Preschool Hours

My son did preschool starting at 2 years old from 9 AM - 3 PM. He was fine and he loved it. He started Pre-K at 3 years, 11 months old, 5 days a week 9A-3P then started Kindergarten at 4 years 11 months 8AM-2:30 PM 5 days a week. He never had a problem. If you get the kids used to being in school now, they won't have a big adjustment to make when they are in grade school.

Hope this helps!

My 4 year old is at preschool from 730-430 -- 3 days per week ( I work part time)

she tells me that school days are too big. that I shoudl pick her up at lunch time..

my 2 year old is also at the same school in a differnt room and he is fine.. he loves school and would stay all day and all night.. I trhink they have better toys than we do at home..

My son goes to Preschool. He's there all day (8:30-4:30), but the "school" part last only until 12:30. Then it is nap and after school time, no instruction, just fun.

I believe that they should not be in school all day long. I used to teach preschool and some kids were there from 7am to 6pm, M-F. They were just SO over tired and because of that they would not listen, get into trouble. There is no reason at all for kids to be in day care all day long if you are staying home. Maybe just do a few half days a week that way they can socialize and learn to interact with others and make friends. I could never imagine putting my kids in day care all day long 5 days a week. You would never get to see your kid, and by the time you get home, it's dinner time, and bed time. You would pretty much be having someone else raising your kid. Once they go into kindergarten then it's more of a full day thing.

If you don't have to put them in school full-time, then why would you? Especially if you are sending your child to school in kindergarten - they'll have full days of school soon enough.

I don't think a 4 yr old should be in school, full day, 5 days a week. My daughter turned 4 last month. Right now she goes to preschool 3 half days a week (8:15-11:30am). Next fall at our elementary school she could go to 4K 5 full days a week. We decided this is too much for her. Instead she will be going to preschool two full days a week (8:00-3:30). This will help her adjust to having a longer school day and eating lunch there to prepare her for kindergarten. I think this is plenty.

For me, no I do not think a 4yo should be in school all day. They have so many years of school ahead of them. My son will be starting VPK, free for all 4yo's in FL, in the fall. It is 3 hours, five days a week.

Many years ago when I was in kindergarten I only went half a day.

At 4, my son was in pre-school 3 morning per week. I think that was enough.

All day preschool is too much. Since you are flexible, 3 or 4 hours is ideal. They have years and years of school to come, so ease him into it.

I did some research on this years ago and learned that it is better to have your child go to preschool daily for a few hours rather than all day a few days a week. Getting up daily and getting ready for school helps prepare them for kindergarten where they have to get up daily and be to school by a certain time. Public school tardiness is much more of a "no-no" than at preschool. Going daily is a good way to prepare for this step. It is also my experience that preschool much past lunch time is more like daycare. They nap, snack, and play. It's much less structured. Plus, it's my opinion that if you don't need the childcare, then enjoy your kids as much as you can as they grow up way to fast. My kids are now in kinder and third grade. I crave the days they have minimum days or now school so I can "play" with them. Plus, they LOVE the time they have with me! It's very healthy!

Our 4 year old goes to school every day from 9:00-12:00. She is ready to come home at 12:00. Once a week she stays for lunch until 12:30.

If you had asked me this prior to my first starting preschool, I would have said - all day, no way!! LOL! I put her on the wait list for a school that everyone was talking about and I fell in love with on my first visit! A few months later I got a call that she was in. I don't know why but I assumed they had half days and full days but they didn't, just full days. However you can pick up your child whenever you want. Long story short, I picked her up at noon for about 2 weeks, then left her the full day like everyone else. She went to preschool there for 2 years, kindergarten for 1 year, all 3 years 8:30ish until 3:30ish (sometimes she stayed till closing - because she wanted too). She is now in 1st grade and I have no regrets. My son is currently in his second year at this school and I leave him till 5 often, but only because he begs me too! He loves playing outside with his friends at the end of the day, I should add that often, I'll get there around 3 or 3:30 and either give him the choice to stay or go or I'll even hang out there for an hour or so. Going back a bit, when my daughter was in preschool, she went 2 days a week. My son started out 3 days a week and now goes 4. If he had his way he'd go 5 - he LOVES his school so much. So.... all that being said. It depends on the school, the child and you. All day is long. But in a very well structured environment filled with love and learning, it can work. The preschooler's also nap, so there is an hour/hour 1/2 of their day right there. I personally have spent a lot of time volunteering at this school so I know what happens all day and it's nothing short of amazing. Incredible environment for these kids to grow in.

