Did your child have preschool or daycare before kindergarden?

Danielle - posted on 05/10/2012

My daughter is in daycare and preschool now, she has been in daycare for 3 years and this is her first year in preschool. My son has been in daycare since he was 4 weeks old and he is now 2. It was hard to send them at first, but I know they have a blast, and its good for them to be around other kids. Plus it gets my daughter ready for school, and she loves to learn already!

Katherine - posted on 09/04/2011

Yeah my daughter only had a half day. I agree, full time is way too much for a 4-5 year old.

Misty - posted on 09/04/2011

My children did not go to preschool or daycare before entering kindergarten and they both did just fine. I agree with what a couple of other moms suggested in that you start your home routine how it will be when she's in school (up at a certain time, early bedtime etc) & see if you can take her in to the school to meet her teacher and see her classroom before the first day. Also, mark on the calendar when she starts Kindergarten and talk about how proud you are of her and how excited you are for her to finally be going to school like other big kids. Tell her how much she is going to LOVE school and how much she is going to learn every day. Tell her how much you loved Kindergarten share a great story from when you were a kid. Just be really excited when you talk about it, even if you are scared to death. Put on an enthusiastic front and she will take your lead and be excited too! Good luck!

Sapphire - posted on 09/03/2011

My son was in daycare since 6 months old since I am a working mom. His first setting was an in-home care setting from 6 months-18 months. Then from 18 months -4 years old in a traditional day care center. Then he wen tto a full time preschool that was the best p[lacement in the world for him! He left preschool at 5 1/2 reading, doing math, writing, science experiments, exploatory, sign language & Spanish. I loved his preschool so much that his transition to Kindergarten was perfect. No problems at all. But also know that every child is different and will respond to different settings in a variety of ways. My son loves school simply because it's what he knew from 1 1/2 years old. I am sure you ar emore nervous than your daughter and she will be just fine.

Donna - posted on 09/03/2011

My daughter went to nursery school for one year before Kindergarten. She started at 5 and a half for half days. I doubt your daughter will have any problems. They will keep her busy and she will be having so much fun. I don't know if you have all day Kindergarten there but here in ON we do and I don't agree with it. I think it's too tiring for small kids.

Ashley - posted on 09/03/2011

my son was in preschool since he was 2 and a half, mainly because I'm a full-time student. I could understand your concerns tho. None of us ever went to preschool because we always had family to watch us while my mom worked but we moved far away from out hometown and it's just the 3 of us basically. I say take her to the park to let her socialize with other kids. I bought workbooks for my son to help him prepare for kinder so he's not caught off guard with their expectations. Preschool really did help him I feel but just cuz ur daughter didn't have it doesn't mean she'll struggle in kinder.

Jaja - posted on 09/02/2011

feeling nervous is normal.. look for a nearby pre school or daycare so you could check your child anytime..
kindergarten is very important so don't let your child miss it. soon you will be surprise by your childs improvement..

Brenda - posted on 09/02/2011

Everything will be fine. Your child will feel excited about kindergarten if you sell it to her as an excited, terrific thing! Help in the classroom, get to know the other moms, plan a park day after school with the other moms, and take her to ice-cream after the first day of school letting all the parents know they are welcome to meet you there. This became a tradition for us and we have wonderful memories! Such a special time, no need for worries. The schools are really great with these kids and you will love being involved with your child's school experience. My three are all much bigger now and I miss that time.

Pam - posted on 09/02/2011

i'm a sahm and i did preshcool just for socializing my dd. she truely needed it. she didn't know how to share very well. this will be her 2nd year in preschool and she loves it.

Hannah - posted on 09/02/2011

I was worried when my daughter started this year for some of the same reasons. But she is doing great! It took her a couple of weeks to get into the groove and figure out what was expected but she is loving school. She adores her teacher. As long as you spend some time talking about how great it will be and how much she is going to learn and such, I think you should be fine. My daughter is doing fine and she never did preschool or daycare or anything like it.

