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I think it depends on your kiddo, really. If she's in a good place with handling transitions, I'd move her to the larger school now so that the K transition isn't as dramatic. If there are a lot of other things going on and comfort is more important, then keep her where she is. It seems pretty neutral in terms of win/loss between the locations, so I'd go off the transition component more than anything else.

For your DD1 I would move her to the elementary for Prek so she has an extra year to ease into the school. So that she's good and ready when she starts K.

@Bao: If I recall correctly, I think your DD has had a bit of a difficult transition to school. For that reason alone, I'd keep her at the centre next year. Yes, she'll have to transition to the school eventually, but she'll be older then, more used to mummy leaving and coming back, and just all around more mature and better equipped to handle big changes. I'm also assuming towards the end of the four year old program at the centre, they'll do visits to the school to help ease the transition etc. I would definitely stick with the centre!

I'd stay with the center.
If she transitions with her classmates next year that'll help the kindergarten transition. And if your littlest will be eventually going to the center, watching her big sis go everyday will help her transition.

@Bao: If that is the case, then yes, I would consider moving her now.

I would transition her sooner. I feel like Kindergarten is such a huge transition - riding the bus, sitting a desk for long periods, bigger class sizes, etc. I feel like if you can ease the transition by starting off doing preschool in the same place, it may seem less scary to her.

Is she done with naps and/or will the pre-K program offer a rest time? I know that when kiddos start kinder, they are really tired because of transitioning to all day school, so if your kid was one who still needed a little rest and a break during the day, perhaps the center would be better for another year? On the flip side, if she's done with naps, perhaps easing her into all-day school now AND going through the tough transition a little earlier would mean kinder will be an easier move.

if its just one preschool to another, i'd probably just keep her in her current one. i think a year will be super helpful in maturing and hopefully the transition will be easier once they understand more. i have the same decision to make next year, altho its for public T-K vs preschool, but i will probably switch her bc we'd be saving $12k+, which is huge. i'm just hoping in this next year dd will mature a bit more and hopefully the transition won't be painful.

@Bao: I hope she likes it!