Preschool teachers please?

Question

My daughter will be 3 soon and I'm enrolling her in preschool. However, she won't be able to start kindergarten til she's 6 because of the way her birthday falls. She will be in preschool for 3 years. So I'm wondering, how does that work? I thought preschool was one year and then they graduate and go to K. Are there 3 year programs? I can't not send her because she's speech delayed and really needs it. Anyone know how this works out?

Answer 1

Your post doesn't say where you are living. Preschool education vary tremendously by area. In some areas it is not uncommon for students to take two years of preschool and another year of Pre-Kindergarten. If PreK is not an option in your area, your daughter can simply repeat a year of preschool with the same teacher. Since her classmates will have changed, her experience will be different in her second year. Finally, unless there is only ONE preschool in your area, you can always send her to a second school.

Answer 2

No need to worry!  I had a similar situation.

Most preschools will have your child attend 2 years.  That's what we are doing.  Next year my son will do Pre-K and then Kindergarten the following year when he's 6.

We started preschool going 2 days a week the first year, then 3 days a week the second year.  For Pre-K there is not usually a choice and it is 5 days a week and we will be attending 1/2 day.  I felt this would be a great preparation for Kindergarten which will also be 5 days a week but for a full day.

If the preschool your interested in doesn't offer Pre-K you could try your public school system.  That is what we are doing.  My son is very excited to be "graduating" from preschool to Pre-K next year as he tells everyone!

Good Luck!  Go with your mother's instinct, it will never fail you!

Answer 3

First let me say that I am a preschool teacher and have done this job for 14 years. Second, your daughter will be fine if she has to repeat a year or so. This is because with each year, she is at a different level in her development. So, what she learns the first time around will be different from what she gets from the same material the second time.

The best thing about her being six going into kindergarten is that she will be a leader due to her age. She will feel confident and not scared. Trust me when I tell you that this will be a big plus for her. I have taught up to the first grade and have seen many children go through this and do great!

Answer 4

Most preschools in our area adjust their admission age to coincide with the state's requirement for Ks.  Therefore if a child must be 5 by 9/1 to start K, then they must be 3 by 9/1 to start 3's preschool.

In any event, most preschools here are designed as a two year program - one for "3s" and one for "4s" and many offer a third "transitional" year for children who can either legitimately start by state guidelines and his/her parents feel they could use another year or who's birthday barely misses the cutoff and is "too old" for another preschool year, but not old enough for K.

In your situation in our area, a parent may choose to do a year of 2 days a week, then a year of 3 days a week, then a year of 5 days a week, then start K.  (And a "day" is usually 2 1/2 to 3 hours long.)

Good Luck