My 2 older children are starting preschool in less tan a month! (year round school) I am really excited & really nervous. Any experiences that may help me?
They are going to be in the same class, I just found out! They are 3 & 4, but since she'll be 4 before Jan. she'll be in the same class as him. I'm excited about that, but also wondering if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
My oldest was in daycare for a little while when he was really young & my daughter for only a couple of months, because she was so sick all the itme. My baby has never been, but even the 2 older ones don't remember cause they were so young!

By Mommierenee on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 01:29 pm:

I guess I should clarify - my question is just whether anyone wants to share some stories??

By Mommyathome on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 03:05 pm:

My two oldest are just a year apart (well, 14 months) and so they have ended up in the same dance class before. It was kind of tough. Always seemed to be a competition between them. They didn't end up in the same preschool class though.
This year my oldest will be in first grade and my other DD will be in kindergarten.

By Lauram on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 06:04 pm:

I would be concerned about them being in the same class. I'm not sure that's a good solution. They need to have their own friends and their own "place" IMHO. They are still quite young, but I still feel that depending on their personalities they could cling to each other or become competitive with one another-neither of which you want. Are there any other options? At my school (elementary) twins, triplets are ALWAYS separated for that reason.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 10:34 pm:

My girls 7. Will be in 2nd grade this year. Our district does not put siblings in the same class. Multiples or siblings of any kind for that matter. And I agree with Laura, they need their space to be more than just a sibling to someone else. I could see issues coming up if my girls were in the same class. They are polar opposites and it would causes issues for sure.

By Melanie on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 06:49 am:

My boys are 20 months apart and just a year apart in school. They were in the same preschool for one year. It was great. They still had their own friends, but looked for each other when they needed to. The sibling rivalry hadn't really kicked in yet. Now that they are 8 and almost 7 I would never want them in the same class. But at that age it was a really good thing.

By Deek on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 07:49 am:

I direct a preschool and we have put twins in the same class...at 4 and 5 it seems to work..like Melanie said..they make their own friends but tend to look out for each other..I would not think it a good idea when they are older but for their first school experience I think it would work..

By Mommierenee on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 11:54 am:

That's what I'm wondering, if they will just cling to each other? Although, my son tells me "I will play with boys, and (his sister) will play with girls" when they talk about going to school.
My DS will be going to kindergarden next year though.

By Mommmie on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 11:56 am:

I guess I would be a bit concerned bec they are mixing kids entering kindergarten in one year with kids who are entering kindergarten in two years. I would think that a PK4 class would be a tad more academic in nature to get them prepared for kindergarten which would not be appropriate for a child who still has a whole 'nother year to go.

I would want the 3-year-old with her peers who will be entering kindergarten the same year.

I don't see an issue with sibs being together in general. At our public school they allow multiples to stay together if the parent wants that. It helps on homework and other scheduling issues and the kids prefer it too. MANY parents choose to keep them together.

By Mommierenee on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 11:59 am:

I'm hoping now that when we go to meet the teacher on July 14, she won't say that she doesn't like siblings in the same class or say something about her age? I don't know, I guess I am just nervous still!!
I am used to the idea now of them being in the same class. I think my daughter is about at the same level as my son, since they are so close in age, they learn everything at the same time & I was actually worried about her being in a class with 3 year olds, since she turns 4 only 2 months after school starts.
I am just thinking out loud here, we'll see how it goes.

By Mommmie on Friday, June 25, 2004 - 12:58 pm:

Wait and see, that's a good idea. Your son may not be too thrilled to have his *little* sister in the same class if she's at his same developmental level, but a year younger.