I'm just starting to look at preschools and I can't decide if we should send DD to do part time or full time. What did you do and how did you decide?
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What is part time and full time at the preschool?
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Do you work? Does she go to daycare now?
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DS goes for a half day (9-1) every day. The kids under 4.5 are required to nap for the rest of the school day after that (until 2:30/3)-- so paying for that time when DS doesn't nap anymore seemed pointless. But going daily is really good for him. He loves the routine, seeing his friends, and doing the activities. He'd go bonkers if he was home more, I think. And, it should be an easy transition to full day when he's 4.5 because he's so used to going every day.
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@regberadaisy: @winniebee: ahh that info would be helpful huh?
Part time: M-F, 8:30 - 12:30pm
Full time: M-F, 8:30 - 3pm
Full time costs around $2000 moreI WOHM and grandparents watch DD while I'm at work. She will be over 3.5 years old when she starts.
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@dolphin: I'm not there yet, but things I would consider- does your LO still nap, and do they nap at school?
I think I'd be inclined to do part time this year and full time next year when she's four- she has two years before starting kindergarten right?
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I would put her in part time.
I had/have my DD in 4 days a week 8:30-12:30 and it works well for us. (She's 4.5 and in pre-K now). -
Dd goes full time. I have Wednesday's off but she still goes for 1) the continuity and 2) to allow me time with the baby and time to do things I need to do.
It seems your extra $2000 probably just goes toward napping, which doesn't seem worth it to me if you can just bring her home to nap.
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I think part time is great since you have free childcare otherwise!
My son has been going 8-3 this year....he's 3.5. When he's 4.5 next fall he'll go every day (he won't be old enough for kindergarten).
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@red_seattle: @Foodnerd81: @chopsuey: @BeachMama: @winniebee: Thanks ladies! It looks like after the part-time kids leave they do lunch, nap, and structured free play. So ya, it does make sense for DD to just do part time then since she still naps. I just wasn't sure because it seems like everyone I know has their kids in full time!
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My 4 year old was in part time (afternoon) and it was great. My parents did before and after care too!
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They do lunch at 12:30 after the part-time kids leave? That seems late!
I'd do part-time in this case. If you have free childcare that you are happy with for the afternoons, it seems silly to pay extra to stay and nap (plus play a little, but still...).
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@dolphin: How do the grandparents feel about it? If my mom was still helping us with childcare, I would have included her in the decision making process. Paying less is always preferable, but do they have to both drop her off and pick her up, or just pick her up? If they have to do both are they okay with that? We are deciding on preschool right now and even though I don't love the idea of paying for LO to nap at school, 4 hours really isn't that long and I'm not sure how much I would love dropping her off just to turn around and go right back.
Another consideration is how well she is napping. My LO takes a 3 hour nap most days (knock on wood!) and if she was still napping that well I would definitely lean toward the 12:30 pick up. If her nap was shorter or if she was getting ready to drop it I might feel differently.
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@daniellemybelle: I was going to ask the same questions
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We do part time. I'm home so we don't need full time, so it was mostly to get him used to kinder.
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@daniellemybelle: My parents watch both my girls now and they said they would be happy to continue when DD1 starts preschool.
DH would do drop off and picks ups and then drive DD1 to my parents house, which is less than 10 minutes away. She is taking two hour naps now but not sure if she would still when she starts preschool next Fall. Thanks everyone for talking this through with me! I think I'm gonna go with part-time for her first year and see how that goes!
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We plan on doing part-time, I want her to still have time to be a "kid" and play without it being in school. This is just personal preference, she goes to an in home daycare. WE will start preschool next year when she turns 4. (she will be in it for 2 years since she's a fall baby and can't start kindergarten until she's almost 6.)
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@LuLu Mom: same here! DD1 is a Winter baby so will be starting preschool next year and Kindergarten close to 6 as well. I'm looking into preschools now because the deadline for most are in January for the Fall 2016 school year!
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17 comments