Has anyone sent their child to a private K program for just one year?

[Anonymous]

My son is turning 5 and is slated to attend the public school near us in the fall. I really don't think he is ready though and neither does his current teacher. So I thought about sending him to a private K program next year. The few I have looked at are half-day or have half-day options, have less academics and more developmentally appropriate activities. The K program at our local school is very intense academically, very few opportunities for socialization, sometimes don't even have recess, etc (my neighbor's DS goes there this year). My son's preschool doesn't have a K program and I am not really keen on holding him back one year b/c he would be surrounded by younger kids (when he really likes older kids). Has anyone done this? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Would your intent be to have him do one year at a private K and then switch to public K the following year? Or do you hope to switch him into public 1st grade after the one year at private K?

If you plan to repeat K in public school, then I think this is a wise move. Your DC would probably benefit from one more year of a less academic, less rigorous kindergarten. And then would probably be ahead of the "curve" once he started public K.

If your hope is to have him move right into public 1st grade, then your child may be "behind" the other children that were in the public K or even a more academic private K program (like montessori). That would not be good for his confidence.

Kids learn so much in kindergarten these days. It's more like 1st grade - and it's so sad that they can't just have fun!

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. I would like to apply him to private school after K even though I don't have the $$ (I will apply for FA though). If he doesn't get into a private, public would be the only option. I will have to contact the public school to ask what their policy is for kids who do K at a private school. I wonder if they have to pass a test to be admitted tp 1st grade from a private K? Does anyone know the answer to that?

[Anonymous]

My nephew attended a private K and then repeated K at a public school (Fairfax) for the same reasons you mention. It was absolutely no problem switching to public ... there was no testing or anything. My sister could have opted to have him start public in first (given his age) and the school let her decide. It was a really helpful thing for this child and softened the stigma of repeating K because he viewed it as attending K at his "little" school and then attending K at the "big" school, which seemed like a progression and therefore less like "repeating." He understands what happened now though (4 years later), so you can't completely shelter him from this idea.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. I might consider doing just that if he isn't accepted into a private school. I might also speak to his current preschool about allowing him to stay one more year. Some of the boys in his class have fall bdays and miss the K cut off date so they will be staying for another year. It is such a hard decision since I know he is bright (he is reading and has been for a while) but the entirely academic nature of K and the fact that they expect the kids to go all day sometimes w/ no recess and expect them to sit still, be quiet and do a million worksheets is such a huge turnoff. Maybe that works for some girls and a few boys but I don't want him to go to his first year of school and hate it b/c it totally goes against his nature.

[Anonymous]

10:07 again. I totally agree with you about the sitting too long, doing too many worksheets, walking in a line between class and lunch/recess, and so forth -- all these things can really suck the joy right out of the experience, especially for active little boys! I think you are right to focus on those experiences rather than the brightness of your child and his current reading ... because he will remain bright and his reading will continue to progress regardless of what you decide! Trust me. My son is also bright and was an early reader, and thankfully, there is just no holding him back even if I wanted to do so!

He is attending a small progressive independent school where they play outside multiple times a day, eat lunch outside weather permitting, walk/run to their "special" classes, and have classrooms with floor to ceiling windows surrounded by woods. The extra exercise, "freedom" of movement (within reason of course), and closeness with the great outdoors helps him get all that "boy-energy" out -- he is better able to focus and learn during the more rote schoolwork times of the day. At least I believe that this is so!

Best wishes with whatever choice you make.

[Anonymous]

PP- May I ask what school your son goes to? Sounds like boy heaven on earth

[Anonymous]

some girls are like this too!

[Anonymous]

OP here- I am sure there are some girls like this. I just have never seen any All of the girls in my son's class could sit and write/trace/draw all morning long. If my son sits and pay attention to a teacher for more than 10 mins at a time, it is a good day. I cannot imagine how this might play out next year in K where he will be expected to do this all day long. I've already gotten the scoop from our neighbor (who has a girl) and my friend who teaches K in our county.

[Anonymous]

I actually have not one, but two, girls like that. Sigh. My older one is on 1st grade at a private school with small calsses, but is switching to public next year. I am concerned that they will try to label her as ADHD once she gets into a bigger classroom with less personal attention.

[Anonymous]

10:07 again. The school I am describing is Burgundy, and yes, it IS heaven for little children of any gender. The curriculum is very "hands on" and project based as opposed to sitting quietly in rows listening to an adult, doing long batches of practicing whatever topic, etc. Lots of natural science included too.

The transition to K is a little tough for any child ... still lots of play time but less than the prior year. The same thing happens again when transitioning to first grade, and then again for second when nightly homework is generally added to the mix. The good news is that a lot of growth happens over just the summer months for kids of this age, and the teachers also fully understand the transition and tend to be very gentle and kind in helping the kids adjust. I am saying this about every K teacher I have ever met, not just the ones at my child's school.

My recommendation is to try your best to choose a school that seems to offer a program best suited for your child (which for some is the more traditional highly structured kind). But aside from that, make sure you counterbalance the school appropriately in the afternoons and evenings. For example, if your child doesn't get "enough" outside/freeplay time at school, make sure that is what is planned for afterschool -- nothing "planned" but rather the freedom to just run around and creatively play whatever with whomever. And if your child is one who could use a little more structure, then afternoon enrichments (piano lessons, sports teams, tae kwon doe, etc.) are nice. Wait at least two months before establishing anything formal outside of school, because I promise you, your child will be exhausted, even if s/he was used to everyday/all day schedule. They ask a lot of K students these days, and you will be facing major meltdowns if you try to add more.

Sorry for all the "wisdom" ... all will be fine!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi Burgundy Mom! I am no the OP but I do have a question, as I have a little boy with a March birthday and am very interested in Burgundy. What is their pre-K like and what age are the kids? My fella is 2, and he is too young for most preschools this fall that require that he be 2.5 by 9/1 or 9/15. I would love to see him in a morning program for a year or more before (hope) Burgundy.

[Anonymous]

Hi! Burgundy's JK (junior kindergarten, that is) is quite wonderful. It is all day but includes afternoon naptime. There are 16 children in the class with two warm and wonderful teachers. The kids do a lot of movement, music, art, and outside play both within the classroom and at "specials." They love going to the library, which they do as a class once a week, but can also go each morning to select a new book if they wish. The barnyard, the pond, and the huge sandbox are very popular with this age group. Also the heated outdoor pool during the first and last months of the school year. The JK kids are four years old (they must be four by September 30 I believe). I encourage your family to take a tour of the school to get a real sense of the place.

I won't lie ... it is expensive. But it is a truly happy, down-to-earth place. Many families start out planning just to have their child attend JK and K there (in lieu of halfday public K) but stay because they cannot bear to leave. Back when our little boy was 2-ish, we attended an open house and the admissions person recommended that we have him attend a half-day preschool at least one year so that he would be well prepared to jump to all day. When the time came, we sadly had to forgo JK because our guy was still taking 3 hour naps each afternoon and was just not ready for the whole day/whole week experience. So he started in K and has loved every day since. Good luck to you!