She can't pull out her child if they're in public prek whenever she wants. Give the spot to a child who will use it. Jesus.

I totally get wanting to spend time with them while they are little, OP. I have worked PT since my LO was born, after a long maternity leave, for this reason.

But I guess I don’t understand why you would pull him from PK4. Can’t you just change your work schedule so you work in the morning, and then you can pick him up from school and spend the rest of the day with him and the 1 yr old. I think that’s the best of all possible worlds because then he gets the experience of PK and time with you. My 4 yo started going to a PK during summer session this year and adores it. There were a few weeks of adjustment but now she is so excited to be learning new things, meeting friends, and building relationships with teachers. She comes home every day bursting with thoughts and ideas and questions. It is wonderful. 8-3 is not too much — PKs are generally very good at creating a workable schedule with plenty of breaks for snacks, free play, and nap time.

I hear where you are coming from, I just don’t understand why mornings with you and afternoons with a nanny (so more 1:1 time with a caregiver) would be preferable to 8-3 at school and afternoons (plus weekends, holidays, vacations, summers) with you.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I did pull my kid out of public pk4. It was too long and not enough play. Instead I worked part time and had a babysitter. The babysitter took him to Kumin twice a week where he learned to sit and do written work for 15-30 minutes. Then he had “homework” the other 5 days. He was totally prepared for K. We spent the days at the park, museum, library, hiking, gymnastics and other fun sports activities.

Thank you! Glad I am not alone here!! That’s a big concern for me - not enough play for him. That just seems so wrong for this age. Was it a lot of sitting and learning with very little recess? I barely know anything about Pk4 in DC. We just did pK3 but it was only 30 mins a day twice a week, virtual.

Anonymous wrote:Just put the 4 year old in an afternoons 4 class.

I didn’t phrase this well at all. I am referring to preschool classes that take 4 year olds and have afternoon-only hours.

Yes. I did pull my kid out of public pk4. It was too long and not enough play. Instead I worked part time and had a babysitter. The babysitter took him to Kumin twice a week where he learned to sit and do written work for 15-30 minutes. Then he had “homework” the other 5 days. He was totally prepared for K. We spent the days at the park, museum, library, hiking, gymnastics and other fun sports activities.

Just put the 4 year old in an afternoons 4 class.

OP here and yes I realize I’m in an incredibly privileged position. I work 6 hrs a day and charge my clients a lot for my time. We live in a TINY 2 bedroom condo and I WILL get interrupted by my very energetic 4 yr old whenever there’s just 1 nanny and that nanny needs to tend to the baby. With 2 nannies I’m guaranteed focus time.

Fine to pull from preschool but 8-3 is good for a 4 year old to prep them for K.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh I will bite. 2 nannies and you work part time? Ok…..but to answer your question if you are a real person, you can pull your kid out randomly whenever you want during preschool. Some days I pick my kids up after lunch so I can get extra time with them. Some days were late to school because we’re enjoying a slow morning at home. It’s only preschool after all!

I posted about pulling my kid out of preschool before the day ended and only one person responded saying that this is not done at DC public schools. But were they wrong?

Yes, I have felt this way, and am strongly considering doing the exact same thing! I’m in a very similar life situation to you as well, with a nanny watching DD while I work PT from home. They’re only little once; I don’t want to miss out on special moments that I think we’d both cherish for a lifetime. My DD is very social, so if I did do this, I’d want to plan regular play dates and group experiences each week, and teach her other preschool skills at home. It’s a hard decision; best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

No, I have to work to help provide for my family.

Our PK was only a half day. Then I could pick up DC and go on adventures.

Ugh I will bite. 2 nannies and you work part time? Ok…..but to answer your question if you are a real person, you can pull your kid out randomly whenever you want during preschool. Some days I pick my kids up after lunch so I can get extra time with them. Some days were late to school because we’re enjoying a slow morning at home. It’s only preschool after all!

No, I’ve never felt like this. I think 8-3 is a decent amount of time especially when they still nap. I like taking my kid for special outings when there are P-T conferences or PD days, though.

With the museums and other fun places opening back up I am loving being a part-time SAHM to my 1 and 4 yr old. We have 2 nannies come take care of them every afternoon so I can work. Being cooped up inside during the pandemic sucked but I LOVE taking them to museums in the mornings. I am feeling hesitant to send my 4 yr old to public PK4 in the fall because:
1) he seems so little to be in school 8-3 every day
2) I just love our little adventures (we make such lovely memories!), and it seems like he might be too tired for museum trips after long days at school
3) this is his last year of non-mandatory school attendance and it just all feels so rushed to be sending him when it’s not a necessity for our family.

So my questions are:
1) Does anyone else think 8-3 is too long of a school day for a 4 yr old?
2) has anyone else pulled their kiddo from DCPS PK3 or pK4?

I am feeling alone in this and would love to know others have felt the same.