Experience with multiple preschools?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I'm curious about the emotional/social impact on a 3-4 year old in being in one school for half the week and a different one the rest. Our family is in a situation where my husband's job and mine are 250 miles apart. My job is the one that is far from our home. Our options for the fall (she will turn 4 in the late fall), would be for me to be away from them 3-4 days per week, or for us to split our time between the two places, but then she would be in her current school for half the week, and a different one on the other 2 or 3 days. Has anyone had to do something like this? I'm not sure which is worse for her - he mom being gone half the time, or having to be in two different school environments. |
Anonymous
| So, it's okay to be away from dad half the week? |
Anonymous
| We switched our child at prek from one school to another due to lousy environment and she did so much better. We did see kids that at that age went half the time to one school and another one for the other days. Since prek isn't FT (unless it's childcare) - we found families that combined school programs at different places to make it 5 days a week (if I described this ok).. At that age, should be easier.. depends on child's disposition for meeting new friends and change as well... my eldest was most resistant to change but we had to do it in preK- she's ok now in ES .. |
Anonymous
| Didn't you post already about this OP? Thought most replies said this was not a great idea. |
Anonymous
|
I'm having trouble picturing what you're suggesting.
Are you suggesting that the child fly or drive back and forth between the two of you midweek? So, Sunday night you fly out with the child to where you're working, then midweek you fly back with the child and drop them off with Dad, and fly back, and then Friday you come home yourself? Repeat? If so, that's a lot of travel time and transitions for a child. I think the travel time and transitions would be harder than the 2 schools. It's also a lot of money on airfare, or gas. Could you, instead, fly back Wed. and spend one night at home? Maybe arrange your work week so you work extra hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings and leave at 3:00 on Wednesday get home at 6 for family dinner and bedtime routine? Alternately, I think that spending the week with Dad in a familiar place, and the weekends with mom in the same place is your best bet. |
Anonymous
Agree. Frankly, I think one of you should find another job. |
Anonymous
|
The option with two schools would be the whole family going to DC for half the week and my husband can telework. Then we would be home with me teleworking the other days, so she wouldn't be away from dad in that case. Yes, it would be a lot of back and forth for her as well. No, I don't think I posted this before. We both have been looking for other jobs for a year. Easier said than done. |
Anonymous
| Would these both be full time childcare options, OP? |
Anonymous
|
There was a thread about this a while ago but I think the mom said she got into a three day preschool she liked but wanted her child in preschool for five days so she was going to have DD in the other school for two days.
I don't think a single person recommended so go through with that plan. |
Anonymous
Keep looking for another job. What did you do during the past year? |
Anonymous
On that thread, several posters, including me, said they had done one MWF program and another TTh program, and it was fine. DS had two groups of children he saw every week, and had friends in both groups. That's not exactly what OP seems to be talking about, though. Her proposal seems to involve much more upheaval. Unsettling, literally. |
Anonymous
|
OP, I think I would keep her in one place most of the time. If you don't need her in childcare when dad teleworks, then how about trying it every other week? See how it goes. That way she could be in school the whole time one week and part time the next.
Are you setting up two households or one household and a hotel? Special toys, etc. It all sounds difficult to me. Doctor's visits, dentist, everything gets more complex. Will you both need cars both places? Lots of things to consider. I'm sure it is doable. Sounds awfully complicated. Of course, a lot depends on the child. DD needed stability. DS might have been okay with it. |
Anonymous
|
It is complicated! The past year I have been going (at my own expense, since my employer considers it my choice to telework) up 2 days most weeks, either flying or driving. The problem is that in October I will be promoted and expected to be there more than 2 days per week.
Friends of friends are leaving the country for 3 months, and they have a child the same age as ours. We would not have to set up house, or toys. We would continue looking for other solutions, like a new job for one of us. |
Anonymous
| Since this is preschool and not elementary, your child technically doesn't need to be in school 5 days a week. You could always find a preschool at the location where she will be more often and find a part-time nanny or nanny share for the other location. That might be less difficult than shuttling her between two schools. |
Anonymous
good suggestion |