https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:35:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2570327 Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:22:10 +0000 daniellemybelle 2570327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can see how you are torn! </p> <p>I'm a SAHM and I also have the mindset that LOs have their whole lives to go to school and they are only little once. Free play with Mom when you are 4 is great stuff. The research just doesn't bear out that full time preschool makes a difference for kids in the long run unless they are disadvantaged.</p> <p>But: I would probably take advantage of an incredible school for FREE. There's no harm in early pick-ups or "staycations" on occasion to balance out! For us it would come down to the fact that it's a great school and FREE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569543 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 10:27:54 +0000 PinkElephant 2569543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix: @hilsy85: Has it right. I've heard some locations are better than others, but ours gets stellar reviews and the spots are highly coveted. We signed up this AM and I think DD1 is really excited! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569363 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 07:12:40 +0000 hilsy85 2569363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix: Yep! I was surprised that they offered UPK but this year for the first time the did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569362 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 07:11:21 +0000 Trailmix 2569362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: A New York Kids Club? I don't think we do. I've researched pretty exhaustively the UPKs within 20 blocks of us (and there are not very many, surprisingly. I guess most parents do private here). The school mine are going to is half a room in a basement, which seems pretty standard. Definitely does not offer yoga and cooking classes, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569352 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 07:00:49 +0000 hilsy85 2569352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Trailmix: I don't know if you have an NYKC near you but the one that was near us offered UPK and I think had similar offerings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569334 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 06:28:24 +0000 Happygal 2569334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on the child! I thought I wanted to homeschool DD just for K, but I already know that's not happening. She normally continues to play 10-15 minutes after I arrive to pick her up from daycare--the girl is social and active and loves getting our of the house to be with her buddies. So for an awesome program like you're describing, I would be signing her up and know she'd be happy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569246 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 19:54:18 +0000 Trailmix 2569246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so curious to know which school this is! My 3-year-olds are doing a 5 day/week school this fall, from 9-2:30 with a 40 min nap period. We go insane if we are at our apartment for more than an hour and one can only do the playground, museums, etc so many times so I think this will be great for my twins. I'd totally take it if I were you and I'm very jealous for while I'm sure the Pre-K program mine will attend the following year at age 4 (they will stay at their same school) is adequate, it has zero of these extras you're talking about! Where do you live in NYC?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569181 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 18:15:51 +0000 katsupgirl 2569181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: @marley: the G&amp;T stuff is crazy! I'm doing private for Kindergarten. I'll try to do the gifted and talented just in case. I was super nervous about the pre-k application and they notify you way after the private schools. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569113 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:52:27 +0000 skipra 2569113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: omg I would have to work if it cost us that much for private PK! I think tuition as my kids' school is around $5K for the year for 5 days. Are you sure all the the 1/2 day options are religious? Our preschool is in a church but is no more religious than hosting a Christmas show and party. Anyway, I still feel like it's a crappy situation that they are basically forcing kids so young to spend so much time in school. I would really miss my kids if they were gone for so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569110 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:43:11 +0000 marley 2569110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: and then there are the G&amp;T and Hunter tests...GAH! :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569101 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:29:12 +0000 PinkElephant 2569101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marley: oh, I'm in full blown denial about K applications - I fully intend to spend at least the next few months pretending that either it's just not happening, or miraculously in the next 6 months someone's going to build a beautiful, fantistic, perfect school blocks away with plenty of space for all the neighborhood kids.<br /> *****earmuffs, blindfold, lalalalalaala***** </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad/page/2#post-2569099 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:26:01 +0000 marley 2569099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I get a panic attack when I think about Kindergarten. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569098 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:24:09 +0000 katsupgirl 2569098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was super frustrated with the lack of half day options in NYC. We will be doing full day. I'm a little concerned about how long the day is but she has plenty of energy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569096 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:23:03 +0000 stratosphere 2569096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katsupgirl: Ah, thanks!!! LO is only 22 months so I'm not there yet and was a bit lost! