PRESCHOOL age 3 or 4? 10 Points 4 best answer!!!!!!!!?
A Parent asks, My hubby and I tried for 3 years to have a baby with no success. We were thrilled to become parents through adoption!!! I decided to stay home because I didn’t want to miss any part of being a mommy (as I had waited so long)! We love our son will ALL our hearts and want to make the best decision for him reguarding preschool. Right now he is 22 months old & I have to get him on the waiting list If I want him to be able to get in. However I’m not sure that I want him to start at age 3? Could I send him at 4? That would give me another year at home to spend time with him. I want to enjoy him and have him home as long as I can before he starts school, but my mother (his Nana) thinks preschool at 3 is the way to go. She thinks children need 2 years of preschool to be ready for kindergarden. What is your opinion? What age did you send your children to preschool & was it beneficial?
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the age of 4 is fine, the best way for kids to learn and know that they are loved is to learn that from their parents
I dont think they HAVE to go to preschool, but unless you are really working with your child at home, they may not be ready for Kinder. My kids both did preschool at 3, then went to pre-k at 4. Both were more than ready for kinder. Some kids that didnt have preschool, were really lost in kinder. It was kind of a shock to them. They eventually get caught up though. I think alot of it just depends on the personality of the child.
well i have a 3 year old and a 4 year old and the best thing i did for my babies was put them in preschool,, they only go tuesdays and thursdays 8a-2p,, i still get to spend time with them and they still get the mind enriched,, my kids are coming home everyday with something new,, would not do it any other way,, also they get to further their social skills
Let him go at 4. In the meantime, play school with him, have lots of playdates, and read to him all the time. Enjoy you’re time with him while he’s still little. Also, if he turns 5 after the start of school he will have to wait until the next year to attend, so he would have all that time to go to pre-school too. I didn’t go to pre-school, yet I was way ahead of my classmates who did and could read before them because my mom taught me everything and read to me whenever I asked.
Also, if you want to work after he is in school you may consider a position as a teacher’s aide.
You sound as if you are an extremely attentive mother. There is nothing wrong with only one year of preschool as long as you are preparing him at home. However, make sure that he has plently of interaction with other children around his age. Gymnastics and reading groups, for example, are great ways to socialize your child.
My daugther went to preK. She said all we do mommy is color and play. Consider teaching him at home. Check with your state and see what they require. Some children do need preK only because the parents work and don’t have time to teach their children. Join a free mom club and do park days with other kids.
definatley 4, your child gets a head start to social skills and interaction with other children.or you can let them skip a grade and go into kindergarden so they will be a year ahead. but i think 4 is a good age because they know their colors, shapes, and abc`s. its just the time and they can move on without a problwemplus it gives you an extra year with your child! well that outta work you have to have that little extra time and make your child the best that you want them to be and be proud of them.
Congratulations! As a preschool teacher I can tell you that we prefer to get them at 3. It is much easier for them to transition and separate from mom. They get 2 years in preschool, gaining experience being at school and being exposed to other children before moving on to kindergarten. Consider putting him in a part-time program. He can start 3 days a week, no more than 3 hours per day. This way you can a little time to get a few things done without him, still spend a lot of quality time with him, and have him benefit from a school experience. When he turns 4 he can go 4 days a week (no more than 3 hours) and at 5, 5 days a week ( 3 hours). Many Montessori programs offer this option and are great schools for children. Good luck!
I depends on the child. One of mine is very energetic and wanted to go to preschool so bad, so I put her in at 3, she is my youngest. My oldest daughter I put in at 4 and she was perfectly ready for school. My middle daughter is very shy and wanted nothing to do with school, so I kept her home all the way until kindergarten and her teacher says she is the most advanced student in her class. I taught her at home. So it just depends on how your child feels about school, and also how you feel about sending him to school. If you want to teach him at home for another year that will not hurt him at all. Most preschools you can volunteer in as well, so you could be there with him and have him still get some social time in.
He doesn’t have to go.
If you send him and you don’t want to, he’ll pick up on your ambivalence.
But I will tell you that I sent my three-year-old to a three-day-a-week, 3-hour-per-day preschool, and she LOVED it. She got so much out of it, and she begged to go on her days off.