I think all day preschool is considered part day care too, and lots of parents have to do this because they work. They combine the two into one and break out portions for "preschool time."
true preschool is a few hours (2-3) for about 3-4 days a week.

My girls started in September 2 days a week; 8-11:30. They loved it so much, and I enjoyed the free time being able to get my chores & errands done that in January they started going 4 days a week. I have the option to let them have lunch & stay until 1:30 & they enjoy doing that a couple days a week. We attend Shadow Mountain Preschool & from what they were sharing with me & bringing home to show what they did I knew they were getting soo much more at school. The teacher ratio 6-1 was very important as well as the method of teaching such a young age. I recommend you sit in a class or two before making your decision, start themout slow. I think your M-F for a few hours each day is an excellent way to intro your child to the school routine and doesn't overwhelm them with the whole change to a full day of school

Hi there!
We have an almost three year old boy. I started him three mornings a week about two months ago and he LOVES it. I was uneasy about it at first and had trouble deciding on three vs. five mornings. He is in a Montessori program and they recommend five days. I think by age four your child should be ready for five mornings. I think all day is a long time for any child under age 5 unless you really need childcare.

My 4 year old does great in preschool from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. The school has structured learning, snack time twice a day and naps. db

My son is AT his school all day (I work) but the pre-K program is only really 8:30-noon. Before that it's breakfast, and free activities, after lunch is nap (12:30-3:00) and then outdoor time. If I was home during the day and just sending him to get "pre-school" I'd pick him up lunch time.

personally, i think 2 hours is too short for preschool, but i wouldn't my child gone all day. 4 hours would be perfect! because i can get at least one chore done and take a nap before pickup time! and to be honest, that's how grade school should be too! anymore than that is just a waste of their time.

This is totally dependent on your situation! With my kids, I started them at 3 1/2 doing morning preschool 2 days a week. The next year, they went 5 days a week, same hours as kindergarten (8-2) and then off to "the big school". It was a good balance for us.

my son is 3 1/2 and we are getting ready to start him in preschool - granted it's his first experience, so we're starting with half days anyway, but i can't imagine him sitting still all day, even 6 months from now when he turns four. no way. i don't think it would be physically possible to make him sit still that long.

My oldest went to 2 years of preschool. At 3, it was 2 days a week, from 9am-11:30am. At 4, it was 3 days a week, 9am-11:30am.

My Middle son is in his first year and it is the same schedule as above but next year, do to his personality, I think he can handle Pre-K (at 4 yrs.), which is Mon-Thurs. 9-11:30 am.

I think this is plenty!

Personally, I don't think they need to be in school all day if it is not necessary. However, my son is in preschool all day because I work 40 hours per week outside the home. so all day preschool is more of an option for people who have full-time jobs.
If I was not working I would send him probably mon-thurs. for at least a half day. I think my son's program works for him. He is not made to sit at a table all day. They sing songs, play, make crafts color, play dress up, ect.
And with him in school all day I have not seen any negative effects. I don't think that it hurts them in anyway but again if any all day program is not necessary why do it?

Our school district had a half day program and a full day program. They finally dropped the half day program because no one would enroll their kids in it. All the classtime is in the morning, before lunch. Of course they learn things at lunch like washing their hands, eating with their mouths closed, what a portion of food is, etc... Kids that go half day just go home to eat lunch and go to sleep for a nap so why not do it at school then wake up, have a snack and play until pick up time.

