How many sessions for a 3 year old?

[springchik]

My ds2 is 3 on Friday and starting preschool in January. I dont want himm to do his 15 hours until september so I'm thinking 2 or 3 sessions a week. Constantly changing my mind on how many sessions and the days he should do! What have others done?

My DD was 3 in May and hasn't used any of her 15 hours yet. We'll start next term only because I have to earn some money. Do whatever suits you. You don't have to send him to any.

DS was a July baby and started at preschool the last September. He did 2 sessions a week to start with, and then went to 3 after the first term. He started reception this year.

My reasoning was that he would be in full time school soon enough that I felt that 3 sessions would be plenty! Also, purely for my own convenience, the thought of schlepping back and forwards to preschool every day was not appealing (especially as sessions were only 2.5 hrs) with a baby in tow.

Oh and I went for mornings as DS got so tired in the afternoons (at 3 he was still having the occassional nap)

My DS was 3 in May and had been doing 2 sessions since the previous September when he was 2.3 - he started all five sessions this September but does 2 afternoons and 3 mornings

BECAUSE

my 2.3 year old started two weeks ago and does the same two afternoons. He will not do his full five until next September.

I think it breaks them in gently.

Everyone is different though.

dd 3.5 started in September and does 5 sessions,(she was so ready for it) she loves it. It gives me one on one time with ds 16 months which is great, as he has never had me to himself the way dd did.

RhinestoneCowgirl Similar situation to you here but a year behind. Do you feel your DS is at any disadvantage from not having done as many preschool sessions as some of the others? If so what? Thanks

My dd started with two sessions and worked up to four eventually (that was over a nearly two year period though). It worked for us.

Ds started at four sessions and that suited him.

I would say go with your gut feeling and, if you choose two sessions, try to space them out a bit so there isn't a huge gap between sessions.

Ds 2 is so ready for preschool. However when ds1 started preschool I had ds2 to give my attention as ds2 is the youngest thats obviously not the case so thats one reason why I'm so aprehensive about it all! However I'm still on the commottee at the preschool in question. When ds1 started when he had just turned 3 he did 2 mornings a week and did not start to settle properly until I increased his sessions as I think 2 wasnt enough for him because it gave him time to forget iyswim. Thats why I'm thinking 3 sessions might be better. Oh I dont know I'm so confused!

MustHaveAVeryShortMemory No I don't think DS was disadvantaged. He is a v capable and articulate child and has settled in well at school. He enjoyed preschool, and nearly 50% of his year group ended up at his primary school, so good for making friends. Also Reception is very much a continuation of preschool (as they are still in Foundation stage).

For me I felt that DS would benefit more from being at home with me for longer (currently a SAHM), we had more time to see friends, go on outings but also just do stuff like hang out at the park for hours on end which I think is just as important as any formal early years 'education'. Just my opinion tho

My DS did 2 days at 3 and the other children did 3. DD now goes to a different pre-school and does 2 days again. She started off doing just 2 x 2.5 hour session though. Like RSCG says they are not at a disadvantage, what possible disadvantage could it cause anyway?

DS is bright, doing very well at school, happy to go to school and has lots of friends. Can't imagine how sending him to pre-school more often could improve on that.

Also agree with RSCG that taking them to the park, doing things at home or playing with other friends while you chat is just as important.

I've worried dd could be at a disadvantage because she can't do things as well as other kids such as (off the top of my head) hold a pencil, get to know new children. Thanks RSCG, reassuring to hear he has settled in well.

Really don't worry about the pencil thing. DS couldn' hold a pencil at 4.5 when he started school. The teacher was a bit about it but I think they start formal education way too early.

Anyway it hasn't done him any harm. Within weeks she had called me in to show me what an outstanding piece of writing he had done.

At home and pre-school he hadn't been interested but once at school he just sort of got what it was all about.

Enjoy your time with him at home, it goes much too fast.

Thanks Ineedsomesleep. I don't want to join the race to 'bring them on' and other similar things I've heard but sometimes I worry that I'm being too relaxed and school is going to be an unfair shock.

If you need him to go to preschool because of work, then send him. If you don't, don't. They don;t need to go to pre-school to get ready for school, that's what reception is for.

And he doesn't need to go to pre-school to learn how to hold a pencil

Really, really don't worry. In the city I grew up in you often hear teachers say that the children have started school not knowing things like:

How to ask to go the the toilet (so they end up wetting themselves)
Colours
How to count to 5.
How to sit and listen.
How to hold a knife or fork.
Haven't ever drunk water.
Animal names and the noises they make.

You get the gist.

If a teacher can't cope with a 4 year old not being able to hold a pencil they are in the wrong job IMHO.

Pencil was just an example of course. I suppose I'm more concerned about things like walking into a room of 30 strangers (without mummy there) and making new friends when most of them know each other already.

I have to pop out shortly but thanks both for your replies they are reassuring. You know what its like when you're just trying to do whats best for them?

Yeah I know and also knew that pencil was only an example

DS went to school knowing most of the children from pre-school but DD doesn't go to the local pre-school because its just crap. She goes to the local Nursery for her free sessions instead. So when she rocks up at school she will hardly know anyone and it will be an established group.

TBH I'm not bothered at all. Having seen how DS's class worked you couldn't tell who had gone to the pre-school and who hadn't within a couple of weeks.

DD is 3.7 and does 9 sessions. She started on 2/3 at 2.9, then did five mornings plus one afternoon after Easter when she got the free sessions.

Then from September we put her in for 4 paid sessions on top of the grant. Purely because she loves it. It is also quite cheap, I have to admit.

But the one day where she only does a morning, she complains that she doesn't want to come home for dinner or asks why isn't she taking her lunchbox.

She would happily go on the weekends too if she had the chance. I have had to keep her off this week due to a tummy bug and she is not impressed!

DS will probably go a lot less as he is much more clingy, but will see how he gets on. Planning on him starting 2 sessions a week after Christmas as he will be just 2 then.