I wasn’t in the same situation as you, though. My daughter has been at an in-home daycare since she was 8 weeks old, and she idolizes the older kids. She was thrilled to get a break from her younger sister and to be a “big kid” at school.
Even though she’s obviously socialized to a group setting, it was fascinating to watch her adjust to a new group of kids, and a new set of caregivers, and she really blossomed. She made all kinds of cool new art, learned great new songs, heard new stories, came home with interesting trivia about the theme of the week, and struggled to find the absolute best show&tell items.
It was great. And I’m signing her little sister up just as soon as possible.
I am glad you are enjoying being a stay at home mom. I don’t think that two years of preschool are necessary. If you are getting him socialized through playgroups or other activities, he will be fine. The first year of preschool basically teaches kids that it’s OK to be away from Mommy and how to get along with peers. I do recommend at least one year of preschool to get them used to the routine, give them time to learn how to make friends, and to give them a head start on kindergarten. You’re right, enjoy him while you can, soon you won’t have a choice about whether or not to send him to school.
With my daughter(now 6) we didn’t have a choice. She went to a wonderful daycare and I think it was sooooo good for her. It really prepared her for kindergarten. We put my son in a mother’s day out about six months before we knew he would have to go full time. This seemed to really help since he would only go a couple of times a week for a few hours. It made the transition from being home with mommy all day to being away from me during the day. He was about 14 months when he started the MDO and he ended up loving his daycare. Good luck with your decision!!
It really depends on the situation. Many parents find that one year of preschool is enough. Others find two necessary. Here would be the reasons to send him–you already know why you don’t want to:
1. socialization within the classroom setting (much different from a play date with friends)
2. learning the school system and expectations of the setting
Also, parents of little boys find that two years of preschool is beneficial because they are typically behind little girls academically and socially, which is why so many are held back in kindergarten and first grade. It will give him a good chance to gain all of the information he needs to slip right into kindergarten and not have to worry about him being held back. I’d do it particularly if he has a late spring/summer birthday so that he has the most opportunities to function within the age group he will be placed for school down the road.
However, if you want that time home with him, he knows his colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and can identify them in writing by the time he’s 4, can write his name and can identify the names of people he knows, then you should be fine. Also, no preschool will take him if he isn’t potty trained, so that’s going to need to be a priority if you do want to send him at 3–boys take longer to potty train than girls do (on average).
Keep your son’s needs in mind, not your own. YOU want him home with you, but does HE need to be at home? Does he get bored easily? Cranky? Want to play with other kids? When you go out in public, is he fascinated by other children? Does he show a genuine interest in learning? If so, then school is the way to go. If not, keep him home and keep encouraging him. Take a couple of classes or send him once a week to a daycare with a preschool curriculum for the morning only.
I know of someone who sent her kids at age 3 for 3 mornings per week. At age 4, they went for 5 mornings per week. That may be a good transition for you and would give him the skills/interactions he needs and the time at home with you, too!
I also stress about this. I have a 28 mo old. I think that I have decided to send her to a preschool where I live that she would only have to attend a couple days a week. I will probably wait until she is 4 though to start this. I also stay at home with her and enjoy our time together. The thought of sending her to school makes me cry already. We work together already on our colors, shapes,counting, and many other things. Plus I don’t want her to get burned out of school. It seems like we are making our kids grow up way too fast these days. My mother is a teacher and the most successful kids have a strong family life with parents that are involved and care. I don’t think that 2 years of preschool could prepare them anymore than having the involvement from there home life and parents that work with them. Good luck with your decision!!!
I am the mother of two, and I know how you feel when it comes to pre school. My oldest only went to pre school for 1 year when she was 4, and my youngest is on his second year. It really depends on the child and the parent. Since you are a stay at home mom, he should be fine with one year, but there are benifits to a two year program as well. It really depends on if he needs the social skills when he gets to that age. If I was you I would make it an option, you can always back out later.
I think that it would be perfectly fine for him to start preschool at age four. But as another option, my cousin had her daughter do a summer program when she was three, and then preschool at age four. It was at a museum in the area where they live. It was very similar to preschool but just not as often, and it was only for about 5 or 6 weeks of the summer. I don’t know if they have a similar program where you live, but it could be something to look into.
age four.so just teach him at home. you get him ready for kindergarden.get books to help you.get some songs big crayons.get number books animals books teach him to sing his abc and teach him his shapes.thats what they do in preschool.
