How many days did your 3 y.o. go to school?

[chistinawc]

DS is 3 and started his Montessori preschool yesterday. We plan to keep him in Montessori through at least 8th grade. The school allows parents to send children 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Most go five days b/c the cost is the same no matter how many days they go. My initial thought was to send him three days. He's there for three hours each morning. But now I'm worried that maybe he'd do better being there four or five days. He was upset today when I told him he wasn't going tomorrow. I feel like I should probably give it a week or two and then reassess what we think. My thought going in was that I don't want him to have to be up and out of the house so early every day when he is going to have to do that his entire life. They start class at 7:50 a.m. But since most of the other kids are going five days, I'm staring to worry he might fall behind.

I should note that in general I tend to worry a lot, so maybe I should just go with my initial gut instinct. But I'm curious what others have done.

Thanks!

[carmel23]

my 3.5 year old is in the children's casa 4 days per week, for 4 hours (about 4 hours).

I think I would do 4 or 5 days, if they are short days. Simply because at this point, routine is really important for little ones. Think about going back to work after a long weekend... it stinks! So if you have 4 day weekends, getting back to work will be hard--every week.

That is my humble opinion, based on my experience with my 3 kiddos in school. I wouldn't worry about him "falling behind," but he might miss out on forming social connections, etc.

I would split the difference and do 4 days. That way he has a free day on friday... hth

[lach]

Our school only offers 5 days a week, but I think I would choose that if there were other options. We did a toddler Montessori program last year, and on the days that she didn't go she would cry. I really think that the continuity and rhythm of going every day is very good for kids this age.

[Drummer's Wife]

I think 5 days is best for most children (or 4 days - preferrably in a row). My 3 yo goes 5 days - but he's full-day as I am a college student. When my oldest was 3, she went 3 hours a day, 5 days a week and it worked out really well.

I don't think your DS will fall behind, since with Montessori it's pretty self-paced, yk? Do you have the option of trying 4 or 5 days and seeing how it works for your family? Then you could switch back to 3 days if you felt like it was too much stress to get there so many days a week, or not enough time to do other things together.

The main reasoning behind 5 days, I think, is the consistency. It also allows more time for that dedicated work cycle, obviously, but I don't necessarily think going 3 days a week is detrimental, if that makes sense.

[SomedayMom]

My 3 year old goes 5 mornings a week. He gets a little mad that his brother is there all day (in K) and he's not

[chistinawc]

Everyone: Thanks so much for the terrific responses and good advice. Sounds like I'm on the right track with thinking that 4 or 5 days would be better for him. The more I think about it, it would be better for all of us. I guess I have some guilt about sending him somewhere else to receive care when I'm home, but the fact is I work from home part-time and if I can do that early in the mornings when he's not home, that's more time I can actually focus on quality time with him when he is here. I think it just makes sense all around. And they seem quite flexible at the school, so if we decide more days is not working, I assume we can go back to three.

Thanks all!

[carmel23]

Originally Posted by chistinawc

Everyone: Thanks so much for the terrific responses and good advice. Sounds like I'm on the right track with thinking that 4 or 5 days would be better for him. The more I think about it, it would be better for all of us. I guess I have some guilt about sending him somewhere else to receive care when I'm home, but the fact is I work from home part-time and if I can do that early in the mornings when he's not home, that's more time I can actually focus on quality time with him when he is here. I think it just makes sense all around. And they seem quite flexible at the school, so if we decide more days is not working, I assume we can go back to three.

Thanks all!

you are sending him to a wonderful environment, so don't sweat it, mama! I work at home, too... and there is no way I can give my child what she gets at school while I am working.

[chistinawc]

Originally Posted by carmel23

you are sending him to a wonderful environment, so don't sweat it, mama! I work at home, too... and there is no way I can give my child what she gets at school while I am working.

Thanks! I completely realized this today and I was stressing over work and trying to keep him busy in front of the tv when he could have been at school having fun and learning something. Really helpful to read this from you.