preschool question for SAHMs

I've been at home with my kids for 2 1/2 years now. I had planned to go back to work this past fall and put them in daycare, but when we found out I was prego with #3, it just wasn't possible. Now I plan to be home at least until the baby is a year, possibly 2, so when do I start thinking about preschool for the older two? I know they would love the social interaction because they love the classes we have taken, library time, play groups, etc., and now with the baby those things are harder for me to do as often as we'd like. SAHMs, when will you think about preschool? Part time? Full time?

 

Mine started preschool the September after they turned 3. They went 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. As 4's Marcus went 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours, then one enrichment day for 2 hours which started in January. Jonathan went to the preschool disabled program from 3 1/2 on, and he went 5 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. Each program was perfect for each child. I think, unless a child has issues/problems, they do not need any more than the tradition Nursery school program (which is what Marcus attended). He thrived and had plenty of time for playdates when he wasn't in school.

 

Long story short, we wanted to wait until they were 3 (which meant 3.5 as they were born in February), but they're driving me nuts so we started in November instead... just 1.5 hour twice a week for now, in September it will be 2.5 hours 3 times a week.

In our case though, we really don't do much out of the house, with therapy several times a week and the lack of playgroups in the area (or it's just huge impersonal playgroups), so they really needed the socialization, and to learn to be away from us at times. I really enjoy having that break, and honestly can't wait until September.

 

We'll be doing 2 days a week (2.25 hrs a day) next school year - after they turn 3, and then 3 days a week (2.5 hrs a day) the next year, after they turn 4.

 

I am thinking of starting them this next fall when they will be 39 months. I am hoping to find a preschool where I can put them in separate classes on separate days. I know this sounds crazy, but I love the idea of them having their own special thing to themselves and also having some alone time with me. I haven't started researching yet so we'll see how it goes. I do a ton of playdates and outings with them so I'm not too worried about social interaction, but I would like to see them spend some quality time with someone besides me.

 

All three of my kids started after they turned 3. The twins are February so they were 3 and 7 months and Liam is January so he was 3 and 8 months. He goes 2 days this year and will do 3 next year. Our preschool basically follows the local school systems with a cutoff date. They have to be 3 by Sept 1 to be enrolled.

 

I started working with the twins this fall on preschool level skills. They pick up so much on their own, but LOVE the "school-work". We only sit down for paperwork 2 or 3 times a week. They would love it for hours per day, but that just not a reality in our house with the other boys schoolwork. I figured that I would start K4 around their birthday. But even then it will only be less than an hour for maybe 4 days per week.

 

My two started preschool the September they turned 3. They went 2 days a week for 2.5 hours in the afternoon. Now this year at 4, they are going 3 days a week for 2.5 hours per day. They love it & it gives me a bit of a breather.

 

Both my boys received speech therapy through EI and they still qualified through the school. They started this week on their 3rd birthday. They go 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. I insisted they be seperated because I have one very dominant one. In just 3 days I have already seen an improvment in my other son because he knows when he goes, his brother won't be on his back. :laughing:

Prior to started preschool, I had them enrolled in a Kid's Day Out program 2 days a week. One day was full time (9-2) and the other day was half (9-11:30).

The one thing I like about their preschool is that the class has 3,4&5 year olds. I feel having the older kids in their classroom will help them a lot with their speech.

 

My two started preschool when they were 3 years old. :good: (well, they were 3 and 3 months ) They were going 2 days a week. I think this was perfect timing for us. They got some socialization and I got some down time. :lol:

 

I worked part time and went back to work full time when they were 2, so they started daycare at 2 and then went to a pre-school type program (also in a play setting) at 3y4mo and they go 3 full days per week (8:30-4:30)...I'm only a SAHM for the past 6 mos or so since I lost my job but I couldn't bear to take them out of the program because they've made so many friends...

 

We don't have any preschools that are full time around here. All of the preschool programs (unless they are at a daycare and call them preschool) are half day programs and are for 2.5 hours. Last year when my kids were 3 they went 2 days a week from 9-11:30am. This year they are in the 4 year old program and we chose to send them 5 days a week M-F (the other option was M,W,F) from 12:30-3:00pm. We felt it was important for them to go everyday and get used to that since they will be in all day Kindergarten starting at the end of August.

 

My two just turned 3 and started a 2 day a week preschool program. They go Tuesday and Thursdays for 2.5 hours. When they turn 4, they will be able to go 3 times a week for 3 hours a day and then I plan in the September of the 4th year (2012) enrolling them in pre-k.
If I get a job (hopefully between now and Sept 2012) then they will have to go to a full day program.

 

Mine turned 2 in October and I started them when the new year started in September (so a month or so before turning 2). They go 2 mornings per week. I guess it's a little early compare to the others that have responded, but I needed to have a few hours a week to get some things done around the house and DH is only home on the weekends. They have LOVED it and I have too!!

 

I sent my girls to a 3yr old, 2 days a week, 2 1/2hrs a day preschool when my son was born. I figured I wasn't going to get out as much and thought they would enjoy being around other kids (my girls have a nov birthday so they turned for a little over 2 mths after they started school). Then I sent them to a 4yr old, three day a week, 2 1/2 hrs the following year. Then they went to all day kindergarten. For my son I just sent him this year to the 4 yr old, 3 days a week, 2 1/2hrs preschool class. He has an Aug birthday and didn't think he was ready to go to the 3 yr old class and I wasn't ready yet either. He is a little behind some of the other kids but he really is enjoying himself. We did part time because of the cost and I didn't think they were ready for full time.

 

I plan on starting mine at 3. Actually, they'll almost be 4, but because their birthday is so late it's the year they'll be in the 3 year old class. I was just going to send them 2 days a week for a couple of hours. Hopefully I can get them in, they are driving me crazy!

 

Thanks for all of the replies. We just moved and are renting while we're figuring out whether or not we'll stay in this area so I can't enroll them anywhere this early, but they'll be 3 this summer. Hopefully we figure out where we'll be soon enough for me to find something. It would be great for them AND for their baby sister to have a little one on one time with me for a change.

NINI H - what type of "school work" are you doing? We work on basic skills a lot and I print out some things from different websites for them to look at and color with letter, etc., but do you have a good source or are you just putting it together yourself? I was a teacher, but at the high school level so I know how to teach, just not sure of what preschool content is exactly!