Anybody thinking about skipping 3’s preschool this fall?

[Anonymous]

My kid was all signed up and ready to start preschool this fall (3 yo) but since I stay at home there is not a childcare need. I worry that keeping him apart from other kids will hurt him somehow but I’m not entirely sure since plenty of kids have only gone to 1 year of preschool and been perfectly fine.

If the coronavirus comes raging back this fall should I plan to just keep the kid home for one more year? Will that screw him up?

[Anonymous]

It won't screw him up, though preschool is really beneficial to kids.

If COVID-19 is back this fall to a point where it's unsafe for kids to be in school, places will be closed.

So really the question is whether you want to send him otherwise.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s fine. If things get better you can always take him to a play group. Tons of kids in past decades didn’t go to preschool at all-just moms or sitters/in homes/nannies/relatives and turned out totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Keeping him home, assuming you are an active loving parent absolutely won't hurt him. Preschool is a great way for kids to learn and grow and have a happy childhood, but it's one way. You can achieve the same goal at home.

-- Former preschool teacher whose kid when to daycare at that age and thrived (so not someone who is biased against preschool at all).

[Anonymous]

Kids need peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s fine. If things get better you can always take him to a play group. Tons of kids in past decades didn’t go to preschool at all-just moms or sitters/in homes/nannies/relatives and turned out totally fine.

But in past decades kindergarten was more like preschool and was a short half day, like 3 hours. Now full day K means some structured prep is beneficial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s fine. If things get better you can always take him to a play group. Tons of kids in past decades didn’t go to preschool at all-just moms or sitters/in homes/nannies/relatives and turned out totally fine.

But in past decades kindergarten was more like preschool and was a short half day, like 3 hours. Now full day K means some structured prep is beneficial.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Don’t some places have January spots? You can always do that .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t some places have January spots? You can always do that .

Pretty difficult to find mid-year spots because they usually only open if there's attrition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids need peers.

OP here. That’s my main concern. We are active and engaged but he doesn’t really get to be around other toddlers much. My original solution was to send him to an awesome and fun preschool but now I wonder if we would just be constantly paranoid this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids need peers.

OP here. That’s my main concern. We are active and engaged but he doesn’t really get to be around other toddlers much. My original solution was to send him to an awesome and fun preschool but now I wonder if we would just be constantly paranoid this year.

If stay at home orders and school closures are lifted, why would you be paranoid?

[Anonymous]

Two of my kids never went to preschool at all, and two went for one "semester" the spring before kindergarten.

None of their teachers could tell.

[Anonymous]

I would wait to enroll and see. When does he turn 3? Will he go to kindergarten in 2 years or 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would wait to enroll and see. When does he turn 3? Will he go to kindergarten in 2 years or 3?

Turns 3 this summer. Kindergarten is fall 2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids need peers.

OP here. That’s my main concern. We are active and engaged but he doesn’t really get to be around other toddlers much. My original solution was to send him to an awesome and fun preschool but now I wonder if we would just be constantly paranoid this year.

I think that there will be a number of families making this choice, and if at some point you think he needs more you will be able to find 2 or 3 other kids his age who are home with a parent or a nanny, and do some regular playdates. That's plenty for a 3 year old.