A preschoool WWYD

[lala]

I cannot decide which class to put DD2 in for next year; I keep vacillating. They're both 4s classes and she turns 4 a few weeks before school starts. She'll be on the younger side regardless but she'll be youngest her whole life. Teachers now report that the age difference is rarely noticeable in play, development, etc. She'll eat lunch there for both. 

Option 1: Tues-Fri, 9-1, weekly chapel visit w/ other "christian ed" extras incorporated into class, probably a smaller 12 kid class.

Option 2: MWF, 9-2:30. No Christian Ed/chapel. Has the teachers from DD1's 4s class who we all love, probably a bigger 16-18 class. 

I feel like it's really 6 in one half dozen in another. If Option 2 included chapel, I'd pick that for sure. It is, however, a long day.

So anything I'm missing? Naps for Jack will have to continue to be flexible no matter what I do and he's pretty good at that now. Either way I'll be waking a kid up or fighting to keep one awake, I think. 

ETA: class size

[Kcthepouchh8r]

I would definitely opt for the shorter day/smaller class.

[abs]

I love the 9-2:30 schedule. I can get so much more done than with just 9-1 which leaves us with more quality time. We will be doing M-T 9-2:30 next year (Monday will be 9-1). I feel like the longer days get them more prepared for kindergarten, too.

[lala]

I do like that the longer MWF leaves me w/ 2 days off to go do fun stuff. I know me and we won't do stuff in the afternoon on the 1pm schedule b/c we'll come home to put JACK down and by the time he wakes up it will be almost bust stop time.

I selected the 4 day class and then the director told me Friday there was still an opening in the MWF class & that it was definitely my preferred teachers.

[Deleted]

My gut reaction is I'd opt for the one with smaller class size, BUT... 9-2:30 is an enviable schedule, especially if she'll be in full day K the following year.

[iheartthe80s]

All of our preschool programs are 2.5 hours. I'm very jealous of the longer day option.

[iheartthe80s]

Oh, and I would choose the 4 day option.

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2015 13:40:56 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

All of our preschool programs are 2.5 hours. I'm very jealous of the longer day option.

Even at the 4yo level? Huh.

[lala]

That's one of our biggest selling points, we have many schedule choices, late day options, etc, but it's still solely a school not s daycare.

[penguingrrl]

What hours is her sister in school? Emma did MWF 9-2:30 for her 4s class and Julia was in school 8-2:55 and it was perfect. I was able to consolidate and only leave the house for pick up once. And the timing was far enough apart that I could walk for pick up and have just enough time to walk from Emma's school to Julia's if I walked quickly.

[andrewsgal]

I prefer three days because then you have two to do fun things!

[iheartthe80s]

Apr 27, 2015 14:00:33 GMT -5 @mrsmuq said:

Apr 27, 2015 13:40:56 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

All of our preschool programs are 2.5 hours. I'm very jealous of the longer day option.

Even at the 4yo level? Huh.

Yep. And there is a law about how many hours they can be there a week!

[lala]

Apr 27, 2015 14:10:48 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

What hours is her sister in school? Emma did MWF 9-2:30 for her 4s class and Julia was in school 8-2:55 and it was perfect. I was able to consolidate and only leave the house for pick up once. And the timing was far enough apart that I could walk for pick up and have just enough time to walk from Emma's school to Julia's if I walked quickly.

She gets on the bus about 8:30 and gets off about 4. The biggest thing is having us all ready to leave for the bus top so that after she gets on the bus we can walk home, hop in the car & go. Doing that 3 days a week is preferable to 4; I'm doing it 3 now. 

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 27, 2015 13:40:56 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

All of our preschool programs are 2.5 hours. I'm very jealous of the longer day option.

Same thing here. I do like the shorter day though. With the nicer weather we can do an outdoor activity from 1130-130, kids have quiet time/nap time at home for an hour, play, watch tv for an hour all before dh gets home.

[lala]

Yea, a lot of that has to do w/ your other kids, their ages, etc. She gets out at 11:30 now but b/c they're 3.5 and newly one (today!) we come home, eat lunch & have naps.

The more I think about it, I think the longer day means we'll do more b/c we'll have 2 full days.

I am torn, obviously, b/c it's 2 good choices. I can't really go wrong. That's what's making it tough. #FWP

[penguingrrl]

Apr 27, 2015 14:22:33 GMT -5 lala said:

Apr 27, 2015 14:10:48 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

What hours is her sister in school? Emma did MWF 9-2:30 for her 4s class and Julia was in school 8-2:55 and it was perfect. I was able to consolidate and only leave the house for pick up once. And the timing was far enough apart that I could walk for pick up and have just enough time to walk from Emma's school to Julia's if I walked quickly.

She gets on the bus about 8:30 and gets off about 4. The biggest thing is having us all ready to leave for the bus top so that after she gets on the bus we can walk home, hop in the car & go. Doing that 3 days a week is preferable to 4; I'm doing it 3 now. 

Ah, that makes sense! I totally forgot that busing is a thing (I've never lived far enough from an elementary school for me as a kid or my own kids to be bused and I forget it exists lol). I still would go with 3 longer days. Between nap and having to be back when her sister gets off the bus you'll never do anything from 1-4 anyway, but if you have two full days you'll definitely be able to use that time well!

[jnksmom]

I would choose the MWF option. Both of mine did 3 days and I liked having 2 full days to do fun stuff. Also if your preferred teachers are doing the MWF class that would make me choose that.

[Deleted]

Hmm the shorter day and chapel sounds great, but so does having two free days and preferred teachers.

Hmmmmm


Maybe you could just sit down and pretend "I have picked option 1" and see how you feel, then "I have picked option 2" to see if you really would be more bummed one way or the other...

Good luck. It really sounds like two great opportunities.