Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

DD will be 3 in November. Next fall she is eligible to start public Pre-K full time...but right now I'm torn. I'm not sure if I should put her in a private program now or just wait until next year.

I kind of feel like all the kids her age are in private Pre-K's whether it be part time or FT. I don't know if I'm doing her a disadvantage by leaving her with the sitter FT and not sending her to a private preschool because then maybe she will be blindsided with Pre-K next year. I think I've been really thinking this because almost everyone I know will be putting their kid in some kind of nursery school program and I don't want DD to start next year and be behind...but at the same time it's only Pre-K kwim??

Am I overthinking too much???...Heres the thing if I put her in a private Pre-K it will run me an extra $500 a month for 2 days a week so I will still have to pay her sitter FT because I will still need her to watch her the other two days and pick her up since it's part time from 8-1. While doable DH says he thinks its a waste of $$. There is another program that is FT and costs the same I pay her sitter now BUT....I really love her sitter. She is awesome and DH and I are planning on TTC#2 soon and ideally I would want the sitter to watch the next baby. I'm scared if I put DD in a FT program that her sitter will find another kid to watch then I would be SOL when #2 comes along.

Our original plan was wait until DD got into Pre-K next year and just have the sitter pick her up after school...hopefully by that time #2 should arrive. So has anyone just put their kids straight into Pre-K or Kinder or plan to?? Thoughts?? TIA

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

It is alot extra but I think it definitely benefits kids to be around other kids early on. I don't think she will be behind if she doesn't do school, but I would make sure she's in other classes and socializes with other kids.

That said, we do have a FT babysitter and still sent DD to school 3 days a week. My babysitter cleaned up while she was in school. Can you do that?

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

I'm not in your shoes, as I put DD in daycare at 21 months. She turns 3 in December. She was just transitioned "up" at daycare to the pre-school room, and I've been very unsure about the move for a variety of reasons. I dropped her off today for the first time since the move and got to watch @ 1/2 hour of the morning activities.

All the kids were "checking in" by moving their name to the correct day of the week on a velcro calendar. They also ran through the entire manual alphabet. They did colors (in english and spanish) and shapes as well. The teacher asked all the kids what color each shape was, what the shape was, how they knew what shape it was - she counted the sides for triangle, rectangle, square, octogon etc.

The thing was, she was sitting better than some of the 4 year olds, she was listening and answering better than some of the 4 year olds, and generally seemed to truly enjoy what was going on. I think some of that is due in part to the fact that she's been enrolled for as long as she has, and is used to interacting.

So, from my experience I would say your DD would benefit from being in a group setting now, and may have a harder adjustment later.

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

If she is turning 3 she should be in nursery, not pre-k....

I'm not sure where you live, but I did a 3 day a week, 2 1/2 hour a day nursery and it was $180/month.. unless you're talking about full days?

I think it would benefit her to be in nursery...

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

if u could swing the $500/month i would say it has its advantages


can u do something in the spring?

if not, then its no big deal to wait till next year....i would put her some classes though (music or gymboree) for the social experience

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

If your child is typically developing in all developmental areas (self care, language, fine motor, gross motor, congition and social-emotional), she is able to tolerate demands and follow simple directions and you & the sitter are able to provide her with a nurturing, stimulating environment that has some structure and routine then I'm sure she do well if you kept her with the sitter for one more year and then did a really good pre-k program the year before kindergarten.

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

I would put her in a nursery school program for the socialization benefits.

I plan to start DS in a part time 2's program next year and full time nursery school when he is 3.

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

Re: Almost 3 year old parents...pre-school question

She will still be in preschool before she enters kindergarten even without going this year! Honestly, I think it all depends on what you're doing at home! if you and babysitter are taking her out alot and giving her attention and reading to her, you are teaching her a lot! School is pushed on kids earlier and earlier... Kids dont have to be in "school" to learn! Some of the best learning takes place at home!