Going from mom+nanny to PK3 - thoughts?

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[Post New]07/15/2023 14:05
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Anonymous
We turned down a great PK3 spot for my kid last year, but we turned it down to keep them at a much smaller Montessori school they had already been attending. So it’s not exactly the same but I couldn’t see my 3 year old at a large elementary school so kept her at the smaller one. No regrets.
[Post New]07/15/2023 14:09
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Anonymous
I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.
[Post New]07/15/2023 14:44
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.
[Post New]07/15/2023 14:48
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.


That’s the problem. DCPS is also to get kids out of single parent home with poverty. UMC kids don’t need FT preschool at 3 years old. It’s essentially daycare.

The question is OP, do you want FT daycare provided by the city or do you want to retain your nanny?
[Post New]07/15/2023 16:48
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.


It is called part time private daycare. Go get on a list, pay the deposit and then the monthly fees.
[Post New]07/17/2023 14:33
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Anonymous
Is anyone with their kids after DCPS school? I am wondering if there's a huge change between spending mornings with my 3 yr old and being with him after his PK3 day ends. I might be able to swing the latter with my employer.
[Post New]07/17/2023 14:44
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Is anyone with their kids after DCPS school? I am wondering if there's a huge change between spending mornings with my 3 yr old and being with him after his PK3 day ends. I might be able to swing the latter with my employer.


I always hung out with my kids after DCPS ended! I will say your thoughts about naptime were totally true for us -- for a 3/4year old kid who didn't need to nap, our DCPS got him napping for 90 minutes (that is the schedule!!) and he then stayed up until 9ish. it was hard!

On the other hand, I LOVED our pk3 teachers who are insanely qualified (very experienced masters degree holders), and my kids actually learned a lot that year. My oldest was reading well by the end of the year (his teacher identified his ability and worked with him). And the socializing is adorable and delightful. And they feel proud of themselves. And because of the very long nap, it doesn't feel like that long of a day for them.

[Post New]07/17/2023 14:48
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is anyone with their kids after DCPS school? I am wondering if there's a huge change between spending mornings with my 3 yr old and being with him after his PK3 day ends. I might be able to swing the latter with my employer.


I always hung out with my kids after DCPS ended! I will say your thoughts about naptime were totally true for us -- for a 3/4year old kid who didn't need to nap, our DCPS got him napping for 90 minutes (that is the schedule!!) and he then stayed up until 9ish. it was hard!

On the other hand, I LOVED our pk3 teachers who are insanely qualified (very experienced masters degree holders), and my kids actually learned a lot that year. My oldest was reading well by the end of the year (his teacher identified his ability and worked with him). And the socializing is adorable and delightful. And they feel proud of themselves. And because of the very long nap, it doesn't feel like that long of a day for them.



Very helpful to know all of this - thank you so much
[Post New]07/17/2023 15:08
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.


That’s the problem. DCPS is also to get kids out of single parent home with poverty. UMC kids don’t need FT preschool at 3 years old. It’s essentially daycare.

The question is OP, do you want FT daycare provided by the city or do you want to retain your nanny?


It's so insulting to call it 'daycare' from the city. All the prek3/4 teachers we had in those years had masters degrees and 10+ years of experience (sometimes 20+). Day care teachers have kindness, sure, but nowhere near the level of education and experience of DCPS teachers. Choose what you want, but don't compare them like it's apples to apples.
[Post New]07/18/2023 12:02
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Biggest kid is at Francis Stevens. For PK3 he was home with us (pandemic, I was glad to have him home and thought he was not ready for PK3) and for PK4 he was very happy at Francis Stevens.


Hi OP, I realize that this thread is about something else - I have a little one starting Pre3 too! - but I'm curious what you think of Francis Stevens. I'm on the waitlist for PK3 and have heard good things from people in DCPS but it doesn't get talked a lot about on DCUM and I don't know anyone with a kid there. Do you like it? Would you recommend?
[Post New]07/20/2023 15:22
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Biggest kid is at Francis Stevens. For PK3 he was home with us (pandemic, I was glad to have him home and thought he was not ready for PK3) and for PK4 he was very happy at Francis Stevens.


Hi OP, I realize that this thread is about something else - I have a little one starting Pre3 too! - but I'm curious what you think of Francis Stevens. I'm on the waitlist for PK3 and have heard good things from people in DCPS but it doesn't get talked a lot about on DCUM and I don't know anyone with a kid there. Do you like it? Would you recommend?


We absolutely loved it for pk4. We were enrolled for pk3 but it was virtual learning, so I can’t say whether my kiddo would have liked being in classroom that year. But he had same teacher and many of same friends for pk4 and she was great.
[Post New]07/20/2023 15:51
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Biggest kid is at Francis Stevens. For PK3 he was home with us (pandemic, I was glad to have him home and thought he was not ready for PK3) and for PK4 he was very happy at Francis Stevens.


Hi OP, I realize that this thread is about something else - I have a little one starting Pre3 too! - but I'm curious what you think of Francis Stevens. I'm on the waitlist for PK3 and have heard good things from people in DCPS but it doesn't get talked a lot about on DCUM and I don't know anyone with a kid there. Do you like it? Would you recommend?


We absolutely loved it for pk4. We were enrolled for pk3 but it was virtual learning, so I can’t say whether my kiddo would have liked being in classroom that year. But he had same teacher and many of same friends for pk4 and she was great.


Great to hear, thank you! Hoping to get in before they get into the new building and probably become even more popular...
[Post New]07/23/2023 17:06
quote
1SWMom
Member Location: SW Waterfront
Offline
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.


That’s the problem. DCPS is also to get kids out of single parent home with poverty. UMC kids don’t need FT preschool at 3 years old. It’s essentially daycare.

The question is OP, do you want FT daycare provided by the city or do you want to retain your nanny?


There are lots of two parent homes in poverty and many single parents who are middle class are better.
DCPS and daycare in general are for working parents period.
[Post New]07/23/2023 17:07
quote
1SWMom
Member Location: SW Waterfront
Offline
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved my time with my kids but I also realized that they need to be socialized with other kids and slowly become independent. Preschool was that first step. I sent my kids to an afternoon program. It was fantastic.


I love this idea. Does it exist in DC?? Going from nothing to full day school seems too intense.


My daughter does 3 days at private daycare and 2 days with myself and nanny and I am a single mom.
[Post New]07/24/2023 09:07
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Anonymous
My kid is a September birthday so started prek3 at DCPS at 2. It was awesome for her. She was challenged and has grown so much. Full disclosure that we are having her repeat K (moving to private) but that was our plan all along.
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