Excessive preschool schedule

[statlerwaldorf]

We have been looking into preschools and we've only found one that we really like. We are atheists and it is the only one that is not religious based. Plus it is the only one where DD will not be the only one that is not fully white. I really like the school, the teacher to child ratio, play based learning, security, etc.

They meet for 3 hours a day 4 days a week. Is that a little excessive? All of the other ones only meet twice a week for 3 year olds. We live in a rural area, so sometimes I like to make the trip to the city to go to the zoo or museums which takes the whole day. I'm not sure if I want to limit those to Fridays and summer or if I want DD gone that often. On the other hand, she is really excited about school and could use the extra socialization.

[blindyswife]

The preschooler I nanny goes 3x a week for 2 and a half hours. So kind of in between the two options you have. It's through the public school system here, in the elementary school. I don't know how other preschools in our area operate though, so I donthave anything to compare it to.

Maybe you will enjoy having that much time alone!

[scattered]

That's the same schedule we looked at for a Christian preschool here- for a two year old class. The three year olds were all week.

I think it sounds like a pretty solid schedule and will probably ease her into a schedule for K and such.

[SpartanGirl]

Can you just keep her home if there is a day you feel like going somewhere or if she's feeling tired/overwhelmed by the schedule? If the school is a good fit otherwise I probably wouldn't let it be a deal breaker.

[eaglesfan]

My DS (4) is starting pre-k this fall. It is 3 days/wk 2.5 hours a day, but we had the option of 3, 4 or 5 days. For 3 yr olds, they have a MMO program that can be 1 or 2 days.

DS' school is at a Lutheran church, but it isn't faith based at all. Most of the preschools around here are the same set-up - at a church, but no religious curriculum. You might want to check if any of them operate the same way.

Good luck!

[agrippa]

May 16, 2012 17:49:36 GMT -5 eaglesfan said:

My DS (4) is starting pre-k this fall. It is 3 days/wk 2.5 hours a day, but we had the option of 3, 4 or 5 days. For 3 yr olds, they have a MMO program that can be 1 or 2 days.

DS' school is at a Lutheran church, but it isn't faith based at all. Most of the preschools around here are the same set-up - at a church, but no religious curriculum. You might want to check if any of them operate the same way.

Good luck!

Four days would have been too much for DS, I think. He gets worn out by his two days a week.

I just want to echo what eagles said about checking out the religious schools. We are also atheist but send DS to a Methodist preschool. They have it set up so that you can opt out of the religious education portions of the class--just pick them up 30 minutes early on Chapel Talk day. FWIW, his class had one Hindu student, one Islamic student, and an Islamic teacher's assistant, so they had quite the eclectic group.

[df]

My DS goes to preschool 4 days a week 2.5 hour days. He loves it and the daily routine. He started at almost 3 since he's a Sept B-day and it follows the traditional school year. He has really thrived and it hasn't been too much for him.

I plan outings on Mondays when he doesn't have school.

[lala]

May 16, 2012 17:49:36 GMT -5 eaglesfan said:

My DS (4) is starting pre-k this fall. It is 3 days/wk 2.5 hours a day, but we had the option of 3, 4 or 5 days. For 3 yr olds, they have a MMO program that can be 1 or 2 days.

DS' school is at a Lutheran church, but it isn't faith based at all. Most of the preschools around here are the same set-up - at a church, but no religious curriculum. You might want to check if any of them operate the same way.

Good luck!

I agree about checking on the religious aspects of the church nursery school, almost all nursery schools here are at a church or synagogue and they aren't necessarily religious. DD is going 3 days a week, 9-1 next year - she'll be in the 3 year old class even though she'll be 4 3 weeks later b/c of the cut off.

It's also a fairly non-relgious program at a Lutheran church. In fact, we opted in to have her in the "Christian Education" one so that she'd go to chapel, etc, but it's where we go to church anyway.

I would find 4 days of 4 hours too much at 3. I would not be comfortable with it. Especially if there are still 2 years until K.

[keh2oblue]

Well, DD goes to DC 4 days/week for 4 hours, so we're doing the same schedule next year at PS. Sounds normal to me (and just think, a lot of kids go full day because their parents work and it works for them).

[webmistress0609]

We almost nixed our top choice Montessori for this reason - primary class starts @ 3 & is 5 days per week. Ari started w/ 2 days (toddler program) & is now in 3 days. Anyway, they told me most kids don't move up to primary until 3.5, they have moms helpers in primary & above, & I can bring the new LO for that. I also considered just keeping him home 1 day 1-2x per month if he needs it.

For us, we liked the school well enough that we went for it. I'm glad we did b/c he's thrived there. And I get you on the non-religious aspect - I'm an agnostic Jew & MH is an atheist. No way Ari was going to a church preschool.

[jena]

We are not religious. Would you like to know what my DD has learned in 2 years of Episcopal-based preschool?

"No shoes on the pews!", a couple of songs, and some vague idea of who Noah is. She is 100% confident that Jesus is a girl (I think this is based on the fact that his hair is usually long in pictures and he's wearing robes which = dress to a 4yo). She also cried after her first trip to chapel "because Jesus wasn't there."

I think it's good that she has a basic idea of bible stories - just like most of us know a lot about Greek mythology, to me bible stories are part of a well-rounded education. But we did tour some schools which we thought were over-the-top and scary religious (I'm not comfortable with my kid starting every day with a "pledge to the christian flag" and a "pledge to the bible" that's just weird). Our "religious" school still does Halloween and egg hunts at Easter - I even sent DD dressed as a she-devil when she was 2 and no one said anything negative.

Anyway, I hear what you're saying about having 4 days that you don't get to do stuff. But if you really wanted to go to the zoo on a Tuesday, then just keep her home and go to the zoo. No big deal.

[nolasteph]

Reading these replies makes me even more anxious about DD1 starting preK-3 in August. She also turns 3 in August so she'll be one of the youngest in the class. But what concerns me is the schedule: 5 full days, 8am-3pm. I'm a mixture of terrified and excited. The only reason DH an I are going forward with it is because it's a French immersion school, under high demand and we were lucky enough to get in (which also ensures DD2 and any future kids get automatic acceptance). I seriously don't know how I will handle my days with only one kid. Ha.

[statlerwaldorf]

I'm not even too worried about DD. I'm sure she will adjust just fine. I'm just not sure how I will adjust to not having her around so much. Lol

[macchiatto]

Most 3y/o preschools around here are 3 mornings a week. The extra day wouldn't bother me but the extra cost would.

[statlerwaldorf]

I think we are looking at the special needs preschool now. DD has another interview, but they don't start back interviewing until August. The cost would be covered through the school district. They run on the same schedule as the public preschool, but DD has a language delay and was will not be accepted unless there is an big improvement over the summer.