https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 03:59:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737612 Thu, 18 May 2017 20:04:19 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2737612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So one thing we had to really consider with my DD's preschool schedule is that the less days she was enrolled the worse it was to miss a day and the harder it was to get accustomed to school. We even struggled with three mornings per week and ended up doing five mornings per week. Just something to consider. Other than that yeah I think having the two longer days might be better because a) it sounds better for you and b) I think afternoon only programs tend to miss the meat of the preschool program which is in the morning..and the kids' best hours which at least in our house tend to be in the morning.</p> <p>FWIW I don't think you're overthinking- good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737571 Thu, 18 May 2017 15:25:31 +0000 birdofafeather 2737571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my daughter has since 2y2m and will through pre-K be going to school 2 full days a week (9-4), with DD2 joining her next month. it's easier for me to get in the swing of things at work (WAH for my own business), cheaper per hour because adding extra hours is less/hr/day, so i actually save $800 next year and get 50 more hours of care when they're both going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737568 Thu, 18 May 2017 15:05:07 +0000 snowjewelz 2737568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 (Dec baby) used to go part time 9-2 and it was a bit rough too b/c she either just woke up or didn't wake up from nap yet so mostly grumpy while leaving. Also, I felt like she barely got to do anything with lunch/nap in there. She never wanted to leave school! </p> <p>After we had DD2, we switched her t full time (8:30-4:30) and she LOVES it. She already loved school before and she loves it even more now. So in the fall when she goes to pre-school, she will keep this schedule with preschool 9-2 and then aftercare till 4:30-5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737567 Thu, 18 May 2017 14:58:42 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2737567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: thank you! You were the push I needed. I emailed the lady in the office! Now I hope there's a spot for him after all that stress. Lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737565 Thu, 18 May 2017 14:56:07 +0000 gingerbebe 2737565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: my 2.5 year old is in full time care 5 days a week even when I'm only working 3 days a week and I feel great about it. Part of this is because DS2 only has the option of full time care so they are there together all day. It gives me time to catch up on housework and all the household stuff and maintain my sanity.</p> <p>I paid very close attention to the toddler day at our school and I felt really good about being there all day. Part of this is because my son is very routine driven and I felt like consistency really helped him more than disjointing his week. But the way the day is set up is really nice. School begins at 830am with 30 minutes of outside play, morning snack, then circle time for 15 minutes, then guided activities like dance, music, and art, outside play again, then lunch at 1130am and then nap from 12 until 2-ish. From nap until pick up its outside play and free play inside, afternoon snack, and the last hour on Fridays once a week is a movie.</p> <p>He gets so much outside play and exercise and gets great interaction with his friends and they do all the messy art projects that I don't want to deal with - it's great. So 2 days a week of that kind of stimulation with a solid nap would be a no brainer for me. At that age they are just ready for that kind of social interaction and the academic stuff is really minimal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737562 Thu, 18 May 2017 14:36:48 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2737562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: nap disturbance is totally a major negative to our current set up, it makes taking him to school that much harder because I have to wake him up and head straight out the door. Not to mention the stress of getting morning activity, lunch, and down to nap done "in time". I think that being in a routine of napping at school would totally be a benefit that would hopefully help our whole week! .During maternity leave, when I switch to school day, pick up is right after nap, so he'll still be napping at school. And I think the mornings will be good for me both before and after the newborn comes to get going st a decent hour. Thanks for helping me work through this. My main negative now is if it's just too much for a 2.5yo to be in care for that long of a day, which I know is kind of ridiculous comparing to most WOHM schedules! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737559 Thu, 18 May 2017 14:25:37 +0000 gingerbebe 2737559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: Mornings are not that bad. My son is turning 3 in September and we are out the door with his 1 year old brother by 730am at the latest almost every day. I pack lunches at night and load the car before grabbing the kids in the AM and even on later mornings like today when DS1 insisted on eating breakfast at home instead of in the car or at school, he finished a yogurt and milk and a bowl of cereal in 15 minutes. He was still at school by 745am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737557 Thu, 18 May 2017 14:20:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2737557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My priority for my kids is sleep, so I probably have a totally different decision matrix, but I would not disturb my kid's nap if I can help it. If I have to wake up my son from naps at school to pick him up at a certain time, I'd much rather he stay there later and sleep. You have said in other posts your kid is having a hard time napping at home and I imagine that will be harder with a baby, so if he has 2 days he gets a good nap in, that would be a major pro for me. So I would keep him on long days all the way through maternity leave and pay more money to preserve that nap. Especially because a newborn is usually napping in the afternoons and I would hate to wake up my baby to go pick up another kid and wake him up too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737252 Wed, 17 May 2017 16:50:23 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2737252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: the longer time frame is so much more useful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737244 Wed, 17 May 2017 16:40:21 +0000 bhbee 2737244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd rather have 2 longer days than 3 short, because you have a lot more flexibility to get things done. Feels more refreshing too. And you'll still have 3 days of lounging right? I think it's a good mix. I'm biased because my 2yo is also doing 2 days 9:30-2:30 next year. My older one has done 3 mornings for pk3-4 (one day to 2:30) and it's good for her but less so for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preschool-question#post-2737229 Wed, 17 May 2017 16:19:30 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2737229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overthinking this as usual. Apologize in advance for another mrsbubbletea wordy post. </p> <p>What would you prefer for a 2.5yo, who will be 3 at the end of the year. </p> <p>Now he goes 3h afternoons, 3 days/week. Covers my work schedule which is 2 of those days (and then his dad picks him up). I have one day that's my time, but sometimes I have trouble making the most of it since 3h flies by once you take away drop off and pick up. </p> <p>Possible schedule for next year (September)<br /> Two months of 830-4ish, two days per week. So I would have all the way until 2 when I leave for work to do whatever. Then when I go on maternity leave end of October, he would go to a 830-230 schedule, still 2 days/week. </p> <p>Cost: same price for 2 full days as 3 half days. Then 100$ cheaper when I go on leave and he goes till 230. </p> <p>Pros: longer day with better schedule (the afternoons are kind of random), better routine and stimulation. Easier to schedule doc appts and get stuff done in the morning. Hard to wake him up for school at 2 from nap. </p> <p>Cons: he's still young, 3 more years of preschool before he even can go to k anyways, I am crazy and feel like it's a little long to be away from him. Hard to get out the door by 830 and make a lunch when we are used to morning lounging. </p>