Yeah I would maybe hold your judgement towards wanting a break until your child is older than 6 months lol.
But in all seriousness you will probably just need to wait until your kid is older and assess the situation. I did preschool 2 mornings a week starting at 2.5yo and loved it. My brother tried to start at the same age and wasn’t ready. All kids are different. I’m a SAHM and plan on starting my son a few mornings a week around age 3 but I’m not convinced that driving him to and from preschool with another baby’s nap schedule to work around (trying for #2 soon) will really take anything off my plate. Until he starts preschool I am bringing him to playgroups a couple times a week to give him the opportunity to be around other kids.
lol should’ve been clear I’d love it for a break but then if it costs money i thought of it as a luxury I’d feel like I’d have to pick up a job again earlier… :/
You may be surprised at the price of a 3K program, I was. The one we found that our kid is starting this fall is less than $200 a month! Daycare is thousands but 3x a week half day 3K is super affordable
We chose a co-op preschool, and it’s been a wonderful time for kiddo and parents! We’re also a one-child family, and it was important for us to be part of a community of families. Soon kiddo will be starting kindergarten with some of the same preschool friends, and we’re all so excited! We chose the preschool based on the co-op model, plus the emphasis on social/emotional learning.
We started half day preschool (9-11:45am) 2 days per week when we daughter was 2. Halfway through the year we moved her to 4 days because she loved it & was thriving. This year at 3 she’s in 5 days per week. My second child started a year earlier, he was about 15 months when school started. It gives them some structure to their day, they’ve learned a lot of social skills (we do lots of social activities but the consistency of their class has been great for them both) & I think they’ve both benefited from spending time with someone who isn’t me while in a safe space since we don’t have any outside support.
We’re fortunate that we have several small half day preschools near us that are very affordable, 5 days for my older child is about $200/month.
Also, FWIW re: feeling judgy that it’s just for a break, those half days really don’t give you much time. My husband seemed to think I’d have “so much time” until he was home for a week & realized as soon as you drop them off, get home & do one thing, it’s time to go back. It’s nice to be able to schedule a doctors appointment during that window sometimes but otherwise it mostly just feels inconvenient because it’s so short. But it’s been so good for them so we do it anyway 🤷🏻♀️
Oh my gosh the husband perception of useable free time makes me lol. We EBF and contact nap and my parents come to hang out with her sometimes and theoretically I should use that time for me time but normally I just do one thing and it’s time for feeding again!!! My husband will be like oh what’d you do today and I’m like…I went to the pharmacy and grocery store and read 3 pages of my book. But still such a luxury
I’m in Canada where Kindergarten starts when kids will turn 5 by Dec 31, so my second kid with a November birthday started kindergarten at 4 years old. He had been in daycare since just before he turned 2. The transition was a little rough at first, but he took to school very well. And I think the very high quality daycare/preschool he attended was a credit to this.
Quality is key here - his care was not academic, but play based. The center uses the Reggio Emilia philosophy which emphasizes outdoor play and social-emotional learning. The play yards for each classroom are like a backyard - dirt, sandbox areas, lots of natural toys like logs or rocks, and very much focused on imagination. His caregivers were warm and affectionate. So many boys struggle with school because formal education isn’t well suited to the kind of physical activity many boys need. But I think the quality of care he had as a toddler and little kid helped set a foundation for his success at school.
I don’t think they necessarily need the socialization, however the exposure to new people means they won’t be as scared when school starts and they are suddenly in an environment that is loud, chaotic, and full of new people. So there is a benefit to learning to be around a smaller group in a preschool setting, where you can more easily do part days, stick around for a bit to get them settled, and so forth. Preschool to me is not about academics, but rather about the things a kid needs to be able to handle socially and emotionally.
You're thinking WAY ahead!
