I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

...maybe bc I am pregnant, but I went to my first 'preschool' meeting and I am so overwhelmed! There are so many schools!!! Not only that, I need to decide if I want to put him in a 2.5 year program or wait until he is 3.5. I have no clue!!! I plan on visiting a bunch of schools, but I am unsure if I should send him next year or wait another year. How do I know whats best for my child?

Re: I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

I almost posted the same thing yesterday! I spoke with the Director of one that has been highly rec'd by a few people in my town and happens to be in walking distance of my house. I made an appt to go see it and I think if I like it, he's going there. I was stressing about seeing a bunch of schools but I finally decided it's nursery school not college and he's 3 so it seems crazy to stress over it

Re: I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

Don't stress!! Maybe I'm in the minority but I didn't even visit multiple schools... I knew several people in the neighborhood who had their kids in the local catholic school's preschool, they were all happy with it, it was affordable, so boom I signed DS up and that was it. He loves it, I love it, he's learning lots of fun stuff, the teachers are nice. Honestly at 3 I don't think it matters that much where they go, they are like sponges at this age and will learn soooo much anywhere.

Re: I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

I plan on registering DS at one school that came highly recommeneded down here in VA (local church).

I also debated about doing it at 2.5 vs. age 3. I decided, since he is a January baby, to do the 2.5 program starting next Fall for 2 days/week. He will turn 3 a few months after the program begins. If I waited until the next Fall he would be almost 4!

Good Luck!

Re: I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

As a daycare mom I think you should put him in now - get him used to different kids, rules, being away from you. If he doesn't do well, you can always pull him out. Plus it will give you alone time with the new baby.

Re: I am totally overwhelmed by this preschool thing...

My DD is in a 2 year old program and loves it. I'll be honest, if it's a preschool type program, they all follow the same curriculum generally (unless it's a Montessori type deal). I would choose based on what's most convenient to YOU rather than worrying about different types.