When it was time for us to start thinking about Pre-K for our oldest son, we were overwhelmed with options and opinions. We had just had twins, and he needed some structure to his day that we couldn’t give him at home. But as a young 4 year old with one of those “do we send him/do we wait” birthdays, we really weren’t ready for him to be away from home all day.
We decided half-day Pre-K would be great for him, and it was! We loved that he could go to school in the morning and still be home with me in the afternoon. He got the socialization & structure he needed, and I got some time to myself in the mornings while our twins napped and he was at school.
The thought of him entering a crowded school cafeteria as a tiny little just-turned 4-year-old was enough to make me run and hide, and he was able to get the feel for what school would be like without having to do some of the things that I thought might be a little scary for him.
Most importantly, he learned so much! I don’t know how his teacher did it, but somehow she packed a ton of playtime AND learning into just a few hours a day.
This year, the decision about sending your kiddo to school is even harder! You might really be needing your kiddo out of the house and at school right now, but worried about what they could bring home after eating in a crowded and rowdy cafeteria, or after being in a music classroom that at some point will have every student in the school cycling in and out of it. I get it.
With half-day Pre-K, you don’t have to worry about crowded cafeterias and classrooms, you’ll still get the little break you need from your kiddo who has been home since March, and they will still get a quality education. It’s a win-win-win!
If you’re reading this post and you’re in Edmond Public Schools, the only half-day Pre-K offered this year is at Clyde Howell. This is where our son went to school last year, and I could go on for days about how great it is. There are 4 half-day classrooms, wonderful staff, and they pack loads of fun and learning into each and every day. We started the year with our son’s teacher coming to visit him at our house, so he already had a familiar face to look for on the first day of school.
The year was packed with field trips to the fire station, a farm day where they transformed the playground into a farmyard, holiday festivals, and a Wheels Day where they got to bring their bikes to school for a parade. Even though this school year is sure to look different, I’m confident they will still find a way to provide wonderful experiences for your child while keeping them as safe as possible.
If you are among the ranks of parents who are on the fence about school this year, I would really encourage you to look for half-day Pre-Ks in your area. Clyde Howell still has openings in their half-day program, and I’m willing to bet that other programs do, too! Half-day Pre-Ks offer a great transition between home life and school life and lets you wait on some of those super crowded experiences like eating in a cafeteria until next year.
It’s been said before, but I want to repeat it because no one can hear it enough right now: no matter what you decide to do regarding your children and their education this year, you are a great mama!!
