Hellobee Boards Topic: Is 2 days of preschool too few?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Is 2 days of preschool too few? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:42:45 +0000 birdofafeather on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774128 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:01:38 +0000 birdofafeather 2774128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Becky: for what it's worth, that would be on time in CA now. They've moved the cut off from dec 1 to sept 1 over the years. My DD2 is oct 29th and will do TK which is a free option for kids in that cut off zone and then go to Kinder the same as your daughter Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774056 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:53:33 +0000 Becky 2774056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I went back and forth about starting on time so much. It really came down to wanting to give her another year to be a kid. I talked to some moms ho have similarly aged children so I knew whichever choice we made she wouldn't be the only one (so if we sent her, there would be other "young" classmates, and if we held her there would be other "old" classmates). I also spoke to the kindergarten grade rep at our school and in no fewer words she told me to hold her back. The first words out of her mouth were "kindergarten isn't what it was when we were in school." She was incredibly helpful, and described the day to me and talked about various developmental milestones that can make it challenging for younger children. It was so helpful to hear from the mouth of a teacher who had been with the district for many years that kindergarten really had changed, vs. just relying on anecdotal evidence that it is more academic now. I also looked into cutoff dates in states around the country and NY is on the middle to late side--our cutoff is December 1st (there are some districts near us that are December 31st). My nephew in St. Louis has a May 13th birthday and was the youngest in his class by a year (he's in college now so this was almost 15 years ago). The thought of her going to college out of state as a 17 year old with 19 year old male classmates, and never being the legal drinking age in college were also thoughts on our minds. But the simple answer is I really wanted her to get to be a kid for another year what with kindergarten being more academic now. Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774052 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:47:06 +0000 Becky 2774052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Based on what a lot of you said I'm thinking maybe I could look into a few hour option once a week, say Wednesday mornings. There are a ton of stay-at-home moms around here who I think may be interested in starting their own preschool if I asked, but there are also a few churches with options that I think are reasonably priced. Over the summer we have a great summer camp nearby that we could do once a week. Thanks for all the feedback! Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774051 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:23:53 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2774051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ While your parents sound great and the activities are perfectly tailor made for your LOs, pre-school is designed not to do just that and that is one reason why people send their kids to preschool. If that schedule works for you and your family go for it. I'm curious why are you holding your daughter back to start kindergarten? 2littlepumpkins on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774040 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 05:07:54 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2774040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Becky: I think it depends on the kids. My dd had a tough time adjusting to 3 half days and needed the five half days to get into a routine. She was there between 4-5 hours per day. With 2 days if you call out sick even one of them then they've been in school one day that week. On the other hand not all kids even do preschool, and there are other ways of getting them socialized and active which it sounds like may be an option for you. Plus you have the cost to consider. I might do another year at 2 days if your LOs are ok with the routine and then do a year at 3 full days or 5 half or 5 full afterward. SugarplumsMom on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774028 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:54:18 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2774028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If preparing them for public school is the main goal, then I would try to push for at least 3 days a week at school, giving 2 days with the grandparents. Imo, 3 days is ideal (it's what works best for my 5 yo). If all goes well, and your oldest seems ready, I would seriously consider not holding her back a year. Unless she has very good friends that will be in her same group, etc. From what you explained, it would seem to be the easy fix - but really, you would know what's best. yoursilverlining on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774018 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:54:01 +0000 yoursilverlining 2774018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm in the minority, but my honest answer is no. I don't think it's enough if you really want friendship-building, routine-building, non-family socialization, really taking part in the regular, longer (weekly) complex projects and the other stuff preschool brings. It was always *very* easy to tell the littles that went less than 3 days a week in all of my daughter's classes. You sound more like you want reassurance rather than a range of opinions, but FWIW, I don't think it's harmful or anything to go to preschool 2 days a week, but I don't think your LO will get as much out as you would with a more regular schedule. If she's super involved in tons of structured extra curriculars maybe it won't matter as much. Just a different opinion Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2774012 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:11:08 +0000 Becky 2774012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I really hadn't considered that children whose moms SAH probably aren't going to full-time preschool at all so that makes me feel a lot better. There are a really high number of SAH mom's in our district so hat makes me feel better that she may be more on par with them going for more days and her going for longer. Ajsmommy on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773975 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 18:02:55 +0000 Ajsmommy 2773975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ The way you wrote this sounds like you are perfectly fine with the situation and are looking for people to agree that it's a good set up. I.think that as long As you are happy with the situation that it'll be fine. birdofafeather on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773971 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:55:39 +0000 birdofafeather 2773971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i thought about switching my 4.5 year old to 3 days a week (she had been going 2 full days for 2 years) for her last year of pre-K, but honestly, she is very socialized, she is smart and i need the hours of childcare more than anything else. i get 50 more hours of care a year for my two and save about $1000 because the extended hours in the days are cheaper than the beginning part of the day (3 hour preschool time for most kids). i asked her teachers and they said it wasn't an issue for her at all. i think the transition to Kinder will be tough for us all (out the door by 7:30 5 days a week! yeesh!) so i am not in a rush to add more days now. mrs.kiwi on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773960 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:07:18 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2773960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wouldn't