Child care centers wouldn't pick up or drop off the kids either because it creates a need for an additional staff to watch the class of the driver or to be the driver themselves. It cuts into the lunch time flow and is just too much trouble.

I don't think it's about quantity, so much as quality and experience. A 2 or 3 day program, or a half day program will be very good for the child - socially and academically.
The preschool my kids went to did academics in the morning and learning play in the afternoon. So I did a 2 or 3 day program to give them the whole experience and besides I worked all day. On those days when I could pick them up early, they were mad because they didn't want to leave early. so, it will depend upon your kid.

my son just turned 4..he goes to preschool tuesdays and thursdays from 12:30 to 6pm and i think that's enough ..i may have him go 3 days a week but not yet..he's becoming less interested in school.

Hi B.-

If you don't need the daycare part of it, I think preschool should be a few hours a day. My kid's went to prschool 9-12 MWF, and then a mommy & me outdoor preschool T,TH from 9-12. It got them in the habit of getting up and having to be someplace, they had a lot of fun and learned lots, and it didn't burn them out. By 12 or 12:30, they were done and needing downtime.

Good luck!!

I think it depends upon; your needs, the preschool and your child. Some kids thrive in a preschool environment and some less so. In our case, our daughter did not do well on her days off school and was acting out. She seemed to crave the routine of the days there and the many other children to play with (she is an only child). It was a Montessori school with daycare through K, and she started just before her 2nd birthday. So within two months, we ended up with "cooool" MTThF, and Grandma/Grandpa on Wednesdays.
In kindergarten now, she loves to go back to the nursery school and visit, play with her friends, and help take care of the tiny ones.

I am sure you will be able to find a timeframe and schedule that works for you. good luck with your decisions.

My now 7 year old.. started going 2 days a week for 2 1/2 hours when she was 3 and at 4 she went 3 days a week for the same amount of time. The school was fantastic and definately prepared her for Kindergarden. She's now in first grade and reading at a 2nd grade level. And by the way Kindergarden here in my state is all day.....

I feel children are resilient and adapt to the circumstances. If I had a choice I wouldn't keep them in preschool all day only because I do not want them coming home exhausted and have no time to play with Mommy. Then again, if I had to work full time that is the way to go. Either ways, it is important to see what works for your child. If you tell the father you are thinking of what is best for the child, I am sure he will understand. Good Luck!!!
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B., I have a home-based preschool where we focus on Kindergarten Readiness. The children are here Tues/Wed/Thurs, 9:00-1:00. Our time together mirrors traditional Kindergarten classes, with activities that allow the children to work as part of a large group, as part of a small group, and then have individual time. There is plenty of time for socialization, academics, and art, each day. Look for a program that meets your son's overall needs, and you both will be happy. Peace to you, B.

Aboslutely not. Just talk to a friend about kindergardners going 5 hours and how that is worthless and not good for them at that age to be having to do work for so long. The attention span is not long. They all catch up or are the same at 8 years so why rush it. Have her home learning to do what you do

Personally, I think only a few hours several days a week is good. They still need their 'home time' without having to get up and get somewhere early and spend time with mom at home. I think it is too exhausting for them to be in a formalized setting that many hours before they are 5 or 6 years old. They need socializing with other youngsters, but they need naps and mom just as much, too. Go to the zoo, on long walks in parks, do your own playgroups and enjoy these precious years.

Pre-school is a few days a week for a few hours and day care is all day every day.

all day is considered daycare and they will breakup the day with some preschool..........preschool is typically 2-3 hours 2-5 days a week..........if you are a SAHM then the child should go to preschool.....if you work then the child should go to daycare

All children are different, but when my children were little we lived in
England. They all started full time school (British Infant School system) the
September 1 after they were four. They loved it. Socially it did them a lot of
good. Were they more advanced later? Probably not. Reading and Math
found their levels, but socially it was all for the best and they all did well in school later
Also the family got on better with the kids having their own life for several hours of the day. Four year olds do have peer groups.

B. v.O.

o.
B. v.O.