The Great Preschool Debate

making the decision to send to preschool

Wait…is Mabel really that old that we’re thinking about preschool?!

I guess we are.  Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the super sappy ‘where has my baby gone’ line (even though I’m totally thinking it!).

Anyway…here we are:  Do we send Mabel to preschool this fall with the three year olds or do we wait until 2016 and just send her to one year of preschool?

The selfish mom in me wants to keep her home for as long as possible since I feel like once she goes to school she’s gone (okay so I did just use the sappy line I told you earlier that I wouldn’t).  As in, unless it’s summer break or she’s still living with us after college, she’ll never be home full time as my baby anymore.

I’m being overly dramatic, right?  She’s my firstborn so I’m having a little trouble realizing that she’s getting older.

The practical mom in me knows she would enjoy preschool because she loves learning and loves playing with other kids.  It would give her some more independence, give her a chance to socialize and grow in an educational setting.  Also, preschool for her age is only a few hours in the morning so it’s not like it would be a terrible transition.

Ugh…mom problems.  And I have this feeling I’m making things way more complicated than I should be.

I would love to hear if you decided to send your child to preschool and at what age?  Any advice for me?

8 thoughts on “The Great Preschool Debate

  1. Colleen says:

    I sent both of my children to preschool at 3 and 4. At 3 they needed to be around other kids for a few hours a couple of times a week, none of my friends had kids and there were not many in our neighborhood. At 4 they went everyday in the morning and it was very structured and prepared them for kindergarten.

    I totally feel you on the, “once they start they are gone” feeling! I had the same thoughts with preschool. Now, mine are in 1st and 3rd and the end of every summer is bittersweet, but the growth they go through during a school year is incredible!

  2. Brittany Dickerson says:

    I went and picked the paperwork up, had the doctor fill out what he needed to, but I just can’t bring myself to take it back. My husband is on board with pre-school though, so he is pushing me to send him. I just don’t want to let my baby go. I’m no help, but I’m on the same “why do they grow up so fast boat ” 🙁

  3. Kelly says:

    My daughter is only a week younger than Mabel. We have decided to enroll her. It’s going to be so good for her. It’s also better, imo, to send them to pre-k now, so it’s not a shock (for everyone) when they’re gone even longer next year.

    Our set up is 2 days a week, for 2 hours a day. Next year it will be 4 hours a day, for 4 days a week! That’s a long time to just be thrown into something. Especially if it’s their first significant amount of time away from mom.

  4. Andrea says:

    We sent my oldest at age 4 this year and will be sending my 3 yr old in the fall. She needs more structure and she’s incredibly smart so she’ll excel and she’d just be bored if she stayed at home with me for the next year. It’s already killing me because she’s my last baby and I’ll miss her like crazy but she needs it more than I need her. Look at me. I’m tearing up just writing this and it’s still 6 months away lol.

  5. Shasta says:

    I’ll be sending Rylie to preschool at 3. She doesn’t get enough play time with other kids and I feel like she’ll benefit from that a ton. Plus it will get her used to going to school and being around people other than mommy all day. And let’s face it, I’m looking forward to some un-interrupted mommy time as well. LOL

  6. Tiff says:

    Only you will know what’s really right for your family and even then it’s still a nail biter. We sent both our girls at 3 for 3 days a week, they loved it and I got a little break. It also made for an easy transition when they turned 4 and went full time to prepare them for Kindergarten. The biggest bummer was that after the tearful goodbye (that ended right after the door shut behind me) my girls loved being at school and asked why they couldn’t go Tues and Thurs too!

  7. Amanda says:

    Our son is 4 turning 5 this fall and we are sending him this fall. He has that birthday where I was able to hold on a little longer. My advice? Enjoy her being just your little baby for as long as you can. You won’t get the extra year back after its done. Wait the extra year.

  8. Pingback: Operation Preschool = Success - Modern Mommyhood

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