I think the best thing is not to send him to preschool. when I was growing up my mom did not send me or my siblings to preschool and we turned out ok. I have a 3 yr. old and everyone is telling me to put her in preschool but in reality you only have 5 yrs. before they start kindergarden the best thing is to spend as much time with them as you can before they start school. But if you choose to yes you can enroll a kid into preschool at the age of 4.
I am seriously doubting at this point that preschool is needed at all. My little boy is almost 4 and I just put him in preschool less than 2 months ago. This preschool I put him in had a waiting list and is supposed to be great… educational… blah, blah. Costs too much… So anyway, NONE of the kids in the class he is in can sound out simple words or do simple addition… most can’t even draw a recognizable picture. The “teachers” seemed surprised my son could do any of that. They say “wow” hes a genius… and I am thinking “not so much-he is just a kid”. Some of these kids have been in the preschool for several years! It is obvious to me nobody has been working with these kids at all… They are not teaching them anything! They just play all day and take a 2 hour long nap. I think I will take him out and send him back to the home-daycare he was in and stick to “teaching” him myself as I have been. He misses his babysitter anyway, and the kids there too. It was a smaller group… only 5 kids… and half the price. Can I also add that my son hadn’t been ill (beyond a cold) in over a year but has had to go to the doctor twice since starting the preschool?
i recommend part time,all 3 of mine started at3 and went 2-3 days a week,it worked both ways
Age 3 is way too young. She would do better playing with kids her age, whether in or out, whether at your home or elsewhere. She does not need to be in a structured situation so young.
You are doing the right thing. Tell your mom to let it be.
My daughter went at 3. I am also a stay at home mom and I wanted to get her use to being around children. The program they have here is Mon-Fri 9:45 to 2:00. So it isn’t bad. She is learning so many things! But remember he is your child only you can make that decision. What is best for him….Good Luck….and Congrats!!
I am sending my girl at 4 and so did 2 of my friends, its fine to keep them at home, you just have to make sure they socialize with other kids even though they’re not in school.
I started my daughter just 2 months shy of her 3rd birthday. Only because I felt that she really deserved to have the interaction of children her own age. A learning preschool can only benefit a child in the best possible ways: socially, academically, etc.
We started her at 2 days a week, since it wasn’t a necessity that she be there. She loved it! She would have gone every day if she could have. Then, last summer, we let her go 3 days a week. This helped to acclimate her into going more frequently, since VPK would require 5 days a week. That began this fall. (Florida’s Voluntary Pre-kindergarten program.)
Children who do not go to preschool will do just fine in kindergarten. It may take them a little while to get adjusted, but they will catch up.
You have to do what is right for you and your child. No matter what family or friends say. After all, your son is only young once, and it passes us by so quickly! If you want to enjoy it, then do it! Don’t feel pressured into putting him in because others think it has to be done at a certain time. Do it because you are ready! If the preschool you are considering won’t allow part time, maybe you should consider one that would allow you to do part time. This will still let you to keep him with you some of the time, rather than having to give him up all of the time.
Unless you pay for it most places require your child NEED preschool. Other wise they just go into kindergarden at age 4 or 5. My daughter just turned 5 on sunday and doesnt need prek. She’ll be going into kindergarden next fall when she’s almost 6.
My son was 3 in May and we decided to send him to preschool just because I’m not able to be home with him and therefore since I’m not spending time teaching him the things he’ll learn in preschool, like numbers and letters, then instead of leaving him at the sitter where he’ll just play with other kids that I’d send him to school where he’d start to learn those valuable things to give him that jump start to learning (and it has!!) But if I had the option to stay home with him I would in a heartbeat!!!! So, I guess what I’m saying, if you have the ability to spend that time and he gets adequate socializing with other kids his age (playdates and whatnot) then I wouldn’t think twice. This time/age goes so fast and they turn into little students so quick, they’ll be in school the rest of their lives once they start. Something to chew on, good luck in your decision, and let Nana know that it’s not her decision!
My first started at 3 and loved it. He went 2 mornings/week first year, now he goes 3 days a week. His progress on writing his name, etc has been amazing…and he has a great time there.
