WWYD regarding continuing pre K in this situation?

[liveintheville]

Kid 1 won't be 5 until October. Our cutoff date is they must be 5 by 8/31 to attend public K. We have 1 public pre K program. I found out today that we didn't get in, it's a lottery system since they always have more applications than slots.

Since he turned 4 he's been going to pre K at Kindercare twice a week. It costs $224/wk. This Kindercare does not go beyond pre K. I've looked into private kindergarten and it's around $14-24k/yr. Not going to happen. So would you keep him enrolled through next year in the pre K class still? Or pull him out since he'd essentially be repeating this year and keep him home?

He loves going to school, but he wouldn't be heartbroken to not go. My main concern is if he'd lose some of the skills he picked up this year by being kept at home next year.

[stephogirl]

Personally, I would keep him in his current pre K. Even if he covers some of the same material, the teachers may switch it up a bit. Plus (for my family anyway) it was a bigger deal to work on social skills than academics the year before K.

GL!

[ijack]

I would have him repeat it

[Deleted]

I would repeat too.

[lala]

I would have him repeat it, too, or send him to another private nursery school that does pre-k (all the ones here have 2years through 4/5 pre-k. Plus, if you sent him to private k next year, would he be allowed to go to public school 1st the next anyway?

Our cut off is Sept 1, so DD will go to 2 years of pre school, once in the 3 year class and once in the 4 year class. She'll turn 6 a few weeks after she starts K.

[RoryGilmore]

I would have him repeat pre-K simply for the social aspect. I would also work with him at home on new and different learning concepts.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2012 21:28:15 GMT -5 RoryGilmore said:

I would have him repeat pre-K simply for the social aspect. I would also work with him at home on new and different learning concepts.

I agree or else I would look for another nursery school program. I think it's really important for 4 year olds to go to some type of school environment so they're ready for K. It sucks that they don't have enough public pre-k spots for everyone.

[Deleted]

I would repeat too... Also check in regularly with the city schools. Get on the waitlist. Make yourself known but not annoying and he may get a spot, you could also tell them you'd be open to starting if a spot opens during the year too.

[karinothing]

We are going to be in the same situation and will be keeping DS in the pre-K program.

[hannamarin]

Would you want to go to K early?

[barefootcontessa]

Can you get him somewhere where he goes more than twice a week? I would ask/look around for an independent preschool with more days. My son turned five in the fall and he is finishing up a third year of PS. He is reading, though, because the school is super small and the teacher is a former K teacher. If you can find a smaller place they may be able to work more one-on-one with him. I would send him regardless though. GL.

[liveintheville]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like keeping him there is the best plan. I'm glad to hear others are doing this as well!

[lishie]

I'd keep him in the PreK program. Our community is similar to yours. One public PreK program, and you get in via lottery. We were one of the few lucky ones and got a spot for next year, but I was stressed about it until we got the letter.

I know that I'm not a good teacher, and my kids get so much from daycare/preschool. If I kept them home, they'd lose some of that. I don't have the patience to teach lessons or do crafts. If you're good at that stuff, then you'd probably be fine. As that's not my skill set, I'd pay the money and keep him in the PreK he's in.

[definitelyO]

keep him in the pre-K program and talk with the teacher and see if she can mix up some things to keep him engaged and challenged. Our Kindercare (where DS went) had a K program - I'm sorry that yours doesn't.