Need enrichment program for young child (Chantilly, Fairfax: appointed, daycare, house)

[liloulou]

My child misses the kindergarten cut off date and she is disappointed she can't go to school like her neighborhood friends. She was really interested in reading, spelling, math, etc... at home but has since become bored and highly disinterested since she has realized (about a month ago) that she can't go to school yet.

In exchange I'm looking for a place (like Kumon, but not Kumon- unless people have had really great experiences there) for her to do a part-time enrichmment class. Looking for reading, writing, addition, subtraction, etc...

She has no patience or interest anymore to do these things with me at home, but she wants to do them "at school". I even tried to set up a "school" in our house, but she's not fooled...

We debated sending her to a private school to start Kindergarten early (they did test and accept her), but we can't afford it.

So anyone have good places to go for supplementing reading and math for an almost 5 yr old in the Fairfax or Chantilly area?

Thanks so much!

[michgc]

Isn't there a school with a pre-K program at a preschool that isn't so expensive? My oldest daughter has a November birthday and was in a pre-K class with other students with fall birthdays. Their class was every bit as challenging as Kindergarten was the following year in FCPS. Unfortunately, it made for a very boring Kindergarten year. But her Pre-K year was great. For five mornings a week, it was about $325 per month.

[liloulou]

Well, she is in daycare twice a week, but it's pretty much all play. They sent out the "pre-k" curriculum and it was just all general stuff that she knows... and they don't do any phonics, sight words, beginning reading, math skills, etc... it's really just big-picture concepts of things and arts and crafts.
Sounds like the place you sent your child is great and not costly either. If you remember it, please tell me.

Thanks.

[momtotwoboys]

my son did the pre-k program at Dolley Madison in Mclean. Great program! Basicly, it is a watered down Kindergarten curriculum. For kids who already completed a 4 year old program or needed an extra year to mature. It was M-F in the afternoons. Where are you located?

[smagid]

There are many pre-schools that have Junior Kindergarten for those children that may have missed the cut-off. Some of these are 5 days of week while others may have shorter programs.

[ChristineVA]

My child went to a daycare center (MANY years ago) that offered true Pre-K. She knew how how to read by the time she entered Kindergarten and, in fact, used the same readers that the public schools were using.

I think you just need to do some more investigating.

Also, don't rule out some the religious-based pre-schools. They usually do a great job of that with the pre-K stuff. My son used them also and we were not affiliated with any particular church or religion.

[liloulou]

I am located in western Chantilly, near South Riding. I'd prefer to not remove my child from her daycare though since all of her friends are there, and the change would just be for one year. Don't want too many disruptions. But perhaps I can look further and find a program that would take her once a week or so.... that's why I was hoping to find a center or place where we could go once a week and she could have some learning there as opposed to completely changing her pre-k program.

[doublelatte]

A lot of preschools have Jr. Kindy so that might be an option. Kumon is good and my kids like it, but frankly, if cost is an issue, it can run almost as much as preschool (240 a month around here, if you do reading and math). If she likes her daycare, could you do a homeschool curriculum with her? There are lots of free ones/low cost online. I did that for my youngest who wasn't ready socially for school, but was ready academically.

[theBIGstep]

Not sure how far you are willing to drive but there is a new school in Gainesville, VA (20-25 min from S. Riding -back roads) which offers classes to home school children on a per class basis. This may be something that could work out in enrichment area.

I know how challenging it can be to have a child miss a cut off date from personal experience and how you want to find other options to support learning. I wish a place like St. Anne's was around when I was looking...

Homeschool Class Registration | A Specialized Instructional Program for Girls <br>Offering a Multi-Media Approach to the Classical Arts<br>

Went to open house for the school...PM me if interested.