Starting Public Pre-K in September

[MisaGoat]

My son is currently in a private preschool and will be switching to public pre-k in the fall.

The pre-k is either 2.5 hours in the morning or in the afternoon with optional after care available for the afternoon program. We don't get to pick which one he will be enrolled in.

He has been in full day preschool for one year.

I am wondering how he will adjust. I like that the pre-k is at the same school he will go to kindergarten at and that there is no tuition. Even if he does the after school care it is significantly less expensive.

Part of the reason we decided to switch to the public pre-k is so he will be with the children he will be going to kindergarten and elementary school with. Part of the reason is financial and part is that it will be less disruptive to his schedule. I am pregnant and due in November so I will be home for a couple months and we can't afford to pay tuition while I am out of work so we would need to pull him out of the preschool program while I am home and then restart him when I go back to work. That would really disrupt his routine in addition to having a new baby in the house. If he starts pre-k in September his routine changes then and he will be able to continue his pre-k routine when the baby arrives.

Thoughts?

[meemee]

i would definitely try out the preK program. with a new baby you want as much time as you can get just to have the peace to manage one rather than two kids. so you should factor in your convenience too.

you say the afterschool care is significantly cheaper. that should be just fine then. try out the preK.

does routine matter to him. does he like to be warned. see for my dd as long as mommy and daddy are there everything doesnt seem that much important.

and he will be in afterschool care right so you are not having to rush out 2 hours after you dropped him off.