Hi Meg
My DS is starting his 3rd year of preschool, he went at 2.5 for 3 afternoons, then at 3.5 5 mornings and this fall he is is going 5 day full day after doing 5 days of camp for the summer at the same place. DS is an only so I thought it was important that he socialize with other kids. However, my main reason for sending him was so he could get into the next year's class - the afternoon led to the morning to the full day and then people could take spaces if there were any left. I don't know if my kid is typical gifted in preferences if there is such a thing, but he prefers the adults. Especially at 2.5. he loved the songs and the routine and charming them. As for the other kids, I think he more got used to them, in playmates at that age, it was completely parallel play - at 4.5 he still does that sometimes because most kids won't do his level of imaginative play. The flip side is that he has a very hard time with the fact that kids won't do what he wants them to. Adults do, especially his parents, sure you wants us to stand a round and hop!! And the negative sides of socialization exist too - hitting, biting, being mean. So I think both sides are valuable - but I think I come down on the side of the knowledge first, socialization second, so I think the sitter will be just as valuable if not more. If your DD was 6 and you were worried about socialization, I think you might have a point, but not now. Now is when you can foster a love of learning and reading and nature and that's great one on one. As another perspective not sure this is worth anything but bottom line, you can't really go wrong here, unless your kid is miserable!
DeHe
