when should we start preschool?

[Martha27]

Just looking for some thoughts. My daughter is 3 1/2 (orn Oct 27, 2006) and has currently never been in a school-like setting. She went to daycare center 2 days a week briefly at 6 months-about 12 months and then again last summer 3 days a week to an in home type daycare with her little brother but besides the providers two toddlers they were the only kids there. So besides those couple of brief daycare/babysitter periods she has been home with me and her little bro who is 16 months younger than her. Now I am working full time from April until november (landscaper) and they are both attending an in home daycare from 7-about 4:30 everyday. It is mostly just daycare with little to no school stuff. They do some coloring and do play outside so I am not saying I am not happy with the place I just know I cant count it as preschool at all.
My question is should she be in preschool? I always have thought kids dont need years and years of preschool before kinder and being with mom and little bro would be more benificial to her but now that I am working anyway (at least most of the year, I will probably go back to SAHM during nov-april winter months) would she be better off in a preschool? I of course am worried her little brother wouldnt handle the seperation from her well but I think all in all the independence from each other could also be a good thing.
She is a very bright little girl and LOVES anything that resembles "school work" and begs me all the time to do "projects". She was screened last summer for preschool just b/c I wanted to see where she was at and the lady who tested her said she was advanced in language and overall a bright kid and b/c of this didnt need 3 or even 2 years of preschool. But I just dont know if I am doing the right thing, I see her little friends even younger than her already in preschool and I worry I am holding her back? We cant afford an expensive kind of preschool like mont. although from the sounds of it I think she would fit right in and love it.
Any thoughts? id greatly apprciate any input to the situation as im just really lost and unsure as to what to do? Thanks!

[sapphire_chan]

Private preschools, such as Montessori programs, often have tuition assistance options so that's something you could look into. Of course, I'd only go that route if you had a public Montessori option or were expecting to have a significant increase in income to afford the next level of Montessori.

Barring that, it sounds like you're worried that she should be "learning" while you're at work? Don't. She'll be fine. The only requirements for her care should be that the place is safe and that the kids have the option to do lots of things. Drilling the alphabet or whatever isn't necessary and might be harmful if done excessively.

That said, I would totally look into Montessori activities if I were you. They're fun! http://whatdidwedoallday.blogspot.com/ and http://montessorimom.com/ have enough ideas to keep your dd happily occupied for years.

[LynnS6]

Is she happy where she is? then I'd keep her there. 4 1/2 is a fine age to start preschool like stuff. And even then, you want a play based preschool that works on social skills and learning through play. If she's getting that where she is, she won't need a change.

[ssh]

I agree with the idea of going to a "play based" preschool. My DD started preschool, 2 days a week for 2.5 hours, a couple of months before turning 4 and it's been great. She's learned how to line up, take turns, and interact in a group. She's gone on field trips. Her birthday is in November so she was in a 3s class. She's going again next year 3 days a week.

[peaceful_mama]

Maybe for one school year before she'd go to kindy. So it depends on what your cutoff is for school--could be this fall, could be next. Not that I think it's 100% necessary, but I think it sounds like she would like it, and it would get her used to being in a setting with more kids and more structure. And where I live, it seems like MOST kids have been to at least a daycare center that does circle time for a bit, so kindergarten seems to 'expect' them to already know how to line up, do circle, the basics of "how to be in a classroom".....that's just what I see.

[One_Girl]

If you can't afford pre-school then you might consider a Head Start program. The program is free, but they tend to have very qualified teachers who set individual goals for students a few times a year with parents. They tend to teach self-help skills, they have some structure and formal teaching, and they do some learning through play inside and outside.

[mamadelbosque]

My DS1 will be starting Head Start this fall - he'll be 3.5. I assume he'll do 2 years and then goto school at 5.5. I do believe its 3.5 hours 4 days a week - which, IMO is about perfect - a couple hours a day away from mom and little bro with friends (he'll know at least a couple kids in his class for sure), and give me some time with just ds2.

Head Start is free, as long as you qualify as low-income. We could never afford private preschool at this point, so I'm happy that it is available.

[lyterae]

DD will start preschool this fall, she'll be 4.5 (she is currently in full-time daycare). She will go for 3 half-days a week and then will start Kindergarten the following year. I don't think that she needs 2 or 3 years of preschool, but I did want to get her familiar with a more school-like setting. We had the option to go for full-time preschool but I really wanted to keep her involved with her daycare family and the varied age groups they have there.