worry. Your parents and in-laws sound amazing and they will have plenty of time to explore, free play, be outside, and learn while they're with them. She's in full time school twice a week. That's plenty in my opinion. Kids will adjust when the time comes. Soo many SAHMs I know put their children in preschool 2 mornings a week before they start k. They all do fine. Of course depending on personality there is an adjustment time but seriously... they're all thriving. bhbee on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773956 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:54:01 +0000 bhbee 2773956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If it works for you, and your kids' personalities, I wouldn't think twice. I know a couple people who did zero preschool and did fine in kinder! Seeing all the kids getting used to kinder this year, I think it is far more about their personality than what the did previously. I was worried about the transition from 3 mornings of pre k to 5 full days - and it's been fine because she's ready. Our preschool also had a 2 day program for 4s and that would have been fine for us too, I just liked the 3 day schedule for us as a family. ETA the grandparents sound awesome! if they only have a couple days a week I bet they'll stay really engaged too daniellemybelle on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773954 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:43:45 +0000 daniellemybelle 2773954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've heard a common rule of thumb with preschool is as many days per week as the child is old. So 2 days at 2 years old, 3 days at 3 years old, 4 days at 4 years old, and 5 days at 5 years old. For us, I'm 99% sure we will stick with 3 days per week for LO's official PreK year before she starts kindergarten. The only other option at her school is 5 days. We'd do 4 days if it were an option though. For my LO, 3 days is really great. I think 2 days per week last year was hard because there is such a long period of time between Thursday and the following Tuesday. I think it depends on the child and also what they are doing the other days of the week. looch on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773912 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:53:07 +0000 looch 2773912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Becky: It's hard to tell. I personally think that your worst case scenario is someone else's best case, so your child is likely to be just fine! Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773910 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:48:06 +0000 Becky 2773910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @skipra: I guess we're already ahead in terms of adjusting to full-time because she's there full-time. She does really well with all the kids at school, and we'd still have our fairly regular play dates (it's sort of a neighborhood preschool and we're friends and neighbors with a number of the parents so see them outside school at least monthly). Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773907 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:45:16 +0000 Becky 2773907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @looch: She'd actually be in daycare/preschool the same number of hours as your son because it's full-time (she's there from about 8am-5:45pm most days), so maybe that would help? She's also with other kids the other days (her sister and/or baby cousin) which has already helped to soften the impact of receiving an incredible amount of attention as the first grandchild/great-grandchild/niece for our local family. Foodnerd81 on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773904 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:41:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2773904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Same as @looch: the biggest benefit for my Lo is learning to be in a school environment, listening to her teachers and getting along with the other kids. Any academic learning she does is a bonus. But that's my specific kid. She's still in pre K so I don't know how K will go but a lot of kids inher school just do 3 days a week before K and see ok. skipra on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773902 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:37:46 +0000 skipra 2773902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it's fine. Most of the preschools around here and 2 or 3 years depending on where the birthday falls. 2 mornings for the first year and 3 mornings the last year. If there are 3 years it's usually split 2 or 3 mornings. It's an adjustment once they start K full time, of course, but kids usually adapt quickly. looch on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773894 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:12:11 +0000 looch 2773894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ The point of preschool for my son (also held back a year) was to be in an environment where he learned to take direction from people other than family members and learned that he was not the only and number one priority. My parents also do a lot of care for my son (now in first grade) and it's okay if he's with them for the whole day in the event of say, a school day off, but it would not be my choice for his full time care. They love him to pieces and my dad especially, tends to overdo it on the attention they give him. Does that make any sense at all? I hope it does...I am not trying to be discouraging, but my son really benefitted from being in preschool 5 days a week (3-4 hours) each day in terms of building up his soft skills. Becky on "Is 2 days of preschool too few?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-2-days-of-preschool-too-few#post-2773887 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:01:08 +0000 Becky 2773887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our childcare situation is changing in January (yet again). Right now our older daughter (4 on 10/31) is at daycare/preschool full time 3 days per week, and with my parents the other 2 days. Our younger daughter is there once per week, and with my parents 2 days and my in-laws 2 days. In January both girls will need to go to daycare/preschool twice per week, Monday and Friday. The other 3 days the grandparents can watch them. It would likely be my parents 2 days, and my in-laws 2 days. My question is, is 2 days of preschool enough? We are holding her back a year (so she will go to K in September 2019, and will turn 6 that Halloween--our cutoff is December 1st), so she would be there another 2 years. Cost is definitely a factor: sending her an extra day would be about $200 more per month, or an extra $5,000 over 2 years. All 4 grandparents involved are well-educated, and retired healthcare professionals to boot (RNs, PTs, and OTs). They are willing to take the girls to their extracurriculars if they fall outside of school days (swimming and gymnastics, which school usually takes them to). They also take them to preschool library events (story and craft hours which are usually weekly in the winter, and special events like reptile shows which are more like quarterly). Something lacking at school that the grandparents are big on is outdoor time: lots of unstructured outdoor play year-round, vegetable and flower gardening, playing in the snow, walking in the woods (both have acreage), catching critters (bugs, frogs, snakes, butterflies in the yard, woods, and creeks), etc. They also involve them in cooking and to a lesser extent cleaning. Also my parents at least taught me to read, not school (we didn't have pre-k). These are all things I wish daycare did, but unfortunately we only have access to more traditional options (although I LOVE my daughter's new pre-K teacher). And one little thing is that they only get like an hour or 1.5 for nap/rest time and my daughter needs much more. Has anyone done just 2 days of preschool (or chosen a more home-based route), and if so did your littles transition to public kindergarten well? Were there challenges or deficits when they went started school full-time? TIA!