30, 2015 13:05:49 GMT -5 newnamesameperson said:

Jan 30, 2015 12:35:11 GMT -5 lala said:

Option 1. Imo, of course she's not ready for kindergarten yet, she still has 1.5 to go. What you describe doesn't sound that strange for a 3 year old. When will she be 4? I

What do her teachers say about her interactions with the other kids.?

She'll be 4 in August, so she'd go to pre-k then and then the following year kindergarten.  Teachers say she is fine.  They don't bring it up unless I do.  I guess I get worried when someone pushes her and I have to tell her she needs to tell them to stop (this doesn't happen often but you get the idea).  I want it to come naturally to her.  I really want her to be strong and confident when she's in high school....and likely am over thinking this.  

But she's only 3 right now

[lala]

Then I agree, she's likely fine. IME, the not being as assertive when someone pushes, etc. is kind of a first kid thing. DD1 was like that at 3-4. But, she now is able to assert herself & handle those situations. A lot of that she learned in her preschool classrooms. Her teachers were great at teaching them how to handle things themselves, when to get an adult, etc. I wouldn't be too worried.

Did you ask them specifically if she's playing w/ other kids and interacting? Not just, "Is she okay?"

[jnksmom]

We had a similar situation with DD. Her birthday is Sept 26. When she entered pre-k the cut-off was Sept 30. By October they had voted to change the cut-off to Aug 31 for the following school year. Those who were already attending pre-k were "grandfathered in". We considered both sending Her to K and sending her to pre-k5. We talked to her pre-k4 teachers and ultimately decided to send her to Kindergarten based on their recommendations as well as an evaluation by a K teacher. She is now in 1st grade and is doing really well. She was somewhat shy and timid entering K but she has grown so much and her teacher this year says she is a leader in the class. I would send your DD to public pre-k and then decide whether to do K or private pre-k. She will change so much in a year. If you have any other questions or concerns feel free to ask I have been there and know the struggle of making that decision.