Hi Mommies, I am looking for Mommies that have pulled their preschoolers out of a preschool program to switch to another. We are doing this with my soon to be 4 year old. We just aren't ahppy with the present program and we have found one that we think he'll do much better in. However, we are supposed to give a 2 week notice or else we will be charged a full month tuition.
I don't mind the two week notice, but should I let my DS continue attending after we've given notice? I don't mind the awkwardness, but I don't want less attention to be paid to him. What did you/would you do? Let him go during the two week notice period or keep him home?
I have seen many kids leave my daughters school. They are fine. In fact, many times they have a fair-well party for them. It should be fine to allow him to continue until his last day.
I can only tell you that without a doubt, I've never mistreated, ignored, or neglected a daycare child because a parent was withdrawing or even mistreating me. I've provided care for 24 years and always find it distasteful to suggest that anyone would do such a thing. Even if you were a parent from hell and you were totally in the wrong, it wouldn't be your child's fault. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
I would keep him home, your mind is made up. Give him a break instead of going from one place straight to the next. Have been in a similar situation with my middle daughter and the break really helped. :-)
I don't think the teachers will treat your child differently. If you are concerned, then you can have a talk with the program manager/director to give your notice and explain that you would like it to be kept confidential until the last day.
I would liken it to giving notice at your job. They should be professional and your child will likely enjoy spending time with friends before "the move".
We decided to leave one daycare program, and were offered the chance to attend for the remaining two weeks. I decided not to have my son attend those weeks, and instead did "patchwork" childcare with friends and such. It really depends on your relationship to the school, and how much you think your son will get out of being there only two more weeks... good luck.
When I switched my son, he stayed till it was time to go to the new school. His teachers in the old school were sad to see him go and hugged him till he walked out the door. We had no problems. Lots of my friends moved around with no issue and honestly when I was planning the move I didn't consider that the old school might not pay attention to him. If your school is a professional school there is no reason why they wouldn't pay attention to your son as they always have till he leaves. Don't worry.
Unless you feel like your child is in danger at his current school, I'd have him continue for the next 2 weeks. Kids this age are so schedule-dependent. I'd think that pulling him out, putting him on a different schedule/routine for 2 weeks, and then starting another program, would be too much change in a short time. If he just continues on for the 2 weeks, then he only has one schedule change to make. That will be less traumatic for him, I would think. I am sure his teachers understand that their program is not for every child, and families make such changes all the time for a variety of reasons. Your child isn't the first to switch programs, and he won't be the last. I don't think you really have anything to worry about with him finishing out the 2 weeks.
I have two weeks notice at my son's preschool. He was almost 4 years old at the time. I pulled him out because I thought that there were too many kids and the building was not large enough. His preschool merged with the daycare program that was under the same name. This was one week after my son graduated from the daycare program and moved to the pre school program.
They also had the same policy that you must give 2 weeks notice or pay for an additional week or month depending on what the payment schedule is. I decided to let him continue out the last two weeks. The Director was actually good about it. Meaning they did not try to pressure me to stay or ask why I was leaving. My son had been with them since he was 1 year old. I thought that he would have a hard time adjusting to a new place after being there for so long (even though he was in a different building he continued to have contact with the same people because they would work in diffrent locations). But, my son acted as if he had never been there. He does not talk about the old school and never asked if he was going back. He just looks ahead to his next place.
When I moved my daughter, the director didn't spend much time interacting with me for the final 2 weeks. What aggravated me was that they moved her up to the next class 2 days before her final day, which had I known they were going to do that, I would have had her stay home. She was really excited to be in the big girl class and was upset to leave it. With my son, he just finished his one program on friday and is moving to a second one, and neither he nor I was treated differently. His teachers gave him big hugs and wished him well. It went very well. If the school is professional, I would keep sending him until the end. BTW, neither of my kids understood they were leaving their school. My son still thinks he is going back next week. Good luck!
I would probably try and minimize the drama as much as possible. I would explain in a letter and/or in person, that the plans have changed and that your 4 year old will not be attending preschool there at this time. You don't have to give details unless you choose to.
If you just tell them you need to change him due to travel needs or something not related to them personally they should not change their attitude to him.
I was working at a center and pulled my son out to attend another pre-school. They weren't happy, but it was what was best for my boy. Give the two weeks notice and let him go. If you feel he is being ignored or mistreated, keep him home.
YMMV
LBC
Good morning,
The deciding factor I used was if my daughter was happy at the school. After attending MDO (and loving it- 3 days/wk for a year), on the second visit of a summer MDO program (once a week), she was very unhappy, along with a couple others. I took her back the next week to rule out any random things and it happened all over again. Crying, didn't want to go in, uncharacteristic behaviors, etc. I called the next morning to let them know we wouldn't be returning.
Ultimately, if you are taking your son, he enjoys it, and you believe the new program to be better, let him finish out the two weeks. With the school year starting and everything so busy, probably little awkwardness, if any at all. If you are taking him, he's unhappy about going and has behaviors that are uncharacteristic of him, pull him out and prepare him for the new school.
Have a great day!
