Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

DD will be 3 in July & everyone is asking when I am putting her in preschool.
I'm pretty sure she would like it & I could really use a break because we are together ALL the time!
On the other hand, being with her is why I decided to be a SAHM & we have a full morning schedule already (mon-playdate, wed-library class, thurs & sun- church, she's with the toddler class without me so that's a couple hours of sanity for me.)
I was thinking of waiting until she's 4, do you think one year of pre school is enough?
It seems like a lot to go from being together all the time, then a couple hours a week & the next year a full 5 days.

Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I don't personally think preschool is necessary so yes to me 1 year is enough. With a wide variety of activities at home children will have the same knowledge with or without preschool.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Yes. My older ds only went to pre-k and is doing good in kindergarten. I am just sorry we didn't work more on somethings together when we were in pre-k, but he is doing great.
I sent my 2nd son when he was 3 and I thought he needed the structure more - he is doing well in pre-k but had a tough transition into nursery.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

my son is in his one and only year of Pre-K now (he is 5 -started the year at 4yrs old) We never did any other schooling. and he is doing great - an amazing difference from just September and have no worries he'll be more than ready this September for Kindergarten! I am also a SAHM - so he didnt *need to go - so I didnt send him before

Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I think it's different for each child...

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

For my DD, yes, 1 year was plenty. I really only sent her to pre-K so that she'd learn the structure of a classroom, and how to move from one activity to the other. We had no formal classes, outings or anything prior to her going to pre-K. She was a smart kid who learned her numbers and letters, etc. at home from us, and the rest, I knew she'd learn in K if she didn't know it before then. She has done just fine. I just kind of felt that she had her whole life to be in school, and didn't feel like pushing it on her when she was so young.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Message edited 3/27/2014 5:15:28 AM.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I'm also a SAHM and have one son. He started a nursery school program in September, and turned 3 in November. its only 2 mornings a week, for 2.5 hours each day... so 5 hours total. its more play-based for his age group, so I don't feel like its pushing him into "hard core academics" too soon or anything LOL Honestly the main reason I signed him up is because we have no family in the area that can watch him once in awhile for us.... so I needed the break!!! HAHA just a few hours a week to get things done without him in tow. and its been good for him to learn how to be around other kids without me right there. (which apparently he's having trouble with there, according to his teacher :-/ ) But overall, its been great- they do little projects, field trips, bring your favorite stuffed animal day LOL I think the amount of time is perfect for his age, too.
so I would say if you find the right kind of program, it can be a nice little break for you and her. it doesn't have to be all day pre-K at 3 years old, ya know?

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I agree that it depends on the child but in general I think yes 1 year is enough. My dd will be 3 in october and we are waiting until the fall of 2015 to enroll her in a program.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

It totally depends on the child. If your child is fine seperating from you and does well with other children 1 yr is fine. I volunteer in my sons school k orientation program. We have class once a month for 1 hr . The program gets the pre k kids familiar with the school. I would say 99% of them March right into class with just a kiss or wave and are excited to be there and ready to go.
They are so smart, I am amazed by them every month.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

My personal opinion, I don't think Pre-K is necessary at all so to answer your question, I think that 1 year of Pre-K is perfectly adequate.

I'm a SAHM and I never put my DD in a formal Pre-K program mainly because I'm a certified teacher, Pre-K through 6th, so I felt it was a complete waste of my money to pay someone else to teach her what I am capable of doing on my own.

Instead I enrolled in her all different activities that would give her the opportunity to play, socialize, and have fun. I thought that was time and money better spent. She took music classes, farm classes, library classes, and more. But she was with me MOST of the time which I liked. She will spend her whole childhood in school so I wanted to take advantage of these few years with her while she was little to be with her as much as possible. That was more important to me than any type of schooling prior to Kindergarten.

