Preschool questions-help,please!

The boys just turned four last week and they are going to start preschool in about 2 weeks. This will be their first "school" experience. Up until now I have had them home with me or with family. So since this is all new I have lots of questions that I'm hoping some of you can help answer for me please.

1. At age 4, do most kids go two or three days a week? I have the option and just can't decide. They would be there like 8:30-3:00 each day. If I decide 3 days a week should I start them out with two at first to get them comfortable.

2. They will take a nap for an hour. They provide a mar for the floor but I was wondering if I should get them a sleeping bag or something to lay on.

3. Any suggestions for helping to make the transition to school easier. My one son is especially reserved so this is gonna be a challenge for him. Recently at church, one of the teachers told him that they would come get me if he was scared. Later he told me that he told them that he was scared but they wouldnt come to get me. He is now asking me what word he should I can come back. He thinks he didn't say the right word which just breaks my heart. I want him to feel secure that they will call me if really needed but how do i explain this to him?

4. How much time do you allow yourself to get everyone up...dressed...and fed on school days? Suggestions for easy breakfast?

5. Any other tips or suggestions?


Thanks so much for reading and responding!

 

Hi! We went 3 days at 3 and now at 4. Yours seems like a really long day though! We don't do naps so I can't answer that for you. I think feeling secure will just come in time. I would allow at least an hour to an hour and a half to get ready. They so don't like to rush! You could try laying out clothes the night before and that could help. Good luck! It will be an adjustment but soo good for them! They will be exhausted the first month or so, you may want to keep your other days free for down time.

 

Most traditional pre-K programs are 5 half days. Sounds like your preschool is a bit different. I would have them go 3 days in prep for K. I would choose a schedule and stick with it, whether 2-day or 3.

I would ask the school about naptime. When my kids napped at preschool, each child had to bring in a sheet, blanket, and lovey.

I would talk to them about school and how fun it is going to be etc. in prep for Day 1. Have they visited the school? If not, I would see if they can visit prior to the first day. Do you know the daily schedule? If so, it might help to discuss with the kids so they will know what to expect, including when you will pick them up. I would also talk to them expections such as they listen to the teacher and the teacher will help them if there is a prob, etc.

Takes mine about 1.5 hours. I make big batches of pancakes and waffles on the weekends and just heat in the microwave for easy breakfast.

Best of luck!

I am sure they will have a ball.

 

Thanks everyone! I probably should have explained this better. The two or three days that I send them I will have to work which is why they are there until 3:00 or 3:30. I'm just wondering if two is enough or if they need three. I'm not sure if they will go to kindergarten or not next year. They will meet the age guideline since they will turn five in August but they will be really young. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks everyone! I probably should have explained this better. The two or three days that I send them I will have to work which is why they are there until 3:00 or 3:30. I'm just wondering if two is enough or if they need three. I'm not sure if they will go to kindergarten or not next year. They will meet the age guideline since they will turn five in August but they will be really young. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

Sorry I don't know why that posted twice!

 

Oh, I see now! I would totally do 3 days!

 

My guys go two days a week and have had no problem adjusting. I would love to do 3, but it would have been tight financially.

 

My girls are starting pre-k in 3 weeks and it will be their first school experience as well. They are doing 5 mornings a week from 8:50 to 11:40. I think we'll do easy breakfasts like cereal and smoothies (yogurt and fruit) and get up for the day by 7 to have plenty of time. We are not morning people so this will be the most difficult part I think. Is the three days in a row? I heard that if that is an option you should do that because its easier to get into a routine. GL!

 

As for prep work I would do as much as possible the night before:
1) Lay out their clothes (even put their shoes in an easy to find spot)
2) Make their lunches!
3) Prepare breakfast. I make and freeze waffles and pancakes so I can just pop them in the toaster. Lately mine have discovered cereal which is fast and easy too!

Right now we have it down to 40 minutes including 4 ponytails!

Based on your experience with them so far and knowing your children, you might want to see if you have the option of starting at 2 days a week and in a few months moving to 3 days a week. There is no reason to push them into anything too quickly especially since you have an entire year to prep them. GL!

 

My girls are starting 3 year old preschool tomorrow :yahoo: and I started them at 2 days a week. There is an option of a 3rd day but I figured I'd do 2 days the first year b/c next year pre-K is 4 days. They are going 9:30 - 1:30. I can't wait!

 

In traditional nursery school programs, the 4s tend to go for 3 days. I would start with the 3 days. Is it a nursery school, or a daycare that offers preschool. If it is the second, keep in mind that most kids are there 5 days a week, and they will be missing some of the curriculum, if they go 3 days, there will be more consistency, and the adjustment will be easier. As for the stuff about what to bring, ask the school. They should tell you everything you need.

 

For us it's 3 days, but only mornings... it's the 3yo program though. Frankly if they had 5 days and I could afford it I would have done it. For what it's worth, in my country all kids go to preschool at 3, and it's 4 1/2 days a week, and they do just fine.

For suggestions, there are a ton in magazines right now.. Definitely tell them goodbye and that you will see them again after school.

For the prep, we just pretty much do like every morning, so about one hour prep but we're always up early anyway (Sadly). I've never had any issue making 9am appointments or anything so I'm really not worried about it. Otherwise I would put the alarm 1.5 hour before school time so we don't have to rush.

 

My 4 year old, singleton, will go 3 days this school year. I really believe she needs it in prep for Kindergarten and she thrives when she is at school! Good Luck

 

A&R will be going full day five days a week (9-4 official school hours, they'll be there from 8:00 until 5:30). Their day is broken out by hands on educational stuff, eating, and free play time both indoors and outdoors.

The sleeping situation? If you want to send in a blanket or a sleeping bag, I'm sure you can.

Food? Cereal, hot and cold. Toast and eggs. Frozen waffles. Nothing too fancy. Make sure you bring a snack and juice when you go pick them up in the afternoon if they don't get a snack right before you pick them up.

The teachers are professionals, they deal with children every day, especially children that are crying during drop off, so trust them.

 

great thread! we are starting a 5 day presch on Monday too! oh my! I am crazy to think we can get there at 8a!!! but we'll make it. I loved the ideas for breakfast. I need to do the waffle thing and I was also thinking of making some of my yummy muffins that have pumpkin or apples in them... they love those - though they are crumbly. I also like the idea of the smoothies.

definitely picking out clothes the night before will be new for me, but a must! and to have the lunch/snack packed ahead.

I'm doing the 5 days b/c I work and will be changing my times to work to all 5 mornings, they will go 8-noon, and I think that they will really thrive on the 5 day a week routine. hopefully it works for all of us!

 

We will be starting 5 day preK in a week and a half. They have been in MDO 2 mornings a week this last year. The things that help us get out the Door on time are pretty much what others have mentioned: pack there lunch the night before, pick out clothes and lay them out along with shoes, socks, hairbows, etc.. And keep breakfast simple. (Granola & Yogurt, Instant Oatmeal, microwaveable pancakes & sausage biscuits, etc...)

 

I'd got for 3 days as school is 5 and it won't be as big a transition from there. My girls were in a preschool based daycare and went 5 days a week. I suggest a blanket for nap time. We had cotton sheet like blankets for summer and flannel for winter. It's just an adjustment period getting them used to school, better now than in prek or kinder. I lay out clothes and shoes the night before and mine were fed at school. I only spend 30 minutes getting ready