I had always planned on having my child participate in VPK, and then I went to orientation last night, and learned that the schedule and commitment is full time, Monday thru Friday; granted regular VPK is 9am-12pm, but I had signed up my child for Montessori VPK and was only informed last night, that the hours for Montessori VPK were 9am-4pm Monday thru Friday with an additional cost for extended hours. This would all be OK, except right now I'm out of work and the extra cost is impossible, so obviously Montessori gets the ax. Then my other issue is with the full time schedule; when I do gain employment again, I'm anticipating having my days off during the week (working on weekends), and I was hoping to spend my 2 days off during the week with my child. I figured this was going to be the last year before "real" school, and want to spend as much time as possible together. Which poses my question: How important is VPK?
BTW, my child has been in a preschool setting the last 2 years, and is starting to read etc...Thanks moms! (and dads!) :)
VPK is Voluntary Pre Kindergarten, it's a program that the State of Florida pays for when children qualify at the age of 4.
That sounds like a LOT of preschool. Mine never would stay awake through that much school at that age, and I liked having them with me too. I'd see if you can find another, shorter school for her. Good luck!
Oh, I prefer the shorter days. As a preschool teacher, I can see the kids are usually happier with having the shorter day and going home for some playtime and quiet. We actually enrolled our son in half-day kindergarten because we felt that he needed a shorter day with all of the academics now being taught. I personally wish that they let kindergarten and first grade only go for five hours max... it would be far more respectful to the kids.
I would skip it right now. My dd only did half day preschool and half day kindergarten. I homeschooled her in the afternoons both in preschool and kindergarten.
She learned everything she knew back then from me. The school did more crafts and social things. My dd was a fluent reader in kindergarten. She loved the time one on one with me and would beg to do her "big book" which was a work book - we went through at least 10 of them.
Since you're out of work and have the time....I would home school for pre-school. She'll have lots of time in regular school in the future. Build a good foundation now. No matter how good the school is, it can't beat one on one with mom.
My son is going to VPK this year, but our school (It's a private school that my daughter also attends and will be in 1st grade) offers a 3 day program from 9-2, instead of 5 days from 9-12. That leaves our Tuesdays and Thursdays to spend together before he heads off to Kindergarten next year, but I don't have to play taxi cab running back and forth every couple of hours to the school all week long. There is no additional fee for this since the schedule still covers only 15 hours per week. Maybe you could check around for a similar program in your area. I think the real benefit comes from them learning to be in a scheduled, structured, classroom environment, not so much from the academics.
It isn't that important. I enrolled my kids in K4, because our older one (son) had never been away from us. Not really. I am a SAHM, and he had been cared for by close friends and family when hubby and I went to a movie or when his younger sister was born. That sort of thing. And spent an hour in the "nursery" at church on Sunday.... but no real time learning to be independent from me and following instructions/rules for somewhere else. So we thought it was important to expose him to that before kindergarten. Plus, with a younger baby sister at home, it was nice for him to get some playtime with same aged kids.
For our daughter, she was already reading at 4, so she WANTED to go to K4. She wanted to learn. She wanted to be independent. And it was only until noon. We only signed our son up for MWF, but there was an open slot on T/TH and the director said we could bring him those days, too, if we wanted, at no additional charge. He loved it and never wanted to stay home on those days---so he ended up going M-F, but it was only until 11:45 a.m.
I just don't see the "need" for any rush to send your child off to school. He/She has been exposed to and is familiar with being away from Mom on a routine basis. She is learning to read. You don't need the child care those days. I would spend as much time with your child as you can. This is the last year to do so, really. :)
lots of abbreviations i don't know today. what is VPK??
We call a third year of preschool prekindergarten (preK)
montssori schools have a mixed age level 3, 4,5 yo's so I didn't think they called is a special name.
It was very hard for me to find a half day preschool program, because ther were so many mom's looking for Full day care because they had 9-5 jobs.
Personally if you are at home right now, or working weekends, send your kid the minium. in our area it might be mwf 9-2.
why not spend time with them, now???
my honest opinion unless he/she has social issues, or some sort of learning disorder that puts them behind spending time with you (granted that means not parked in front of the tv all day.) IS more valuable than another year of preschool.
In the scheme of life--I'm thinking the answer is "not very"!
Do what you can afford and what fits with YOUR life!
I think it's time to get used the free time during the day. It's school.
This gives you time to go to the grocery store, the doc's appointments, to get a hair cut, etc....all that stuff you really have no need to have a little one tagging along. How bored they would be during some of these things.
I think you can take the 3 hours per day to do some deep cleaning, to do all kinds of projects. I love the time I get to do something without little hands coming to help and undoing all that I had accomplished.
I have heard that about Montessori that they extend hours beyond the required 3 hrs in VPK. Is it an option for you to put your child in non-montessori vpk? I don't know if there is an option for a 3 days a week vpk either. Another option is your child can go to summer vpk which is accelerated for 1 1/2 months I think & since the time frame is closer to your child starting Kindergarten the following school year may not be a bad idea!
All in all, it is up to you if you want to put your child in VPK. All it is, is just for socialization, getting used to being around teachers, following instructions & "school" settings. My son didn't learn a thing (that he didn't already knew before vpk) but he loved his vpk, his friends & teachers! I have a friend who didn't put her daughter in vpk & the little girl was fine starting K. You have to know your child's personality to see if he/she will be fine starting K w/out vpk.. Good luck!
My son went to preschool because I worked and they didn't have VPK in the state where we lived at the time. I think it's a good thing for kids to be able to interact with others and start to get used to the school environment. The time commitment isn't really that much and it gives you a few hours to get some things done so that you are really focused when you are together. So go to the grocery store, start prepping dinner, exercise, straighten the house. I wouldn't feel guilty at all.
