https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:23:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479505 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 08:45:48 +0000 KayKay 2479505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not in NYC, but we are doing something similar for DD2 next year. She is a Nov baby, so misses the Sept 1/24months cut-off for the 2s class. They do a one-day/week 3-hr program for those kids, so we are signed up. Less for the academics &amp; structure and more for the consistent social interaction with peers and other adults -- she does get other social interactions at the gym daycare and at Sunday school nursery, but it's not necessarily the same adults or kids when she goes. </p> <p>However, having her in that program makes things easier on me, since it means I get one morning/week with no kids :) If I felt like it was somehow making things more difficult/too structured, I wouldn't worry about it and would just enroll her the following year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479472 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 08:27:08 +0000 looch 2479472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: You're totally fine, everything you're thinking about is making perfect sense.</p> <p>I also appreciate the fact that my son had to learn to take direction from other children. For example, in playing games, taking turns, etc...my son had always been the king of the castle and when he began playing with other kids, he had to learn that he didn't always get his way, other kids didn't know the rules, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479450 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 08:15:30 +0000 hilsy85 2479450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are also in NYC and DS has a fall birthday, so also missed the cut off for 2s programs. We ended up doing a half year of a "gentle separation" program that was really more a mommy &amp; me preschool class, because I never left the room. It introduced him to the concept of class, teacher, circle time, snack time at a table, etc, which he hadn't had since I SAH, but I don't really think it was necessary. It wasn't at all academic, and was more arts/play focused. He went right from that into a 3s program, which I wanted, rather than doing a 2s program and being one of the oldest. I think it's really up to you--I don't think that he is any less "prepared" for preschool than the kids that did the 2s programs. The only thing is that I do think separation was harder/took longer because it was his first experience, but it was still only 2-3 tough weeks and now he's totally fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479411 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 07:33:39 +0000 ValentineMommy 2479411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a mommy and me pre-preschool when DS1 was 18m-2+ years old. He loved it and it was a great transition for him to prepare for preschool. </p> <p>I think it depends on your LO and their personality, but I think it's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479398 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 07:11:05 +0000 jape14 2479398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I figured that was the case, just didn't want to make any assumptions :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479308 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:22:09 +0000 SweetiePie 2479308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: That's a good point about the illness. He gets his fair share of colds because of the classes he takes, but he's still relatively sheltered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479302 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:14:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2479302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do it. If its only 2 hour sessions, then I assume its in the morning he'd be home for lunch and nap. As he gets older and learns to talk more, you guys can go out for lunch together after school or go out for ice cream in the afternoons, so you will still have together time. Or you can just be hanging out at home together. </p> <p>The other thing too is he's going to get sick. A lot. You might as well work on strengthening up his immune system now while you are at home and you have the nanny to help so that by the time he's in preschool full-time, he will get sick a lot less often. This is going to be a huge help by the time the next baby comes along. My friends who kept their kiddos at home until full-time preschool have been dying this year because of the nonstop illnesses (and the younger siblings catching all the bugs). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479296 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:00:12 +0000 SweetiePie 2479296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: Walling you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479289 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 22:54:00 +0000 Beehive 2479289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our preschool (in NYC) has this type of program, for 18-24 month olds (when the school year begins). DS was lucky - there was space in the regular 2-3 year old class last year and they let him join that class even though he missed the cutoff by a month. They aren't that flexible anymore. We would have done the pre-preschool program though, and will with our next one if they miss the cutoff. His teachers in his current class (a mix of 2s and 3s - he is 3) often remark that all the students are very well-behaved and get a lot out of the class because they were all in school last year, either in preschool as 2 year olds or in the pre-preschool program. Our school sounds much like yours - very structured. The kids love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479263 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:45:41 +0000 SweetiePie 2479263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: I might be wrong, but I think all preschools in NYC (at least those with two's programs) are private. The one Im referring to is. There's public pre-K but I think that's for 4/5 year olds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479248 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:24:52 +0000 jape14 2479248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know it's very competitive in NYC, but are there any private preschools that offer wiggle room in terms of cutoffs for the twos class? DS misses the twos cutoff by the