It’s up to you.
I think sending a kid to school when they are 3 years old is really uneeded. I feel like people that do send young babies like that to school they are only wanting rid of them.
You do not have to send a kid to school until they are five when they would start kindergarten.
It is not the law to even send a kid to pre-school.
I kept my son home until it was time for him to start kindergarten. I wanted him here with me as long as possible.
Look at it this way if a kid goes to school from kindergarten to highschool that is 13 years then there is college, so why add 2 more years on to that?
I see no point in sending a baby to school.
lETS SEE… 2ND AT 7 1ST AT 6 K AT 5 PRE AT 4
i WENT TO PRESCHOOL AT FOUR AND i’M FINE, ALTHOUGH MY DAD DIDN’T EVEN GO TO KINDER, AND HE WAS FINE
My kids started at 4. Three is still kind of young. You can work with him at home. And join play groups for socialization. I am a stay at home mom, too, and I waited for the same reasons. I wanted to be with them as long as I could. I definitely don’t regret it. Good Luck and enjoy being a mommy!!
Like it was stated before, you do not have to send your child to school at the age of 3 but it could be very beneficial. Children who are the only child learns how to share and interact with other children before kindergarten, that way it is easier for the child to adjust when school starts. However, in your case if you choose to keep your child home make sure he knows how to count ateast to 10, first/last name, basic colors and shapes and ABC’s. Then when the second year begins he should fit right in…hope this helps.
You don’t need to send your kids to pre-school, but it is a great experience for them.
My twins go to pre-school (starting in February 08) and don’t turn 3 till September 08. They are currently enrolled into a Pre-pre-school and I love it, so do they. Either me or my man (Daddy) will go in every 2 weeks to do parent help and I find that all the little kids there are so beautifully behaved.
The teach the basic skills like how to hold a crayon properly and read books together. It is the same as how Kindergarten was when we were young.
You could always go with him to a play group. They are really good, if you are looking for things to do together.
Congratulations on your adoption! I know exactly how you feel as we also adopted our son. However, I will say that the preschool our son attended has benefited him greatly in terms of development and friendships. I am amazed at everything he is learning and the sense of creativity that I know they have helped him to find.
All of that being said, I do not believe children “need” to attend preschool. In today’s society, a lot of children do attend preschool simply because both parents work and they need the “daycare” services. Many of our preschools offer half day programs or even 2-3 times a week rather than the full week. Perhaps you could try that for your child, at least in the beginning to say how well both of you adjust.
Take care and Congrats again!
honestly it depends on the child
if he’s ready and needs preschool at 3 then go for it if he’s either not ready or doesnt need preschool (he’s social,he can sit still ETC.) then wait till 4
my daughter is 3 and will be starting preschool as soon as her speech is evaluated again (she is speech delayed) if not for her speech delay then we would have waited till she was 4 since she is well behaved and very bright
Why don’t you send him at 4 but in the mean time take to toddler classes like Little Gym, gymboree, or kindermusic. Some of them may offer classes where he goes with out you, others you will go in with him (mommy and me classes).
Check out what your local library offers, there might be programs for him there too. This way, he gets sociolization and learns some key skills like listening to an adult other than you, he interacts with other children his age and learns new things. This is what I have done with my first son – he is 4 now and in his first year of preschool . Several of the kids in his class did preschool last year and I think he is on par with them ( he is also the youngest in his class having a summer birthday).
I don’t think kids need 2 years of preschool when they have a caring and attentive parent at home – and it sounds like you are just that!
I have been going back and forth on this for the last couple weeks. My daughter will be 3 in April and it seems like everyone is hurrying to get their kids in next year. But I wonder if she would actually be bored in preschool. Right now she does gymnastics and dance each 1 day/week by herself and loves them. We can’t afford to continue doing those if she does preschool. We also go to playgroups and sometimes the library. She loves being around other kids, but also still needs days at home with just me and her baby brother (7.5m). She can count to 10, knows the basic shapes and colors, holds a crayon properly, knows all her body parts, and can sing various songs. So I’m thinking I’ll keep her home and keep “working” with her by encouraging what she’s interested in – singing songs, reading books, drawing. I hate to pull her from the fun classes she’s in. We might add one more class that’s a little longer since her current ones are only 45 minutes.
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