TTMA: Starting preschool early?

[gangy]

Good morning all hope you don't mind me posting a question. Also XP as I'm not sure if it's for the toddler board or school aged so sorry about that.

Ok so DD turns 3 in November. She had her skills assessment for preschool last week and I should hear back this week if she is accepted or not. It's a private preschool so no cut off dates as long as they decided she is appropriate for the program based on the assessment. She is fully day trained in regards to potty training. I feel that she has been advanced especially in her verbal abilities and that I really want to foster her development with a stellar educational program.

I'm wondering though if starting her early would be appropriate though or wait until next year instead? Wondering if anyone had experience with this? Pros cons?

I was started early so I know how it is being the youngest in the class. I'm not sure how it really affected me though as I do have issues (probably more due to my family history) and I do want the very best for DD.

Any advice, experience, anecdotes would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!


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[cmb]

I'll be following because I'm curious on this as well- our daycare starts all kids on the preschool curriculum once they turn 3. It's supposed to take the place of an actual preschool and prep them for kindergarten

[ugotstarbucked]

Since she sounds like she's mature for her age, It would largely depend on costs for me - she's going to be in the preK program for 3 years before she can start kindergarten, yes? Most districts require kids to be 5 by either September 1 or September 30. Is the program designed to be a 2 or a 3 year program?

[gangy]

May 22, 2017 10:08:25 GMT -6 ugotstarbucked said:

Since she sounds like she's mature for her age, It would largely depend on costs for me - she's going to be in the preK program for 3 years before she can start kindergarten, yes? Most districts require kids to be 5 by either September 1 or September 30. Is the program designed to be a 2 or a 3 year program?

Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure if she would be in the preK for three years or not I think it will mostly depend on if we plan on keeping her in this private preschool as I believe she would just move up with everyone else if she starts this year if that makes sense. We are looking to move to a better school district in the near future and not sure if we do if we will switch her to public school or keep her private (which does not have any cut off dates). Right now cost of the private preschool is not much more than our regular day care however, once they move up in grade (like Kindergarten and up) it does get pricier. This program we are trying to get her in is a three year old program but they said she can enroll depending on the outcome of her assessment/application. I should find out this week if she was accepted or not.

[ceejay]

Is this preschool program every day? Or a couple days a week? Maybe it would be an option to start with her attending a few days a week for this year and then increase it to every day next year?

Our daycare does preschool curriculum starting at age 3. DS1 was born just after the school birthday cut off for our district so he will be in preschool/pre-K for almost 3 years before starting kindergarten.

[billyhorrible]

Lol. I should have checked here first. I just replied on the main board.

[gangy]

May 22, 2017 12:35:35 GMT -6 ceejay said:

Is this preschool program every day? Or a couple days a week? Maybe it would be an option to start with her attending a few days a week for this year and then increase it to every day next year?

Our daycare does preschool curriculum starting at age 3. DS1 was born just after the school birthday cut off for our district so he will be in preschool/pre-K for almost 3 years before starting kindergarten.

This program has before and after care so she will be going M-F from 7:30-4 full time. She is already in day care for the same amount of time so I'm hoping she will be used to it schedule wise. For preschool there is no cut off dates since it's private but I'm not sure about K.


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[ugotstarbucked]

Before you decide I would check into the Kindy start dates just to confirm if the private school has cut offs, and also check if your state does (since that may apply universally whether you move or not).

[klw]

May 22, 2017 18:38:50 GMT -6 ugotstarbucked said:

Before you decide I would check into the Kindy start dates just to confirm if the private school has cut offs, and also check if your state does (since that may apply universally whether you move or not).

Definitely look into cut off dates for all possible schools. Our local district has an August 31st cut off. They will only do early admission testing for children up to October 1 birthday. I am totally on board with kids starting preschool at an early age, but really feel they should be within their own age group. Academically, they could be fine, but it is the social/emotional aspect that many of then struggle with.

[chatterbox]

As long as they are willing to take her, I'd try it. They are just going to be playing all day and if she hates it you can always pull her out and try again later. Also, if she doesn't seem ready for kindergarten when the time comes, then you can always do a third year of preschool.


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[you]

What are they doing there that is different?

I have never heard of a skills assessment for preschool.

I have seen some younger kids in various programs that are socially not ready. They may have been fine on other skills, but you could tell a difference in how they acted. The teachers had to put more attention to the kid (not in a positive way) and other kids would avoid them. I have seen younger kids do well with older kids too. There is a lot that goes into whether they are ready for more advanced activities so I would just caution on pushing too much and suggest taking an honest evaluation in your child.

Also, many people have said that play based activities are the best for that age. I don't know the program that you are looking at, but friends have told me to avoid places that try to mimic an older kid learning environment.

Also, where will live, the age cut off for K applies to private as well. My daughter barely missed the cutoff so she did preK twice. She is more mature and really absorbs the material better than she did last year.

[petrichor]

I think many of the questions I have were already asked.

If she starts early now, will she also be able to start K early? If not, what will she do in the interim year?

What will she get out of preschool this year that she won't get wherever she is now (home or daycare)?

What is the benefit of starting her early?

Do you foresee any drawbacks of starting early?

My son didn't go to preschool. He did one year of pre-k as a "typical peer" in a special needs class in my public school.

Not sure what I'll do with my younger son but it's possible we won't even do the pre-k. We'll have to play it by ear when the time comes.