Where Are Kids 5 Years Old But Not In Kindergarten??

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
I'm not sure where you'll find something with a preschool (or pre-K) for less than $1,000 each a month for full time care. "

Isn't that only $250 a week? I think it would be hard to find any type of childcare beyond a home daycare from 7 am- 6pm for only 250 a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Try a Montessori program. They actually have a Kindergarten program (with real work) and the cut off is December 31st of the year that your child turns 5. Good luck! "

We love Montessori but it may not work as well for 5 year olds who have never been in Montessori. The program is designed for the kids to be in a 3 year cycle. The materials are specific and all build off each other. It might be hard for them to jump in for one year at age 5. If the school has experience doing this and the teacher can spend some extra time introducing them to the work then it may work fine. The positive is that Montessori K lets kids go much farther in areas where they are interested. The reading and math is great.

I did this with my Nov 16 birthday DD this past year and it worked great. We were in a preschool for 2 full years and then I faced the OP's problem, and after looking at many schools I felt montessori was the best option for us, she did the K year in montessori (it is a longer day, 9- 3 M-Th and 9-noon F) and then she will be starting K in DC in the fall. Frankly she will be quite ahead reading-wise for K, but there is not a whole lot of choice here and I have to assume there will be others with birthdays like her that will be similarly advanced in reading and other areas. While she will be ahead content-wise, at least for now, she will not be the youngest girl in her class in middle school and I am happy about that. I am trying to take the long view.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the new St. Francis International School would work -- it is the merger of two Catholic Schools. It's in Silver Spring. http://www.saintfrancisinternational.org/school.html

Not sure whether you'd apply for "preschool" or "K" but you could check it out.

To answer 11:08, such things do exist. Our nonprofit daycare/preschool will be less than this (it's not in the right area for OP). For St Francis, "Preschool Tuition For 2010-2011 the full annual tuition for the early childhood program of Saint Francis International School is $6,840.

* This annual tuition is equivalent to about $190.00 per week"

K-8 is a bit less. Before and aftercare available for an additional fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure where you'll find something with a preschool (or pre-K) for less than $1,000 each a month for full time care.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. The school my DD goes to (mainly a preschool but goes through 2nd grade) is about $1000 a month per kid, for 7:30 to 6, and that is the least expensive school I found.

Is this a Preschool?. Can you share the name of the school and where it is located.

[Anonymous]

Wonders Child Care has a fantastic pre-K program near you - Chevy Chase and DC just below downtown Silver Spring. Core day 9-3 and before and after-care if you need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the new St. Francis International School would work -- it is the merger of two Catholic Schools. It's in Silver Spring. http://www.saintfrancisinternational.org/school.html

Not sure whether you'd apply for "preschool" or "K" but you could check it out.

To answer 11:08, such things do exist. Our nonprofit daycare/preschool will be less than this (it's not in the right area for OP). For St Francis, "Preschool Tuition For 2010-2011 the full annual tuition for the early childhood program of Saint Francis International School is $6,840.

* This annual tuition is equivalent to about $190.00 per week"

K-8 is a bit less. Before and aftercare available for an additional fee.

How much does the before and aftercare cost, though? Usually when these are added in, you get closer to that $12,000 a year mark.

[Anonymous]

Not sure about St Francis (but looks worthwhile for OP to investigate), but I know my daycare's preschool is less than $1K a month. I also know a second in this range, but not where OP wants geographically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, I did mention I'm in Montgomery County. More specifically though, I live in Kensington, MD. Yes, Pre-K would be ideal, but it seems that sometimes even pre-K places still refer to themselves as "preschool" since they may also accommodate other ages in their facilities as well.

And yes, full day care, 7:30am to 6pm.

I know I can't possibly be the only parent who would like to see their children in an enriching program that is also fun but who didn't make the age cutoff to enroll in K in the fall.

Hope there's others like me out there who can provide their solutions.

Thanks so much!

Diane

Kensington-Forest Glen Childcare Center may work for you. It is NAEYC-accredited and we really liked it.

I don't know what their setup is for 5yos, but I bet if they have one it is quite good.

[Anonymous]

PP here; here's the website with info:

http://www.mccaedu.org/centers/kensington_forest.html

[Anonymous]

PP here again ; looks like they have what you are looking for:

Young Fives program at Kensington/Forest Glen:
For children ages 4½ to 5 years
Designed for children who miss the MCPS kindergarten cut-off date
Hours: 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM (late night option for additional fee: care until 6:30 PM)
The Creative Curriculum® is implemented in this class of 20 children

They are a not-for-profit so their prices are super-reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure where you'll find something with a preschool (or pre-K) for less than $1,000 each a month for full time care.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. The school my DD goes to (mainly a preschool but goes through 2nd grade) is about $1000 a month per kid, for 7:30 to 6, and that is the least expensive school I found.

Is this a Preschool?. Can you share the name of the school and where it is located.

Sure. It's Winchester School in Silver Spring (but right over the Rockville line). It's an "academic" preschool, which I know doesn't appeal to everyone, but my DD has learned an incredible amount in the past 2 years and she's not even in Kindergarten yet (she can read, add, subtract, knows the planets, etc). Plus, the hours are very working-family friendly, and I think it's a really good deal for $1000 a month (maybe going up to $1025 next year, but I'd have to double-check that).

[Anonymous]

Harbor School has JK program as does Lowell.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP said she is looking for reasonably priced programs. I don't think Harbor and Lowell fit the bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Try a Montessori program. They actually have a Kindergarten program (with real work) and the cut off is December 31st of the year that your child turns 5. Good luck! "

We love Montessori but it may not work as well for 5 year olds who have never been in Montessori. The program is designed for the kids to be in a 3 year cycle. The materials are specific and all build off each other. It might be hard for them to jump in for one year at age 5. If the school has experience doing this and the teacher can spend some extra time introducing them to the work then it may work fine. The positive is that Montessori K lets kids go much farther in areas where they are interested. The reading and math is great.

My son is in a Montessori and there were two children who joined the K class last year after not having been in Montessori and they were fine. Actually they did great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure where you'll find something with a preschool (or pre-K) for less than $1,000 each a month for full time care.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. The school my DD goes to (mainly a preschool but goes through 2nd grade) is about $1000 a month per kid, for 7:30 to 6, and that is the least expensive school I found.

Is this a Preschool?. Can you share the name of the school and where it is located.

Sure. It's Winchester School in Silver Spring (but right over the Rockville line). It's an "academic" preschool, which I know doesn't appeal to everyone, but my DD has learned an incredible amount in the past 2 years and she's not even in Kindergarten yet (she can read, add, subtract, knows the planets, etc). Plus, the hours are very working-family friendly, and I think it's a really good deal for $1000 a month (maybe going up to $1025 next year, but I'd have to double-check that).

My son went to Winchester for preK and K. I would definitely recommend it, and they would be willing to consider taking your kids into K in the fall.