Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

What are your thoughts about preschool?
If you are a stay at home parent, how do you decide to send your child to preschool and for how long?(especially if you can't affiord it or barely can afford it).
I am a SAHM and unless I go back to work we are thinking that DD(14mo) is going to go to preschool when she is 4 one or two days a week -for a year before kindergarten.
In the meantime we are going to sign her up for some classes starting in spring or summer.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Message edited 5/22/2010 9:40:27 AM.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am planning for Josh to go to preschool at 4.

At 3, he would probably love to go a few days a week, but it will be hard for me to justify the money spent when I find so many free programs as it is.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I'm a sahm mom and my 3 yr old just started preschool in Sept. We felt the interaction with other kids outside of our neighborhood and some school structure would be beneficial to him. It is. DH & I cannot believe the things he has learned in such a short time. he goes Weds and Fri from 9-12.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM and enrolling DD#1 in the 2.5 program come January (we have some potty training issue that hopefully we'll be able to work though by then). She'll go 2 times a week for 3 hours. Depending on how that goes, I'll continue to send her to a drop-off babysitting service at another church for 2 1/2 hours on another day. So she'll be out of the house 3 days a week.

I think she needs social interaction and feel she is more than ready. She's been attending the drop-off babysitting service for about a year now and seems to enjoy it. With #2 due in November, I want to make sure she's stimulated enough and not driving mommy crazy ...

If for some reason it doesn't work out in the 2.5 class, we'll try again at 3, but 3 is the latest I personally want to start.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am SAHM and DS is going to preschool next year when he is going to be almost 4. For now, we go together to Gym, Music and Art class and he goes with DH to swimming class. He interacts with other kids in this classes, playdates and playgrounds.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Andrew started when he was 2 for 2 days a week. I feel a school structure is very important for him. He has learned so much and loves all his new friends. My Gym and places like that are fine but not for what we wanted for Andrew to get out of them.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a temporary SAHM, and DH usually is home with DS during the day. We were thinking of finding a preschool program for DS next fall when he is 2.5.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I'm a sahm mom & will probably send DD either this spring when she's 2.5 or fall when she's almost 3.

Message edited 10/26/2008 2:41:25 PM.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I was a SAHM when I signed Kaila up for nursery school back in February or March. She goes 3 days a week for almost 3 hours a day.. and I think its great for her. She brings home projects everyday, knows sooo much more about letters and numbers, I think its def. worth it.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM. My oldest started nursery school when he was 3. He went 2 afternoons a week (Tuesday and Thursday from 1-4).

My middle one is 3 now and goes 3 afternoons a week (MWF, 1-4).

My youngest will also start when she is 3. Probably 2 or 3 afternoons a week.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM and we probably won't send her to some sort of "school" until she's about 3

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Im a SAHM and Am hoping to send him at around 2..probably more like 2.5 to a small program.

Mostly b.c he has a HARD time leaving me and I want to try to get him over that.

But if he has a problem, I wont make him stay.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

We did two afternoons a week at three years old and four afternoons a week at four years old.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM ( well technically an in-home daycare provider on an extended maternity leave ) I had originally planned on sending DS to pre-k at age 4, while working on the fundamentals at home and socializing him at library etc...When I became pregnant with #2, I was put on modified bed-rest due to placenta previa and felt major guilt issues that DS would be essentially stuck home with me, and have very little kid interaction...Thats when we decided to give nursery school at whirl ( he was 2 going on 3)....After just a couple of tearful days when I dropped him off- now he can't wait to go ! He only goes 2 days per week (3 hrs a day) and its perfect and he loves it there...We pay $150 a month, and so far have been able to make it work financially ...I'm really glad we did this for him and I do miss him those 3 hours but it also gives me a chance to get some things done, and this way those things don't have to cut into my time with him anymore

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I'm a sahm and my 3 yr old just started in Sept. He goes only 2 days a wk and next yr (the yr before Kindergarten) I'm hoping to get him in something 3-4days. He loves it and he is learning new things and it amazes me to how fast he picks up. Just today he was telling me how the leaves fall off the tree because winter is coming. It was so cute

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM but I was also a preschool teacher before having Megan.

My plan is to try to go back in September, part time and bring her with me. If that doesnt work out, then I want to try to put her in a class for maybe 3 mornings a week a little closer to where we live.

She is very attached to me AND has no other children to play with. I want her to be able to interact with other kids and learn to share. If I do return, my boss will definately cut me a break as far as paying tuition for her so thats a HUGE plus. But if I just send her somewhere where I dont work, I am going to have to find a little side job to be able to afford it.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

DW is a SAHM. DS is in Kindergarten this year. Pre-K 5 days/week (2.5 hours/day) last year. Preschool 2x/week (5 hours/day) at age 3. Separation classes at Gymboree around age 3 as well.

DD will be following a similar schedule. We think it's important for them to socially interact with other DC, and to gradually get used to being away from mommy, so that Kindergarten isn't as traumatic.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Im a SAHM and things arent going to change, in that regard, until he is in Kindergarten. Basically, as of right now, he will be going to PreK as a definite. I'd like to send him to nursery/preschool too but we will have to see how we are doing funds wise...

I really have my heart set on sending him next September though. (He'll be just 2) My DH is Jewish and I am not. I left it up to DH on how he would want to raise DS. The problem is that DH knows about as much about Judaism as I do....So I think sending him to a religion based preschool will be the way to go..

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Separation classes at Gymboree around age 3 as well.

what's separation classes? Gymboree has that? I had no idea

Message edited 10/27/2008 8:23:11 AM.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

Posted by dediko

Separation classes at Gymboree around age 3 as well.

what's separation classes? Gymboree has that? I had no idea

A lot of places have it on their schedules!!

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I am a SAHM and we plan on making the girls go to preschool when they are 4.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

i put my boys in sept. they werent 2 1/2 yet.. (they turned 2 1/2 yesterday)

i put them in a preschool program 3 days a week 3 hrs a day. i also just enrolled them into a culinary kids program sponsereed by there school so i extended 1 day by an hour for it.


i just thought they needed more than just me 24/7... KWIM


besides i NEED it!

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

DS will be 3 in July and I plan to sign him up for a 2 or 3 day program, just for a few hours. Even though we do classes I think he needs the seperation from mom and the more concentrated socialization.

Re: Q about preschool for all parents but especially for SAHM

I started my DD at 2. Even though I am a SAHM and it's my job to care for her - I am not a teacher and don't always have the skills to actually TEACH her what she needs to learn. Plus the interaction with other kids is important to me.

She has learned so much at school I have NO regrets. As a matter of fact I started her at 3 days a week and she begged to go 5 days so after the new year she went 5 days a week (she was 2.5).

I still have plenty of time with her - and we both have a little alone time. Good luck with your decision.