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569094 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:21:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2569094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Free full time UPK?! Dude I would take that in a heartbeat, hehe :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569093 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:20:32 +0000 KayKay 2569093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My scenario is a bit the same, and a bit different...</p> <p>DD1 went to daycare FT from 3m-2.25y. Then we moved, and from 2.5-3.5y did a 3 day/week, 830-330 Montessori program while I SAH with newborn DD2. While for many kids that would seem like a "lot", for her, it was significantly less stimulation than she was used to! Then we moved again, and I SAH so our family could get settled and have some consistency. From 3.5-current, she has been doing 3 day/week, 9-12 (with occasional lunch bunch or afternoon play til 3). So again, she has gotten older, but her school/social time has decreased. Honestly, she loves school, always asks to go for additional days and wants to know when she can go for all-day like her friend in K.</p> <p>For next year, both DD1 and DD2 will be doing a 5-day/week, 830-330 Montessori program. I am still SAH -- was starting to look at job opportunities when I found out I was pregnant again and due in Dec...so basically not enough time to start a job in the fall before having to skip out on maternity. I know DD1 will love it, and I'm excited that she can have a low-key/child-led "full day" experience the year before full-day, more academic K starts. I felt a little bad about having DD2 do 5-day, "full day" care, but I also know that she will love it and flourish (again, in a child-led, non-academic setting)...and it will be VERY helpful for me with a new baby to have that time with only one kid. We don't have any family nearby, DH works long hours, and, honestly, I never really meant to SAH with my kids and don't feel that strongly about it. I would never push either to start in a particularly academic setting at a young age, but I think there are lots of social/emotional benefits to spending more time around peers &amp; other adults. Especially if the alternative ends up mostly being non-quality time with me while I focus on a newborn and/or extra screen time.</p> <p>As someone else mentioned, there are still lots of random days off, nor do I hesitate to pull them out for vacations or to visit family. And I'm considering getting them both at noon on Weds, just to have a bit of extra time with them. But honestly, we'll see, especially once LO3 shows up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569092 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:20:32 +0000 katsupgirl 2569092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stratosphere: the U Is for universal. They've started calling it Pre-k for all. I'm not sure why the rebranding was necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569083 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:08:24 +0000 stratosphere 2569083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry for the ignorance--what is UPK? I get that PK=pre-K, but what is the U? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569080 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 15:06:36 +0000 PinkElephant 2569080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Thanks! Our situations are very similar, so it's nice to hear other people thinking the same way I am. I feel like it's important for my two year old to get some special mama time (the chance to do a few mommy and me classes and age appropriate playdates) as well before #3 gets here.</p> <p>@winniebee: I do plan to pull her out as we see fit (and not feel as guilty about it as I would if we were paying $$$ for her program because believe me, I know how much each day I pull her out to visit family or something "costs" at our current school! I'm with you on feeling like her current school would just be a repeat - she did the "older" class this year as one of the youngest students, and she'd do it again next year with the same (awesome) teacher...which means the same lessons/units, which I feel like could get a bit stale.</p> <p>@skipra: If this was half-day, my decision would have been made in a heartbeat. Unfortunately NYC did away with pretty much all of the half day UPK options, supposedly because there was a higher "need" for full day programs, Maybe that's true, but unfortunately it leaves families who don't "need" full day, but can't or don't want to spend $20K + on five 3-hour mornings per week, in a tough spot. In a few ethnically/religiously concentrated neighborhoods, they've brought back one or two half day programs, but they're not really applicable to us due to location and strong religious overtones not corresponding with our family beliefs (not that we'd be able to get a place if we wanted one, anyway!)</p> <p>@marley: annnnd we get to do it all over again in December for Kindergarten! Fun times, fun times! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569052 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:37:33 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2569052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm planning on sending DD1 when she is 4y8m. It'll be full day junior kindergarten.<br /> Yes I'm home, but she's so much more stimulated at preschool than she is at home with two babies at home. It'll be so much easier for her needs to be met without sacrificing the needs of my littler ones.<br /> Right now if I do something for her it means my youngest two have disrupted naps and spent a considerable amount of time in a stroller, carrier, or car seat. I can't let a 17 month old run free in a museum designed for older children and she would be bored out of her skull at the baby play centre.