same amount basically (his bday is 9/3 and the cutoff is 7/31) but we asked and the preschool director said there is flexibility. In our case, we are in a nanny share and the other child (who he'll be attending preschool with) is two months older and makes the cutoff. We explained and they were fine with it. (Also, DS has hit his language explosion early so I'm not worried from a communication/understanding standpoint.) For reference, our program is 3 days a week, 3-4 hours/day, and we're in a medium-sized city in the south that is surprisingly competitive for preschools/daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479244 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:22:16 +0000 skipra 2479244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO misses the public school cutoff by a week. Preschools around here start at 2.9 so he could have gone anyway, but it's almost like he would have to repeat a year. The program he is in now is for kids that are 2 turning 3 and it has been great! LO never had any problem separating or playing with kids but I really thinks he gains a lot from school. And he absolutely loves it. I worked in his class today and his teacher was talking about how much the kids have grown since September and some of the huge differences she's noticed. Most of the kids have birthdays where they just miss the 2.9 cutoff for other preschools so I think it is really great for them. One of my friend's daughter is in the same class and she was extremely shy and she has really blossomed since starting. It's awesome to see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479242 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:17:38 +0000 raintreebee 2479242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: yeah it's very gentle! it took some kids the whole semester to separate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479225 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:02:01 +0000 SweetiePie 2479225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raintreebee: that's great that it's been helpful! Was it a gradual/gentle separation? This one is but they said most classrooms are ready for full separation by 2 weeks.<br /> Fortunately my son is very outgoing and does well with church drop off. I just want him to have more excitement in his day. I'm not crafty or inventive so I feel like our days are boring and unstructured. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479217 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:56:52 +0000 raintreebee 2479217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did one in Brooklyn. My son was 20 months when he began. It's been great but he was badly in need of socialization/separation. He is a really reserved kid, and I think it's given him a lot of confidence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479197 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:48:53 +0000 SweetiePie 2479197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: That's a good point. I'm not pregnant, but hoping we can do another round of IVF in the fall so I would hopefully be pregnant soon after he would be starting the program. So that could actually be really helpful. I might be wanting those 3 solo days with him a little less ;-) </p> <p>Unfortunately I can't cut my sitters hours back. She's technically a nanny (I hate calling her that because I'm around 50% of the time she's here, she's like an extra set of hands and a sitter so I can go take care of things without a toddler, nanny feels so much more...involved? It's my insecurity, I know, haha) and relies on every hour she works to pay the bills. She is with another family 3 days a week so I feel committed to keeping her till he's in school more full time when I really truly don't need her. Long story short, I'd be screwing her over and I wouldn't want to let her go until necessary.<br /> I also would like to keep her JUST in case we do get pregnant and have a baby around when my son would be going to a more full-time preschool so that I have her help with the newborn/getting my older one to school, etc. </p> <p>@looch: We do a class there already (they have an affiliated activity center) and the teachers are amazing. It's very close (7 blocks) and I do like the idea of him having structure a couple of days a week. Like i said, I like our flexibility so while his naps and meals are structured, there are some days we never leave the apartment. I am a homebody! I like that he'll have somewhere to be every day and he won't be limited by my preferences. </p> <p>Also when I took a tour last week I really liked how they answered my questions about things like learning to share, conflict resolution, discipline, etc. My son is actually really sweet and social, but his interactions with other kids are pretty limited. I'd like for him to be spending larger chunks of time with kids his age and thereby learning how to play and interact and all of that fun stuff. :-) I also really appreciated their POV on tantrums, discipline, etc. Again we aren't really there yet, but he would be by the time it starts and I like the idea of him having another place to learn about feelings and discipline. Does that make sense? This is all unchartered territory for me, I hope I don't sound stupid :-)</p> <p>@MrsBeluga: that's so awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience. </p> <p>@Pancakes: I haven't heard of any other pre-preschool options for those who don't make a sept cut off. I'm also in NYC and they are pretty strict about cut offs (from what I've been told, no experience yet). The classes fill up regardless of the cut off date so they aren't looking to fill up classes by making exceptions, if that makes sense. I WISH they did!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479136 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:09:22 +0000 winniebee 2479136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did two days a week for T in a similar program, 830-330 when he was 2.5. He loved it and it was great for both of us. I was staying home at the time, but was very pregnant and then had a newborn/baby. I didn't have the time or energy to provide him with the enrichment activities that his school did, and I still had 5 other days of the week with him. It was expensive but I felt it was worth it and he didn't miss a beat with preschool. I didn't have a sitter but maybe you could cut back on your sitter to one day a week? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479127 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:04:54 +0000 Pancakes 2479127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm. Are there other options? Is it just this school or are all the schools that way? I found a 2s program for C for the fall, 3 mornings a week. They list the cutoff as 2 by Sept 1 but she can start as soon as she has her birthday, 2 weeks later. My reasons for starting her are mostly because I need time to do my grad school work, although I see her interact with older kids and she loves it, so I do think she'll enjoy it. At age 2, I would value free play above the more "academic" features of the program. If you're happy with the way your days are structured, I wouldn't worry about it, although I understand the pressure. Some kids at my older DD's preschool start at age 3, mixed in with those who were in the 2s program, and I really don't think they're at a disadvantage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479124 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 20:03:12 +0000 looch 2479124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I would probably do it, I don't really see a downside. I send my son to a nature based preschool and it's ridiculously expensive for the hours that he's in attendance, but the experience is something I can't replicate, so for me, it's worth it. Not sure about the program you're considering, what is it that makes you excited about it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479107 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:49:00 +0000 SweetiePie 2479107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: yeah, but it's not the REAL two's program. It's the program for kids who miss the two's cut off. So some will be 20 months at youngest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479103 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:46:46 +0000 looch 2479103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Ok, so basically, he'll be in a twos program this year, next year he would be in a 3s and the next kindergarten?</p> <p>eta: I have a kid with a December birthday and the school year cut off is 12 31 but I held him back so he won't begin kinder until next year when he is 5 turning 6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479102 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:45:13 +0000 SweetiePie 2479102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I know it's confusing! A two's program is considered regular preschool here. The pre-pre-school is for kids who aren't two by the cutoff for the two's program. I think it's something like they have to be between 20-24 months at the time of cut off.<br /> So basically if you aren't two by cut off they have this pre-pre-school option. But he JUST misses the cut off so he'll still be 24 months (a few days shy) when he starts.</p> <p>ETA: it's my understanding that the three's cut off is less strict or whatever so he would still go into the three's program with the kids who were able to make it into two's. But I might be wrong about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479096 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:41:26 +0000 looch 2479096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have done it, there is a very good twos program where my son is currently enrolled. I also found a program with parent involvement.</p> <p>What are you planning to do for preschool, start him in a 4s program, skipping 3s? Sorry I am not getting it, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479089 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:38:18 +0000 MrsBeluga 2479089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 24 month old just started a 1/2 day pre-pre-school (basically structured daycare) and she absolutely adores it and asks to go on the weekends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479086 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:35:16 +0000 SweetiePie 2479086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2littlepumpkins: thanks!<br /> My son would sort of be old enough for regular preschool. The cut off is 24 months by July 31st...he's 24 months on Sept 9th! So he just misses it by like 5/6 weeks. That's why I feel like I should do SOMETHING, but it's hard to decide if I should just enjoy that extra year with him (and heck, save the money!) or since he's close to the cut off just send him so he's not missing out on the experiences of other kids his age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479085 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:33:17 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2479085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cousin did this but her kid is technically old enough for preschool. They are having a great experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-thoughts-or-experience-on-pre-pre-school#post-2479083 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 19:32:14 +0000 SweetiePie 2479083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A preschool near us offers pre-pre-school for kids who are just shy of The Cut off for regular preschool (two year old program). </p> <p>While I realize that they are probably taking advantage of a gap in the marketplace for the almost-but-not-quite 2 year olds, I can still see some value to it. But I'm not sure it's worth the tuition and everything for what he'd be doing there. Surprisingly it is very structured (free play, science/math/reading, circle time, snack, etc) but again, it's only 2 hours twice a week and they're barely 2 years old...I like that he'd get experience being away from me since I SAH, but he does go to Sunday school for 1.5-2 hours every week, and he separates from me just fine. </p> <p>I also really love our days that are totally "free" and we can plan them however we want. I would lose that if we had to start schlepping to PPS twice a week (two other days I have a sitter so I can run errands so I already "lose" two solo days a week with him.) We would only have Friday's as just us. I feel like maybe I should wait a year till he's 3 and then just to regular preschool, but by then he'll be in with the others that had the year of preschool already. Will he be behind?</p> <p>I live in a city where preschool is Pretty much expected, not an option. So most do send their kids to preschool at 2 if they hit the cutoff. That's why I worry about him being behind (socially and in experiences, not academically). </p> <p>Anyone do anything like this? Was it worthwhile? (Bonus if you're in NYC!) It's so expensive! I have a hard time justifying it, but I ultimately want to do what's best for him. </p>