A whine and a question

[rosesandpetals]

DD goes to an in-home during the day. Her sitter's husband is in the air force and he's being sent to another state in march. I'm really sad for dd. The inhome is 3 kids, dd, a girl dd's age, and the sitter's son (who is also Dd's age). This three of them get along really well and it is a great environment for her. I'm sad she will be losing her friends.

So that's my whine.

There's a Montessori school here I really like and will send dd to next fall when she is 3.5. I called to ask for tuition info and enrollment info a few months ago and they said she could start as soon as she turns 3 as long as she is potty trained (she is). She will be 3 in January.

Would you be okay sending your kid to a preschool where they are definitely going to be the youngest? Some kids will be a whole year older than her. I mean, I'm sure the school will adjust their expectations but it isn't really same-age peers at that point. But I also don't want to find another in home for 3 months then pull her out of that just to start at this school in the fall.

Oh and the preschool is full day 2, 3, or 5 days per week, there's no half day option so she'd be with the same kids all day.

So... wwyd? This is reigniting a lot of WM guilt for me. I wish her sitter weren't moving.

[lexus]

I would do it. It sounds ideal actually. And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a true Montessori be mixed aged anyway (to some degree)?

[rosesandpetals]

Nov 3, 2015 21:17:25 GMT -5 lexus said:

I would do it. It sounds ideal actually. And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a true Montessori be mixed aged anyway (to some degree)?

Yes, and that's what worries me. If it is mixed age 3 and 4 year olds, some kids will be 2 years older than her. She's still going to be the youngest.

[lexus]

Nov 3, 2015 21:19:34 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

Nov 3, 2015 21:17:25 GMT -5 lexus said:

I would do it. It sounds ideal actually. And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a true Montessori be mixed aged anyway (to some degree)?

Yes, and that's what worries me. If it is mixed age 3 and 4 year olds, some kids will be 2 years older than her. She's still going to be the youngest.

I can see how that might be scary but being around older kids has been a predominately positive experience for dd. She has soaked up all of their vocabulary (which has been a problem too once or twice), and is motivated to learn new skills because of what she sees them doing. Is there something specific you are concerned about?

[lala]

I think it will be a good thing. If they take kids when they turn 3, I'm sure there will be some younger 3s, too. DD2 is always the youngest in her class, by a year to some kids, and while I worry, she's been perfectly fine.

[rosesandpetals]

She's very shy and I just worry she will have trouble making friends with older kids and end up sitting by herself all day. I know most of it is unfounded mom guilt about working -- and I love my job, I just wish her sitter weren't moving until school got out for the summer. I worry about her changing her environment, I guess. I'm not 100% sure what my worry is.

[rosesandpetals]

It does make me feel better that you guys have younger kids who do well with older kids, though.

[lexus]

I bet a big kid will take her under their wing. I know when dd first started a big kid adored her and kind of mommied her. They only saw each other during free time (before circle time, at the end of the day, and on the playground). I bet the same will happen for your dd. Staying put would be ideal, of course, but I think this sounds like your best option.

[usm]

I understand not wanting her to be the youngest but I don't think it's a big deal, especially in montesorri. I think that's the premise, the best school here has ages 2-6 in a class and it works wonderfully. She won't always be the youngest and the other kids aren't checking ids.

I think the least amount of transitions will be the most beneficial.

[NandaB]

I think it will be great for her. Push her a little out of her comfort zone, but I agree that slightly older kids are better than peers, especially if she is still working on catching up verbally. They will be nice to her, and she will be exposed to more back and forth conversations than if it was only other 3 yr olds.

[lala]

I was worried specifically about making friends & that other kids would understand her speech since she's still sounds like a new 4. It's been fine. It took her 2 weeks (3 days a week preschool) to get her bearings and make a few solid friends.

[cabbagecabbage]

My kid has an August birthday and is in a class with a September 1 cutoff. I'm totally fine with it and she's thriving. She's a mature kid for her age. I also nanny a boy who was middle of his class in age and could not handle daycare. His mom pulled him. He has some sensory issues that need more attention than he was getting and he was unraveling in the environment. I think it's kid specific but someone will always be youngest.

[rosesandpetals]

Thanks everyone. I will go with the Montessori option. Guess I just needed some reassurance.

And sorry for the post and run. Randomly gott really busy.

[dizzycooks]

The preschool rooms at our daycare range from 33months-4yo, 4yo until K. My daughter has benefited so much from the range of kids! In the morning they are all together 33mo-not yet in K for about 1-1.5 hours and always together on the playground and again if they stay after 5pm they are typically combined. It's not a problem at all.

As for transitions, we switched daycares about 3 weeks ago after attending the other one for 6 weeks and previously home with me for 10 weeks over the summer. It was a lot of changes. Both kids are fine and enjoying the routines and their new teachers. I would talk it up to your daughter as her starting preschool and what a big girl she is, I'd avoid the fact the change is because her current provider is moving (obviously they are, and she can know that, but I just wouldn't say that's why she's switching daycares).

[lo]

My daughter is 16 months and in a toddler room at a Montessori school. She is the youngest by a lot and they go up to age 3. We are very happy so far! Her vocab has really exploded, too.