<br /> I plan on pulling her our every so often so we can have fun adventures together and her school is OK with some absences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569046 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:31:12 +0000 Kemma 2569046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All things equal, it wouldn't be my preference to have my kids in care / school for so many hours at age four. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569041 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:27:15 +0000 winniebee 2569041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A little different, but I work part time (3 days a week). We are sending our son (who will be 4.4 in Sept) to a 5 day a week jr. k program 830-330 at his Montessori school. If we wanted to keep him part time, we'd have to keep him in pre-school, which would have been the same program as this year and by the end of the year he would be 5, with some 3 year olds still in the class, so we opted for the full time option. I also think 5 days next year will be an easier transition into public K the following year. There are also so many days off (it seems like at least one or more a month) and you can always keep her home the occasional Friday if you decide. Plus, you're expecting a third child...so....take all the help you can get. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569023 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:59:57 +0000 marley 2569023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: I totally agree with this sentiment. I wish there were public half-day programs, or that private half-day programs don't cost at least $16K in my area. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569012 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:49:44 +0000 skipra 2569012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I would not do full day until at least K if I had the option of half day. I mean, I stay home to be with my kids. They are only young once and I want to enjoy that time with them. They will be in school full time for so many years that I don't think there should be the need to push it on them so early.<br /> I only really know of two people in a similar situation. First, my sister - who decided to stay in private half day preschool. It worked out fine. My nephew did great with full-day Kindergarten despite all the other kids that were in the full day pre-K. Second was a mom in our playgroup whose older son was enrolled in our town's full day, 5 days a week Pre-K program. It was too much for him so she ended up pulling him out and putting him in a private part-time program. He has a July birthday and they have since decided to hold him back a year too. He just wasn't ready.<br /> I know it goes against what most people said but I would not do it. We also are not in NYC so there is that too... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2569002 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:38:59 +0000 marley 2569002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I really hope she likes it! I'm in one of the most competitive districts in NYC and this whole process has been just so stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2568991 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:31:10 +0000 PinkElephant 2568991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marley: I've come to this conclusion, too. Worst case scenario, if it's not going well a few months in, we'll pull her out - I'm sure the spot will be filled by another family just moving to the area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2568958 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:07:48 +0000 marley 2568958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are going through the exact same thing. My husband is a SAHD and our DD has never been in any preschool or daycare. My husband is a great dad who fills her day with activities and my DD attends other classes. However, we signed her up for the UPK near by, because we think she would benefit from the structure and will be more ready for kindergarten. But if she hates it in the fall, we'll pull her out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2568843 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:39:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2568843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: That sounds like a really amazing schedule and a lot of great opportunities. Its fun to play with toys but maybe she would develop a new love for art, dance, cooking etc by being exposed to new things! I'm not for pushing a ton of academics at a very young age, but I think over 6 hours, you figure an hour for eating and an hour for nap. Thats really only 4 hours and it sounds like a good chunk of that is play based. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2568840 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:33:26 +0000 PinkElephant 2568840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Good! :) I've been trying to think that way...take certain factors out of the equation. When we initially decided to continue in private (because the first UPK offer she got was crummy), I came to the conclusion I needed to just forget about the money, do what was best for my kid (private, at that point), and feel thankful we had the means to do so. Now it's more just that I'm not sure what's best for her, I suppose!</p> <p>If I go UPK, I may see if the private school will let me use the $&amp; from my deposit for a two day a week 2's program for DD2 (who is newly 2). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/full-day-upk-if-youre-a-sahm-or-dad#post-2568837 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:27:24 +0000 PinkElephant 2568837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: Oh her current program is good, too! Lovely teachers, but the facilities can't compare to the one we've just been offered. Basically it's at a place that offers high end kids dance, gymnastics, and cooking classes separate from the school program. We've been for play dates and DD loves it....I just won't she'll out for classes bc they're literally $50/ 45 min class and up!! </p>