How did you decide what nursery school? I thought we were all set with a Jewish nursery school and then I heard some really disturbing facts about the Director. I want to find the best fit and I am terrified that I might not make the right choice, it is a big decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd do the two-day a week school. Then I'd sign him up for a toddler class for the nanny to take him to in addition. Print out a calendar and mark the school days with a star or something so he can always tell when a school day is coming up.

Get him in the door - when they have a space, they'll slide him in to the third day.

+1 Sign him up for a Music Together class and have your nanny take him to library story times and organize play dates. Our nanny has DS in some group activity every morning and takes him to play with other kids pretty much every afternoon.

I would never give up a great school for a mediocre one.

Another in agreement and it is the choice we made in our family. Id have preferred 4-5 days when DS was 3, but the school we loved only had a 3x opening so we took it and filled the other days with activities. Take the great school!

We did 2-day weeks until 4yo (skipped straight to 5 days), and it was just fine.

Anonymous wrote:My kids all did 2 mornings at 2.5. (I SAH) They did fine. They did 3 mornings at 3.5 and 5 mornings at 4.5. Then K.

+1 our preschool only offered 2-day classes for 2 yr olds. Go with the school you love.

On the other free mornings I took my 2 yr old to a Music Together class and playgroup (where the other 2 yr olds in the group were also nearly all in 2-day preschool classes).

I agree with all of these responses. Next year, you'll already be at this school and can do 3 days.

at two, it was a waste of time. 2 days is fine with 1-2 activities.

Your kid is 2, he can do 2 days this year, 3 days next year and then 3 or 5 days the year before K.

My kids all did 2 mornings at 2.5. (I SAH) They did fine. They did 3 mornings at 3.5 and 5 mornings at 4.5. Then K.

Anonymous wrote:I'd do the two-day a week school. Then I'd sign him up for a toddler class for the nanny to take him to in addition. Print out a calendar and mark the school days with a star or something so he can always tell when a school day is coming up.

Get him in the door - when they have a space, they'll slide him in to the third day.

+1

DD starts preschool this year at the same preschool her brother just completed. She's in the 2s room, and while we were hoping for a 3 day/week schedule, we got the 2 day/week class (similar to you). Also, similar to you, we have a nanny, so preschool is for socialization and enrichment rather than child care.

We really love the school and I'd never consider changing schools for the 3 day vs 2 day curriculum. DS did his 2s year at a school we didn't love, and the contrast was stark. There was nothing wrong with the school, it was a perfectly nice place, but we just never clicked. Going from that school to the school we're at now made me appreciate how much of a difference there can be between schools.

Also, take a look at the school calendar. Our preschool has tons of days off, and most fall on Mondays or Fridays. I don't think it'll necessarily seem disruptive to a kid since it takes a while for sense of time to develop, but I don't know that the kids in the M/W/F classes are going to feel that their schedule is that much more regular.

Anonymous wrote:I'd do the two-day a week school. Then I'd sign him up for a toddler class for the nanny to take him to in addition. Print out a calendar and mark the school days with a star or something so he can always tell when a school day is coming up.

Get him in the door - when they have a space, they'll slide him in to the third day.

+1 Sign him up for a Music Together class and have your nanny take him to library story times and organize play dates. Our nanny has DS in some group activity every morning and takes him to play with other kids pretty much every afternoon.

I would never give up a great school for a mediocre one.

I'd do the two-day a week school. Then I'd sign him up for a toddler class for the nanny to take him to in addition. Print out a calendar and mark the school days with a star or something so he can always tell when a school day is coming up.

Get him in the door - when they have a space, they'll slide him in to the third day.

We are a bit late to the game and just decided to sign our 2.5 year old up for nursery school In September. There is one school we love, but they only have a spot in their Tuesday/Thursday morning program which is from 8:45-11:30. There is another school we thought was fine - didn't love it as much but we are sure DS would be fine there, and they can do 3 days a week from 9am-12pm.

We kind of wanted a 3 day program versus 2, mainly because I heard it's better to adjust to school when you go more regularly, but is that reason enough to choose a school you didn't like as much or does it not really matter?

What would you do in this situation? FWIW, we have a nanny since we both work full time and we plan to keep her regardless. We want to send DS to school because we think he needs more interaction and socialization with other kids.