Jenny - posted on 09/02/2011

I am a stay at home mom and we did not send our kids to preschool. My oldest is now 11 and going into the 6th grade. She adjusted very well to school and has enjoyed it every year. My youngest is special needs so she has been in Early On which is a therapy program for birth to 3 years old. She is has been mainstreamed into regular ed since kindergarden and has adjusted well. She is going into the second grade. I was nervous about sending both kids to kindergarden. My oldest because we didn't do any preschool but she knew her colors and ABC's and like I said she has done great. She has been on the AB honor roll for the past three years. My youngest I worried about kindergarden for many different reasons. Your daughter will do just great. If you feel nervous than she will to. Try not to let her know how you are feeling. We went to the library and found books for my daughter about kindergarden and we would read them to her.

Rhonda - posted on 09/01/2011

I have 3 as well and am a stay at home mom. Our kids have not went to daycare or preschool and our daughter is starting 2nd grade and is always the youngest in her class but has always done just fine. We can no afford preschool but am starting to work on things with my son now - he'll go to kindergarden in 1yr.

Jody - posted on 09/01/2011

im an early childhood teacher and parents are usually more afraid than the child. stay with her for the first few days, as soon as she makes 1 friend she will be happy as :)

Ebony - posted on 09/01/2011

Every child is different. My son didn't adjust well at all. I had to hold him back. My daughter just started kindergarten this year. She is adjusting much better. I sent her to camp over the summer. I think that really helped.

Glenda - posted on 09/01/2011

You always worry, so don't feel bad. I am a SAHM to 4 and 3 are in school now. I started sending my oldest 3 to a Mom's Day Out program once/week when they were about 3-4 years old. It didn't cost much and it wasn't a "full" day for them, but it was educational; it helped them get used to a classroom setting; and it eased the transition of them being gone from mom.

Lynn - posted on 09/01/2011

I've had a home preschool since 1996 (before my now ten year old son was born) so my kids were home with me all day until Kindergarten. I was worried that they wouldn't do well at school all day, with someone besides me, so I enrolled them in classes and sports in the months before Kindergarten. Do you have classes or sports you could enroll your daughter in, through the city, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, National Youth Sports, whatever is around you locally. There are great art classes, dance, gymnastics, swimming, soccer, basketball, cooking, or just about anything. I would just get her into part-time preschool or anything where she can get used to you dropping her off and returning a short time later. Especially if she'll be going to all-day Kindergarten, it will be an adjustment, and getting her used to being with other adults will make the transition easier.

Jane - posted on 08/31/2011

My kids both went to a Montessori preschool and kindergarten.

My daughter stayed in the Montessori system until third grade when she transferred to public school. She was better prepared than almost all the other kids in the school for learning and following routines while not taking them too seriously.

My son was a different story because he had some problems. However, he certainly did better in public school because he had been in pre-school.

May I suggest that before school starts that you and your daughter visit the school and her classroom, and try to meet the teacher. That way your daughter will have a familiar and friendly face her first day. Also, you might introduce a more stable schedule, one similar to one she will follow on school days so the change won't be as great.

Alisha - posted on 08/31/2011

its all day. Im not worried about the getting along and not knowing things. She is smart and a loviable person. Im worried about it being a big change for her.

Katherine - posted on 08/31/2011

Is she going to all day kindergarten? My daughter only went a half day, but now she starts first grade full time.
I'm sure she'll be fine. The first day is the hardest. After that it's a breeze.

Jessica - posted on 08/31/2011

my son is almost 2 and hasnt gone daycare..i think his fine around kids.he's smart and heathy etc. thats all i got to say.
:)

Amy - posted on 08/31/2011

We did part time preschool 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours because our son had never been in the care of anyone other then family and the fact that he wasn't around other kids he needed the socialization. He was supposed to start kindergarten Monday but has been postponed till next Tuesday, we're hoping it goes smoothly because its still a big transition!

Danielle - posted on 08/31/2011

Does your school do an open house where the kids and parents get to meet the teacher ? Ours does(in fact ours was tonight.) They also get to see their classrooms and see some of the kids in their class.
My son was in Headstart and Early Intervention.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 08/31/2011

My child did have pre school last year, and started kindergarten this year. It definitely is an adjustment period, but try not to show her how nervous you are. Make it exciting!

Beautiful - posted on 08/31/2011

my son, who is nine now went to preschool for a year before kindergarten. Where we live though it required by the state that they attend. But it was good for him, gave him a chance to learn how to get along with others( for a long time he was an only child) he liked it, but he has always been a little shy so while I know he liked I, I also know it scared him because he isnt as outgoing as other kids, keeps to himself alot so therefore ocassonally gets picked on.