Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

DS went at 2 (he has an August birthday and started that September). He went 2 hours 2x week. He loved it and I can't tell you how much he learned in that short period of time.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I'm sending my DD in September. She was 2 in December. She misses the cutoff for K by 2 DAYS!!! So she'll be in pre-k for 3 years (unless I can finagle her in).

She wants to go and she NEEDS to go. lol

She will start at 1 program for the first 2 years (2 days a week/ 2.5 hrs this year, then 3 days/2.5 hrs the following year) Then I will probably find a 5 day program the following year.

I am a bring-my-kids-to-work mom. She'd rather be in pre-k than stuck in my office

(ETA: She started dance this past September before she turned 2 and LOVES it)

Message edited 6/24/2014 4:04:04 PM.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

It's fine. I see nothing wrong at all

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

We sent our son at 2.3 and so very glad we did, he has learned and grown so much in the few months he has been there. He goes 3 days a week and is sad the days he does not go, he loves his teachers, the other kids, learning. He was shy and to himself, very scared of things and babyish, he has totally come into himself.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

Message edited 6/24/2014 6:03:47 PM.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I work part time and at nights. I put my son in at 2yrs and 3 months. He went 4 days for 8 hrs. I loved it, he loved it and we never looked back. My only issue I had was I shouldve made sure he was in a more structured Pe-K 4.

To be honest at 2, I dont even consider it really Pre-K, I feel they coined that term to make the parents feel better (preK2, PreK2). I think a few hours for 2 days can only benefit and wont hurt if its something you want to do. Just because you dont work Full time doesnt mean you cant put your kids in a program.

Message edited 6/24/2014 6:05:13 PM.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I say go for it. DS is a November baby. and he went to preschool last September- so he was like 2 years, 10 months old.
I just figured it couldn't hurt. it was just 2 AMs a week- so 5 hours a week total. Im a SAHM, hes an only child- I think we both needed the break from each other!! HAHA plus, its not "school" like being forced to memorize facts or read pages and pages of information.... it was basically free play, with some art projects and other stuff mixed in LOL it was also nice because they did a few field trips where parents went along- so I got to know a lot of the other moms pretty well.
As I said, in our case, he pretty much needed it for the socialization. hes our only child, he has no cousins either... our friends have kids, but most of them work FT, so its hard for me to get together during the weekdays for playdates...
he will go 3 mornings a week starting in September- and then he'll have another year of "transitional kindergarten" at the same school, and I think that class is when they start "pushing" the academic stuff a little bit more.
honestly- I feel like it can't hurt them if you find the right age-appropriate program.

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

DS is turning 2 in Nov and starting school this Sept. Its 2 days a week, 2 1/2 hours each day. He's very active and loves other kids so I thought it would be fun for him.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

We will be doing this next year when DD will be 2. It's for socialization. I want her around other kids, playing and having fun. It will also give my mom a bit of a break from watching her and maybe (hopefully!) me too since I'd love for us to have a second around that time.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I don't think it can do any harm, as long as your DC has fun! AND as long as it is not too academic!!! As a pediatric occupational therapist, I am a HUGE "opponent" of preschools at any age that push things too early, especially handwriting, etc. Singing, playing, fun projects.... great! Too academic...Boo! HTH!

Message edited 6/24/2014 8:53:21 PM.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

It was the best thing I ever could have done for my kids. It's 3 days a week for 2.5 hours each day. I see no down side to it.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

My thought is that two hours twice a week can only do good things.

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

my dd is starting in sept right before she turns 2.
she will be going 3 days a week for 2.5 hours a day
i work ft and grandma's share watching her-- but i will be having another and there are two other grandchildren involved. i need to give them a little bit of a break, and that factored in my decision.
i also feel like she will learn a lot that she is not learning with them and that i can't teach her because i have to work.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

My son turned 2 in December and I started sending him in January. I went the month of January with him 2x a week's for 2 hours a day. In February he started going alone and loved it. I'm sending him this summer for 2days for 2 1/2 hours. It's only 4 weeks but already he misses school. I think it's great for him. I have a DD who is 1 and a nee baby coming end of July. I think he needs to get out and socialize. He is a December baby and will be in school longer then most but i think it will be fine.

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

DD started daycare at 21mo due to my working PT. Her school (as I'm sure many are) is VERY into education and has their own curriculum that starts even in the infant room. Of course there is lots of play time too.

From day one she LOVED it. She goes 2 full days a week and sometimes asks to go to "school" even when she's not supposed to be there. She loves her friends and has a great time when she's there. For her at least, I really think she benefits tremendously from being in daycare/preschool. Sure we can teach her the same things at home, do playdates but she really seems to get something different out of 'school'. I don't think 2 is too early at all.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

ds was in a 2's program twice a week for 3 hours per day this year and it was fantastic, he learned so much and it gave me a nice little break

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I am not there yet, but I think it depends on the kid. My d ds is 15 months. Already, I see my ds loving other kids, learning, etc., so I can def see putting him into a program a few hours a week next year.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I see nothing wrong with it. My daughter is in daycare and it's an educational setting. I want to keep her in something even though I'm cutting back hours at work and my parents will be watching her when we move. I'm looking at a preschool or mommy and me type of class. However, in North Carolina the cut off is earlier than in New York so dd is starting kindergarten a year later. I'm leaning more towards mommy and me since she misses the cut off for "2's" class this year.

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

PreK isn't really as 'school' heavy as you think. They have tons of fun while also learning. They social part of it is great too. AJ loved helping the younger kids and going to the older kids for help.

She has been in 'daycare' full time 5 days a week up to 10-11hrs a day since 4months old. She was in prek at 18 (early acceptance) and she just finished kindergarten. Our cut off in TX is Sept 1st for school. Prek4 is probably the most 'school' type thing she had as far as what we think of as 'school' learning geographical names, land masses, gradient colors, writing and math skills.

Made no diff as she had to start all over at letters, colors and numbers in kindergarten. She struggled for a few months but quickly learned to play the game of school.

She's still one of the youngest in class (she'll barely be 6yrs old for 3 days before she starts 1st grade). She's also still in 'school' for up to 10hrs a day.

She's known no different. She's has lots of fun, is very much still a kid, plays and interacts. She's never been 'negatively' affected with such 'long hours' or 'so many days' etc. Not just because we had no other 'option or choice' than to send her full time but honestly, its just been better for her. I realize each child is different. Mine has grown in this environment and I think its been hugely positive for her.

Message edited 7/1/2014 11:30:11 AM.

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

For my DD its been great--she absolutely LOVES it.

And though we call it "school", I don't think it can be compared to the 12+ years of schooling in her future. There is no stress, no homework, no tests...its all about exploring the world around them, imaginative play, meeting other children. I haven't seen any negatives for our family.

Re: Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

I started my first at 18 months she went once a week for an hour then as she got older the days and hours increased she was also ready!

Your thoughts on preschool and 2 year olds

It depends on your child.

I am enrolling DS in a 2's program starting September. He will be 2 yrs 9 months old (I debated starting him in the 3's program but he misses the district cut off anyway so not worth it). We are blessed that he has been home full time with lots of playdates and activities but I notice he DOES tend to learn alot from other children and enjoys settings with lots of children. We researched extensively and found a great school which he LOVED as soon as he stepped foot ont he campus.

He will be going 2 times a week for mornings only, home for lunch and nap. This works for him and will still have him home for most of the week which is very important to me. Personally, I probably agree with your husband, there's plenty of time for school and would never send DS just for the sake of sending him. I love the program, he's an only child and the schedule works and we decided to move forward for these reasons.