She's in Kindergarten now and she's doing AMAZING. She adjusted easily from being with me all day to a full day Kindergarten schedule. Most kids roll with it, they have no choice. She is also above grade level in all areas so I don't regret not sending her to Pre-K one bit. But that's my DD, every kid will be different.

My advice is do what is best for YOUR child, who cares what anyone else thinks. Everyone was shocked I wasn't sending my DD at all but she's smart and I knew even around age 4 that she was ready for Kindergarten. Some people put way too much stock in Pre-K when realistically it won't really make or break your kids success in Kindergarten.

Do what you think will benefit your child the most right now. If that's Pre-K, great. If not, that's fine too. People will always have a comment but only you know your kid the best. Let that be your guide.

eta- spelling

Message edited 3/27/2014 9:24:18 AM.

Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

To each their own...

Yes, I find that pre-k was worth it. Not so much for the education (tho yes that's great) but for the social aspect and structure. As well as illnesses. I got that all out of the way.

Educationally... Kinder is the great equalizer. What AJ was very strong in made no difference. She had to relearn it and go slow so the class could catch up. There's a danger of boring her. And yes in the beginning of the year we had trouble keeping her occupied. Now that they are spelling larger words and reading, she's much more engaged.

ETA: Oh and I always did full days so the transition to kindergarten was easier there too. Lots of kids were collapsing in afterschool care. My kid was up and going. Others were cranky in the mornings - unused to the early schedule. Those things worked themselves out but I felt glad she was past all of that.

But my gosh the illness part.. TOTALLY worth it. She's not taken a single sick day from school (yet) *Crosses fingers* but they've had some serious colds and bugs fly through the school.

Message edited 3/27/2014 9:35:02 AM.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

My ds will be 3 in November and I am enrolling him in school for 2 days a week, half days. Im doing it moreso that he can meet other kids and get used to the whole school idea

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I agree with those who said that it totally dependent on the child. My DD is in a family group daycare setting, and I plan on moving her to center-based, nursery school setting when she is 3. In her case, she is a very bright child, and I am not at all worried about her learning, but I feel that she will benefit from the structure of the classroom setting.

There are some kids, like the poster above's, who do great without pre-k. There are those who get to kindergarten and are lost. I think that it is good to at least do a separation program for 2 mornings a week or something similar at 3, to prepare for pre-k at 4.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

This may be a dumb question, but I thought pre-k was just the year before kindergarten. So, I mean you're in pre-k when you're 4 and before then it's like a nursery school?

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Eh I had NO years of preschool and I turned out pretty damn smart.
Do what is right for you and your child,.

Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

I don't think pre-k is necessary at all, so I think one year is more than enough.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Thanks! I love hearing everyone's opinions.
It's funny, I hate when some people tell me what I should be doing (particularly someone elses side of the family ) but I appreciate all the advice on here, it helps me think of all aspects so I can decide what to do.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

One year is plenty.

I've been a SAHM for almost 8 years now, and I do so much with the kids...playdates, arts and crafts, classes (similar to mommy&me type stuff).

There are people that argue (not here, just in general) that kids need the structure and socialization of pre-k starting at 2...I disagree. I think a kid needs very basic things in the beginning of life. If they're seeing other kids on a semi regular basis and doing activities with their mom/dad/caregiver, they will be ok.

Some mentioned it depends on the kid but I believe it depends on the caregiver! You can sit a child in front of a TV all day, or you can engage them in learning. You'll get two different outcomes most likely.

My kids did 2 years of pre-k but I feel they really only needed a year. I liked the year before kindergarten to help transition them a bit (especially since kindergarten is full day) but I truly don't believe pre-k is "necessary" in the long run.

Re: Is one year of preschool enough (in your oponion)

Posted by Beck

Thanks! I love hearing everyone's opinions.
It's funny, I hate when some people tell me what I should be doing (particularly someone elses side of the family ) but I appreciate all the advice on here, it helps me think of all aspects so I can decide what to do.