My children went to NCRC which is a wonderful preschool and quite hard to get into. The first two years at part time but the final year, whe tbey were 4.5 years old is it from 8:30-3:00. Someone said these are daycare hours, which is not true. Daycare hour are 6:30-6:30.

Mine were in Montessori as well, and we did the half day option (3 hours) until the third year, so they were almost 5 when they started full day. Most people started the full day at least when they turned 4, and my kids really complained that they didn't get to stay when they were 4 too. But I like the way we did it. Full day in that third year was really special.

Full day K will actually be about 45 min longer. 9-3:45 if you are going in FCPS. I'd say send him to this program now.

I pulled DD out of a Montessori school when she was 4 going on 5 because she'd been going five days a week from 9-1 and it was already a lot for her. When she was 5 they would have required she went until 3. We did a 2 day program at a Waldorf school for that year instead, and a half day kinder for kindergarten. Now she's in first grade and really able to do the long days.

She was never in daycare so didn't have to handle those type of long days, so maybe it made it harder for her. I'm glad we didn't push her harder to go longer when she was so little.

Depends on the kid. One of mine would have loved it; for the other 2 that would have been way too much.

Anonymous wrote:I personally wouldn't because to me it would be like daycare hours. Nothing wrong whatsoever with daycare but I'd either send my kid to a part time preschool or a daycare.

Agreed. If you don't have to why do it? Kids need time to play and be kids, we're pushing them into the classroom too early. It's been shown kids areMy great at sitting still yet that's what we're making them do. Considering US kids continue to fall behind, I'm not sure it's working or worth it.

6 hours is too long. Find a half day preschool.

My children have been in full day daycare since infants and I'm going to take the opposite approach. They can handle it at 4.5, but they have the rest of their lives to go to school. Why rush it if you don't have to? I had no choice because of work. Totally up to you and your child.

Do you make a child walk at 6 months to prepare for walking the next year? Don't push your child. If he is ready now for a longer day, do it. If he is not ready now, don't make him do it just because he will have to do it next year. That argument makes no sense!

I did and she loved it. Also Montessori.

It depends on the child, for my kids it would have been just too long night of a day. They needed unstructured play time where they could use their imagination not be limited to a schedule or centers. My niece was opposite and thrived in an all day environment where her schedule was planned for her daily. You know your child best.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school I'm considering is Montessori and their "core" preK schedule is 5 days a week 9am-3pm.
does this seem like too much for a 4.5 year old???

Yes, and I did. He had been a student there since he was two (3 hours three mornings a week) and at 3 started a five day schedule of 3 hours a day. When he was about 4.5, and MD napping rule was no longer in effect, he began going all day. He loved it, the class was maybe 6 kids in the afternoon, and he had a huge explosion in learning during those few months. He did this just January to May before beginning K.

Sorry, I meant to add that is was a Montessori program too. I'd say go for it.

Anonymous wrote:The school I'm considering is Montessori and their "core" preK schedule is 5 days a week 9am-3pm.
does this seem like too much for a 4.5 year old???

Yes, and I did. He had been a student there since he was two (3 hours three mornings a week) and at 3 started a five day schedule of 3 hours a day. When he was about 4.5, and MD napping rule was no longer in effect, he began going all day. He loved it, the class was maybe 6 kids in the afternoon, and he had a huge explosion in learning during those few months. He did this just January to May before beginning K.

Nope. My kid will only do, at MOST, half-days until first grade, even if that means the nanny is "home-schooling." She's 3.5 now.

It would have been way too long for my son. Yes, K will be a similar schedule, but that extra year makes a huge difference developmentally in what they can handle. So I'd only do it if you need to for child care purposes, or if your kid really seems ready for more socialization.