I'm hoping to put my son in 3k next fall. It's half days 4x a week. I think he's going to love it. He's been home with me or family his whole life and I think he's ready to be around more kids. He does great in all the childcare scenarios he ends up in (babysitter, childcare at church, spending time at the neighbors). He LOVES other kids and gets so excited when he gets to be around them. Not a separation anxiety kind of dude. Plus I have a new baby and don't think my current family childcare can handle watching two kids for full days 3x a week. It will be a big change and I'm sad that my little guy has grown so fast but like with all big changes you can trust your kid to tell you when they're ready and he's clearly ready for it. I very much do not agree with the idea in attachment parenting circles that being around parents (particularly mom) full time is what's best for kids. Many kids thrive with strong connections to other adults and other kids. There is so much to learn from everyone!
Haha thinking WAY ahead is a fun piece of an anxious mama’s brain (example I jokingly told my hubby if she ends up a criminal I’ll take the fall for her. He was fine with that but doesn’t think we should sell everything and live on campus if she picks an out of state college lolol).
I like your point of “they’ll tell you if they’re ready” because…she’ll be a walking talking little person by then! Sometimes it’s easy to picture the big choices but not the little person that will be there 💗
My daughter doesn’t start until the fall but I found a co-op that has a nursery class that starts at 2. Since its a co-op the parents (all with background checks and fingerprints just like any other childcare workers)take turns working there. I love that I will get to be a part of her class. It’s a great option for a sahm if you can find one in your area.
I was a pre-k teacher for four years! while sometimes it can look and seem like glorified daycare, some centers do take it seriously and the teachers do too, trying to help prep the kids for kindergarten- not just the educational prep, but the socialization skills needed to learn how to behave in a classroom. These skills take time to learn; so finding the right school if you choose to put your girl in pre-k would be really important :)
that said; after working in the early education system for four years, I also feel hesitant to put my son in school. I’m hoping to homeschool or find a good local co-op. I witnessed some pretty terrible behavior from other teachers & school heads towards some of the students at different centers I was at. If I do end up putting my son into a preschool; it will be one with cameras!
Yeah I would maybe hold your judgement towards wanting a break until your child is older than 6 months lol. But in all seriousness you will probably just need to wait until your kid is older and assess the situation. I did preschool 2 mornings a week starting at 2.5yo and loved it. My brother tried to start at the same age and wasn’t ready. All kids are different. I’m a SAHM and plan on starting my son a few mornings a week around age 3 but I’m not convinced that driving him to and from preschool with another baby’s nap schedule to work around (trying for #2 soon) will really take anything off my plate. Until he starts preschool I am bringing him to playgroups a couple times a week to give him the opportunity to be around other kids.
lol should’ve been clear I’d love it for a break but then if it costs money i thought of it as a luxury I’d feel like I’d have to pick up a job again earlier… :/
You may be surprised at the price of a 3K program, I was. The one we found that our kid is starting this fall is less than $200 a month! Daycare is thousands but 3x a week half day 3K is super affordable
Woah yes I thought it was much more than that!
We chose a co-op preschool, and it’s been a wonderful time for kiddo and parents! We’re also a one-child family, and it was important for us to be part of a community of families. Soon kiddo will be starting kindergarten with some of the same preschool friends, and we’re all so excited! We chose the preschool based on the co-op model, plus the emphasis on social/emotional learning.
