talk to me about your dc's preschool....

[Tracy]

I'm curious..we're on the preschool journey...there are so many dang variables to preschool in our town...I'm just curious on some basics...

how many days a week do you send your child?
and how many hours in that day?

what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?

and just for sport what does it cost?

tia

[mattemma04]

I put my dd in a preschool across the street from us mostly for play since she had no friends around the complex we live at.(will be pulling her out this month).We are in Ohio.

how many days a week do you send your child?

The preschool program runs 5 days a week 2.5 hours a day; from 9am to 11:30am.She goes when she wants to.Some weeks one or 2 days,and others everyday.Depends on her mood.


what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?

I think it depends on the teacher.They generally have one lady and she breaks it up with crafts,snacks,circle time,playtime with toys/dress up/kitchen,gym or outdoor time,computer programs,doodle boards for drawing and writing,puzzles.Sometimes one of the kids will bring in a favorite movie to share.Sub teachers do more tv time,crafts,or even just coloring/worksheets.Even video games for the kids coming from the elementary school(spring breakers or snow days)

and just for sport what does it cost?

125 a month (looking forward to using that money for homeschooling stuff and trips).

She liked the playing and craft parts.Not to into the academics and hated having to do worksheets.
"Work,work,work", is what she said,"and only a little playtime today!" God forbid I print out any worksheets for her at home now.

On the negative she had to deal with some mean teachers.Once we knew the problem/bad teachers she would just skip that day.And bullying from a couple of boys.I wanted to pull her out ,but she begged me not too.Thankfully the one stopped.The other boy stopped going(parents knew he had issues).
Sara

[supervee]

how many days a week do you send your child?

2 mornings, 4 hours each

what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?

only playing, playing, playing! that's how kids this age learn.

and just for sport what does it cost?

185/mo. plus volunteer hours plus fundraising plus cleaning plus going on field trips! (it's a cooperative)

it's been a great first school experience for DS and a welcome break for me (to be honest). he loves his teacher sooo much. she is very AP and child-centered. i investigated every place in town before deciding on the right one; wouldn't have done it otherwise! but i am looking forward to a nice camp-free summer to spend long days with him again.

hth.

[Tracy]

this is all very helpful...... thanks you guys..... I am envious of you... you found some schools that are reasonably priced.....and work with your schedule.

any more takers?

[siddie]

1. 5 days and 4 hours per day - mandatory by the school, we take off at least one day every two weeks and are switching schools because of this. I think it is too much to go every day. Some kids stay until 230pm and others until 530pm because parents work.

2. It is a combo of play/work because it's Montessori. They have freeplay, circle time, work time, more outdoor free play then lunch and a story. There is a music teacher who comes once per week and they go to chapel once per week for about 30 min.

3. cost is $360 per month

WE live in a city too and the preschools mostly have long wait lists. I am switching either to a more flex. Montessori that will let us take days off when we want to or a play based parent co-op. The co-op is my first choice, it is 3 days per week, for 4 hours and is only $85 oer month.

[Tracy]

just to give you an idea what I'm up against.... most of the preschools i'm dealing with have two parents working so they have long days for those who need it.

The cost is 850 a month and that is dropping off at 8:30 and picking up at 5 usuallly. five days a week.

if you want to pick up your child at noon.....guess what? it is still 850.

we are not rich. we are basically one income...sometimes me, sometimes dh. And I don't want ds in there from 9-5 but don'tfeel I should pay that high.... i'm still hunting and pecking..there are a few one who charge prorated to how many days you go but they seem to have huge waiting lists...

right now I'm circling around the thought of 'screw it, no preschool until he is 4...(if then)...arghhhhh!!!!!

[supervee]

Wow! I thought our town had a high cost of living/high preschool costs. In those all-day 5-day programs here, you can usually split the days with another family. Maybe that's an option they don't advertise.

Also, church programs are usually very cheap, but you trade off indoctrination if it's not your religion. Some churches or other places have mothers mornings out.

[lauren]

Around here the early intervention preschool program takes a large amount of children who do not need early intervention (about 12 regularly developng children and 2 children with special needs). The teachers are very well trained because of the need to serve special ed. children. My children went 3 days a week for 2.5 hours. It was a perfect program. The cost will make you weep........$30.00 per month (it is heavily subsidized by the school district because of the special ed children it serves).

[supervee]

The cost will make you weep........$30.00 per month

For the record, I'm weeping.

[lauren]

[mattemma04]

//

[Ragana]

Re: talk to me about your dc's preschool....

How many days a week do you send your child?
and how many hours in that day?

*Four days, 2.5 hours each day, plus 2 days of "Lunch Bunch" which is another 2 hours.

Our program starts with 2 days for 2 yr. olds, 3 days for 2/3, 4 days for 3/4 and 5 days for kids who will be attending kindergarten the following fall. I think that is a sensible set-up. We also have full-day programs.

what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?

*NAYCE accredited, so play-based learning

and just for sport what does it cost?

*Around $700 per trimester, plus extra for the lunch program. More in donations if you attend the events and fundraisers, which we do because I am on the Board.

[USAmma]

how many days a week do you send your child?and how many hours in that day?

2 days a week, 2 hours a day. Her class is all 3 year olds. When she's 4 she'll go to 3 days a week, 2.5 hours a day.



what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?
Play is learning centered. They do a letter every week, have a theme of the week, arts and crafts, games, show and tell, and swim lessons. The teacher really packs a lot into 4 hours a week!


and just for sport what does it cost?

It's at the YMCA, and with our family membership (which we all use regularly to go to the gym, pool, and childwatch) it's $100/month. Will be $130 for 4 and up class.

[CAmomto1]

how many days a week do you send your child?

2 days

and how many hours in that day?

2.75

what is the emphasis, learning or playing, or combo?

Play/developmentally appropriate activities

and just for sport what does it cost?

$120/month

[LunaMom]

My daughter is in her last year of preschool before she starts K in the fall at our local public school.

She goes five mornings a week, from 9 to 11:45 a.m.

It's a parent co-op, meaning that there is a director and two teachers in each class, but the third adult is a parent (on a rotating schedule). Parents also "run" much of the school through committee work - publicity, fundraising, even maintenance.

It is costing us about $3,500 this year. For our area, that's cheap, believe it or not. Other private preschools in the area would charge $5,000 or more for the same schedule.

That price doesn't include transportaiton - parents must drive children to and from school. And the daily snack is provided by the parent who participates that day.

I love this school - the philosophy is very child-centered and play-oriented - no "academics" or anything like that. The teachers are well-qualified and they really make the children feel special. And the school is kind of "crunchy," too!

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I work PT, which influenced these decisions. My son would be in preschool regardless, but the schedule had to work with mine for childcare reasons.

So, he goes MWF from 8 - 5:30. It costs us $540 a month for this schedule -- it would be $720 if he were full time.

The program is pretty balanced between play and "pre academics", but definitely working towards the "what kids need before kindergarten list" for this community, which is pretty extensive. So they learns letters, phonics, numbers, basic science (planting seeks, IDing bugs, that sort of thing). There is also enough free play, art, and playground time.

I send him because he needs to be with other kids, because he needs to learn to work in a school environment before K, because I don't have the patience to do the sorts of projects and learning activities they do, and because I would go nuts if I was home with him all the time. We switched from another school to this one because there was more structure and more academic readiness here.