Should we keep going?

[VisionaryMom]

DS is in preschool. It's half-days Monday-Thursday. So far I think he's been the whole week maybe 2 times. We was very sick for about a week and a half, but today he's home again. Basically this morning he said that he was just too tired to go and cried. Maybe I'm a sap, but I didn't make him go. DH and I have noticed that when he goes to school, he's cranky the rest of the day. I thought that was just an adjustment period needed, but it hasn't gotten better.

I've tried a "rest time" and quiet reading time when he gets home. It hasn't helped, and he's resistant to both (afraid he'll fall asleep accidentally). In the past he hasn't been a good sleeper, but he's actually been going to sleep at 8-ish and sleeping until 6:15.

His teacher said he's "the best behaved in the class." He buzzes with movement constantly at home. My theory is that he's holding it in very well in class, which is why he's so cranky when he gets home.

DH and I have decided to homeschool him once his kindergarten year rolls around. He will not learn anything at preschool as far as letters/sight words/numbers. He knows everything they plan to teach, but we thought he'd enjoy the time with other children. So my question is whether we should continue to send him to preschool or just stop and jump into homeschooling now?

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by BrandiRhoades

DH and I have decided to homeschool him once his kindergarten year rolls around. He will not learn anything at preschool as far as letters/sight words/numbers. He knows everything they plan to teach, but we thought he'd enjoy the time with other children. So my question is whether we should continue to send him to preschool or just stop and jump into homeschooling now?

What are the actual benefits of pre-school now? Is he really enjoying the time with other children? If he is, how much will he miss them if he doesn't attend?

Are there other options available - neighbourhood children, less formal play groups, swim or dance or music or art lessons, afterschool/weekend sports etc. that will fill the void?

If there's no benefit to pre-school for him, it seems like it's the right thing to pull him out. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons and decide.

If he would really miss the other children, and there are no alternatives, can he attend 3 or 4 times per week, rather than daily?

[mammastar2]

I'd probably give it a bit longer. If he's only done a couple of complete weeks, and there was the interruption for illness, he hasn't really had a chance to adjust and fall into a routine yet.

It's totally natural that he would be tired out from it! I wonder if he needs a rest period when he gets home, as you've tried, or if in fact he needs more to get his wiggles out. Try a few different things to see what he needs after school. You've given a rest period a try, you could also try a stop-off at a park, or just letting him do free play on his own when he gets home if he's tucked out from being around other kids and needs some space. To deal with the extra tiredness, if you do outdoor play instead of a rest time, you could always try getting him to bed earlier.

[amcal]

That sounds pretty normal for preschool. It's a lot to adjust to and since he's missed so much, he really hasn't had time to adjust and get into a routine.

My girls were like that as well at the beginning. In fact, they're still like that at the beginning of school and they're in 1st and 2nd grades.

Personally, if my child were crying at the thought of going to preschool, I would assume they're not ready and wouldn't force it. But, just being tired and cranky afterwards wouldn't make me pull them out right away.

It's a new situation, new rules, new activities, new friends, new interactions etc... it can be a bit overwhelming for little ones while they adjust. So, I would just watch and see how he does. It may be that he just needs a little time afterwards to run around and burn off some energy. Can you take him out to the school playground for 15 minutes or so when you pick him up? We did this most days and it made a world of difference for my kids.

[joensally]

If he's still getting over a bug he probably doesn't have the energy required for adjusting to a new environment and routines.

Do you like the preschool? IMO, preschool is about socialization, routine learning (prep for school), and structured learning readiness. It sounds like you're only looking for the first, so what's your sense of the social dynamic facilitated by the teachers? IME, it's all about the teachers. My kids both attended preschool but I chose different environments for each based on their needs and temperaments.

But no, I don't think it's necessary to go to preschool. And why not dip your toe into HSing now? I found it was really an adjustment in my attitude that moved us into HSing.

[Tigerle]

We have had to move our son's bedtime forward because pre-school tires him out so (started early Sept., turned three a week ago). When he comes home he is buzzing with movement, restless and easily upset like you decribe, though I wouldn't call it cranky - I just notice the exhaustion. He even went back to napping a couple times for the first week or two, something we haven't seen for months. We have tried going to the playground and doing quiet things in the afternoon, it does not make much difference. Cutting hours a bit (he was supposed to eat there and stay till 2 until DH could pick him up, but for the time being we've asked my ILs to pick him up for lunch) has helped a bit, and I do notice it slowly getting better, and we may up the hours next opportunity in January. I hear from other parents it is very normal - a friends' kid moved up from the creche class where he stayed until 4 to the mixed age 3-6 montessori class in May and they still pick him up at lunchtime because he is so tired by then.

Not wanting to go could be not wanting to leave the house. DS (who's also been home sick for a week) tried to negotiate not going all morning, insisted on having another and yet another chapter read of his current favourite book, even started saying he had a tummyache (I hope my hunch is correct on this one, otherwise I will have a world's worst mom moment if they call me to pick him up because he threw up over the legos) but as soon as we are there it's usually all forgotten, he shows me his favourite things in the hall and off he runs into the classroom without looking back. He behaved much differently when he really did not want to go to creche (full blown meltdowns, clinging to me wailing etc. - it was so bad we almost quit then).

If he has been sick so often, I'd say he is not acclimatized at all and needs a lot more time to get comfortable (that was the issue at creche - he was sick so often and always had to start over. Summer was much better.)

Unless you feel he is really getting nothing out of it I'd give it some time - and put him to bed sooner, which might boost his immune system too!

[elizawill]

if you plan to homeschool & preschool is only for social interaction - then i'd pull him out. he is missing days a lot, complaining about going, and seems happy at home, ykwim? why not find other things to do with your child, that you can attend together? when my dd was 4, we attended preschool playgroup, library classes and storytime, etc...but she was equally excited about the park or other play places where she would meet a random child and become best friends for a couple of hours, lol. we also have museum & zoo passes, and those are fun & usually have lots of interactive classes. lastly, join a homeschool group. lots of preschoolers attend in our area....many groups offer preschool specific classes and activities. good luck!