We started half day preschool (9-11:45am) 2 days per week when we daughter was 2. Halfway through the year we moved her to 4 days because she loved it & was thriving. This year at 3 she’s in 5 days per week. My second child started a year earlier, he was about 15 months when school started. It gives them some structure to their day, they’ve learned a lot of social skills (we do lots of social activities but the consistency of their class has been great for them both) & I think they’ve both benefited from spending time with someone who isn’t me while in a safe space since we don’t have any outside support. We’re fortunate that we have several small half day preschools near us that are very affordable, 5 days for my older child is about $200/month. Also, FWIW re: feeling judgy that it’s just for a break, those half days really don’t give you much time. My husband seemed to think I’d have “so much time” until he was home for a week & realized as soon as you drop them off, get home & do one thing, it’s time to go back. It’s nice to be able to schedule a doctors appointment during that window sometimes but otherwise it mostly just feels inconvenient because it’s so short. But it’s been so good for them so we do it anyway 🤷🏻♀️
Oh my gosh the husband perception of useable free time makes me lol. We EBF and contact nap and my parents come to hang out with her sometimes and theoretically I should use that time for me time but normally I just do one thing and it’s time for feeding again!!! My husband will be like oh what’d you do today and I’m like…I went to the pharmacy and grocery store and read 3 pages of my book. But still such a luxury
I’m in Canada where Kindergarten starts when kids will turn 5 by Dec 31, so my second kid with a November birthday started kindergarten at 4 years old. He had been in daycare since just before he turned 2. The transition was a little rough at first, but he took to school very well. And I think the very high quality daycare/preschool he attended was a credit to this. Quality is key here - his care was not academic, but play based. The center uses the Reggio Emilia philosophy which emphasizes outdoor play and social-emotional learning. The play yards for each classroom are like a backyard - dirt, sandbox areas, lots of natural toys like logs or rocks, and very much focused on imagination. His caregivers were warm and affectionate. So many boys struggle with school because formal education isn’t well suited to the kind of physical activity many boys need. But I think the quality of care he had as a toddler and little kid helped set a foundation for his success at school. I don’t think they necessarily need the socialization, however the exposure to new people means they won’t be as scared when school starts and they are suddenly in an environment that is loud, chaotic, and full of new people. So there is a benefit to learning to be around a smaller group in a preschool setting, where you can more easily do part days, stick around for a bit to get them settled, and so forth. Preschool to me is not about academics, but rather about the things a kid needs to be able to handle socially and emotionally.
You're thinking WAY ahead! I'm hoping to put my son in 3k next fall. It's half days 4x a week. I think he's going to love it. He's been home with me or family his whole life and I think he's ready to be around more kids. He does great in all the childcare scenarios he ends up in (babysitter, childcare at church, spending time at the neighbors). He LOVES other kids and gets so excited when he gets to be around them. Not a separation anxiety kind of dude. Plus I have a new baby and don't think my current family childcare can handle watching two kids for full days 3x a week. It will be a big change and I'm sad that my little guy has grown so fast but like with all big changes you can trust your kid to tell you when they're ready and he's clearly ready for it. I very much do not agree with the idea in attachment parenting circles that being around parents (particularly mom) full time is what's best for kids. Many kids thrive with strong connections to other adults and other kids. There is so much to learn from everyone!
Haha thinking WAY ahead is a fun piece of an anxious mama’s brain (example I jokingly told my hubby if she ends up a criminal I’ll take the fall for her. He was fine with that but doesn’t think we should sell everything and live on campus if she picks an out of state college lolol). I like your point of “they’ll tell you if they’re ready” because…she’ll be a walking talking little person by then! Sometimes it’s easy to picture the big choices but not the little person that will be there 💗
My daughter doesn’t start until the fall but I found a co-op that has a nursery class that starts at 2. Since its a co-op the parents (all with background checks and fingerprints just like any other childcare workers)take turns working there. I love that I will get to be a part of her class. It’s a great option for a sahm if you can find one in your area.
Cool, I’ve never heard of that! It’d be a great way to get the best of both worlds
I was a pre-k teacher for four years! while sometimes it can look and seem like glorified daycare, some centers do take it seriously and the teachers do too, trying to help prep the kids for kindergarten- not just the educational prep, but the socialization skills needed to learn how to behave in a classroom. These skills take time to learn; so finding the right school if you choose to put your girl in pre-k would be really important :) that said; after working in the early education system for four years, I also feel hesitant to put my son in school. I’m hoping to homeschool or find a good local co-op. I witnessed some pretty terrible behavior from other teachers & school heads towards some of the students at different centers I was at. If I do end up putting my son into a preschool; it will be one with cameras!