advice needed re: UPK

we live in queens and i am looking for care for my two DDs for september. they will be 4 and 2 at the time. there is one place that seems ideal. it is close to my work (very close) plus i have a friend whose daughter went there and she was happy with the center. the thing is, i only need care three days a week. NYC UPK is 5 days a week, and this place only offers 5 full days. thats the only thing they offer for 4 year olds. my DDs have never gone to day care before, so obviously i am nervous about sending them at all, never mind my 4 year old 5 days a week. right now she goes to pre school but its only 2.5 hours 3x a week. so my thinking is, on the two days that my younger DD is not in day care (she will be with my parents), maybe my parents could pick the 4 year old up at lunchtime for the day. would this be weird? apparently there is an attendance requirement in NYC so having her just stay home 2 days a week might alert them to investigate us. ugh. any insight or advice or personal stories on this topic would be much appreciated.

Re: advice needed re: UPK

Why not just call the school and see if its an option to pick up early?

Re: advice needed re: UPK

I live in queens too. I'm not sure if they would let you pick up in the middle of the day. You'd have to check. I know my friend had to pick up her daughter once early for something and the teacher said the whole class went nuts and everyone wanted to leave.

Some upk programs are half day. I know they are all trying to get full day. I have friends with kids in half day spots who would kill for full day. Could you see if there is another program (there are so many) that's close by that's half day?

Re: advice needed re: UPK

I live in Queens as well. DS was never in day care either. At 3 he went to nursery school 2 days a week for 3 hrs each day. This year he is in UPK and goes 5 full days. Mu understanding is that this absences/latenesses with follow them through all of their school years on their permanent record. I would see how your child does in the full day because the following year she will be in school all day 5 days a week for K. It doesn't hurt to try it out. Also they do have a 45 minute nap/rest time...at least DS school does.

I know it's hard to see them growing up. it was for me when he went to nursery but he did great and loves full day pre k. He naps when he gets home after a snack and it doesn't affect his sleeping at night.

Just trying to give you all the information I was questioning when I was in your shoes last year!

If you have any questions feel free to ask me.