preschool-how many hours

[Kate]

How many days and how long is the typical preschool day? We're trying to place Mitchell for next year and I'm just not really impressed with any of my choices. Here they are

1....4 day a week self contained class (4 students) 2 hours--this was nice this year, but we have to get him ready for a K class and I just don't feel this is the least restrictive.

2....3 day a week "regular" preschool class 2 1/2 hours each day.

3.....community program-these range anywhere from 3-4 days a week, usually a couple hours, but they typically have a very large class. AND-we would be responsible to pay for everything-nurse as well as enrollment.


The 3 day a week program is what we'll do but I just don't think it is enough. Really? So they think that he'll be ready for K after going just 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours? Maybe I'm underestimating him but that sure seems like a big jump. I did mention that I wanted a 4th day-even if it isn't w/a class-maybe 1 on 1 speech.

Just wondering what others do for preschool-what are the hours and days.

[drct1245]

Is your K full day or 1/2 day? The preschool we are considering is 2 days, 2 1/2 hrs. There is one that is actually 4 days, 2 hrs.

[Kate]

Moorhead has mostly 1/2 day K and then I think they have 1 full day class.

[JWorthington]

Sam started just 2 mornings a week for 2 hours, he then built up to 5 mornings of 2 hours. They were very good and let him go at his own pace. Most of the children were in the full 5 days after a month, it took sam 3 months to build up to all week.

[llwilliams8]

We have full day K here and I was shocked when I found out all but one preschool here only goes for 2 1/2 hours a day for either 2 or 3 days a week. I wanted my son to get use to going longer days but I guess that will not be happening.

[Kate]

Well, I guess it makes me feel a little better that everyone seems to have similar programs. Though I feel they need more-I think that this is "old time" now they expect so much in Kindergarten-I feel that if they expect that much, they need to change preschool time too. I'm saying for everyone-special needs or not.

Julie-you guys have it right. I like that working up to all week. That is what I want...unfortunately isn't going to happen.

[JacobKaden]

Things are a bit different here in Canada. We have a "junior kindergarden" which is basically the same timeframe as "sr kindergarden" but is not mandatory to attend - it varies, either 5 half days per week or every other day full days - I think you have your choice.

We have Jacob on the wait list for this September - 2 hours one day per week at a special needs pre-school.:eek: That will give us a chance to see whether we will hold him back a year or let him go to jr. kindergarden. It's v. scary - I sure like the "easing into it" approach better. Good luck!:hug:

[faywrayy]

Kate, all my boys went to preschool for 4days/week -- 2.5 hours/day in the year before they started Kind. It was enough and no one had any issues with the transition to 5 days/week.

Kate is starting in Sept with 2 days/wk for 2.5 hours/day. I think she'll love it -- so long as I can get her potty trained before then. :eek:

[babybear]

My oldest son goes to preschool 4 days a week, for 3.5 hours each day. He also rides the bus, so he's gone from 11 AM-4:15 PM. I'd like for him to go all day too, but when you factor in the bus ride, he's almost gone that long.

[kshell]

Faith goes to Kind. next year. We have full day, no choice, full day is the only option. We go to a preschool 3 x week for 4 hrs a day. Most of the others are 3 x week for 2.5 hours. Since she was going to do full day I wanted to look for a program with more time. But around us, there are not alot around. Good luck. Faith loves preschool.

Karen

[angelbaby]

i guess b/c my son goes to the school for the deaf, ours is different, he started at 3 yrs old, 5 days a week 3 hours a day, at 4 he went all day 5 days and week and at 5 same thing, he will be mainstreamed kindergarden this coming fall. but i do know kids here in tx go half days prek<income and language based>, all kindergarden is full day

[Ainsley's Mom]

It comes down to personal preference and your kid. My older kids all did 3 days a week preschool prior to Kindergarten and did fine. And their K is full days. Kids make a lot of changes during that year before K and become ready. But my experience is that Kindergarten is tiring those first few months. It's a big adjustment for everybody because it's so different than preschool.