So, after declaring that one of my New Year's Resolutions was to find some kind of nursery school for Becca, I have found one. It is only about 10 minutes away. And, they have a birthday cut-off date of Dec. 31st, so that means that if I can get Becca potty trained by September, she can join the 3 year old preschool class (she won't be the only 2 year old in there, they just call it the 3s because everyone turns 3 during the school year).
I went to the open house this morning and I met the teacher. I was very impressed with the facility and everyone was so nice. But, they probably think I'm a total freak. I started CRYING when the teacher showed us the "Goodbye Window" where the kids wave goodbye to their parents. I could tell the teacher wanted to hug me, but probably thought since I am not 3 years old that maybe it would be a little...weird, or something. Not like crying at the preschool open house is weird. It isn't weird is it? Oh god. It is. It is weird. I'm a total freak.
Anyway, it meets two mornings a week for 2.5 hours. It is in a church (a church denomination I've never heard of...I hope it doesn't involve tongue-speaking and snake-wrangling...not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that, if it is your thing, but it most definitely ain't my thang). The good part for us is that they have 3, 4 and 5 year old programs. This is perfect for kids with late birthdays, because it means she won't have repeat the 4 year program since she will still be too young for kindergarten when she is 5. (She'll start kindergarten when she is like 5 and 3/4). So, she could stay at the same school for three years and keep getting into progressively more educational stuff as she does.
I need to make SURE this is what I want to do. And I need to decide ASAP before the damn thing fills up while I'm over here wringing my hands. Do I want to do this? Will it make my life easier or harder? I'll have to be getting up and getting her out the door two days a week....but then, I'll have 2.5 hours to myself after that. It sure sounds worth it to me. But, is there anything wrong with someone taking three years of preschool instead of two? I mean, I am new at this, and I have no clue what I'm doing. Am I overlooking anything? What do I need to know?
Please weigh in if you have any experience with this (or even if you don't!) Thanks!
Aging is for the weak, and everyone else
2 months ago
17 comments:
We almost sent our daughters to preschool the fall before they turned 3. We were on the waiting list, and there was 2 openings, and we almost went for it. AND THEN I realized that they were going to have YEARS of getting up and heading out the door, and that it was my luxury to have them home, to keep them young, for one more year.
So we took them off the list, and they joined the program the NEXT year, when they were 3, almost 4.
Yes, I would have had some precious time to myself, but for us, it just didn't seem like something we needed to rush into. I feel like we made the best decision for our family. I WAS also glad that they weren't in preschool for 3 years. That just seemed too long. Plus, they ended up being so READY the following year. I think if we would have sent them the previous year, it would have been pushing them, pushing the potty training, forcing them to grow up before they were ready...
That is MY experience. I'm sure you'll make the decision that is best for you and Becca! (I know other families that sent their kids for three years, and that was the best for THEM.)
Katie,
You know I have been working in the kindergarten classroom up here for three years in alaska. I think that would be a great start for Becca. I can tell who in our class has had schooling before they come in and they are much more advanced than the children who haven't. Socially and educationally they are so much more ahead. I wish I had done that with my kids. However they didnt have preschool for kids there under the age of four unless they were special needs. Education is the best thing you can give your kids, and it will make a big difference in the upcoming years at school. They catch on so much faster than the others. That is my two cents.
My friend Kelsey JUST started her daugher (newly 3) in pre-school last week. She LOVES is. As in, the daughter loves it. Kelsey (the Mom) is having a little bit of a hard time. Anyway, thought it was relevant.
mdwestmom.blogspot.com
Kelsey's great, by the way, I know her in real life. She'd be happy to give more feedback if you ask.
I'd put her name on the list, and at the very least, it will give you time to think! Two-and a-half hours two times per week will allow you to get a couple of errands run. Becca will love it! You'll meet new people. And you probably will cry again, but you'll get over it!
Hook 'Em!
David went to kindergarten on Pippinger Strasse when he was 3 and he did OK there. Do they speak German, English, or_?_.
John, Becca's Daddy, started nursery school in Singapore because the British believe in very early education. He went 2 yeaars while we were there and loved it. My feeling is if you are happy with the setup and Becca is, go for it. You can always change your mind. I have learned that very little in today's world is "in concrete".
maybe if you have concerns, sign her up, give it a try and if it doesn't go so well, see if you can save a spot for her in January ???
good luck. sass went to preschool this year, she turned 3 in august so she is in the young 3 year old class, she was ready. i was ready. it is the BEST thing. 2 days a week.
After doing this with three of my own, and vicariously through my 3 nieces. I have this to say...Totally depends on the child.
Out of the 6 I mentioned, every single one was its own situation. One of my nieces suffered a little from being thrust into a school environment before she was ready (although this was more like a 5 day a week program). My sister in law always put her girls in earlier than I did my boys. I was not as "strung out" by having mine at home as she was.
I do think that every child needs some type of program to get ready for kindergarten. Admittedly, my kids go to a fairly demanding private school, but even in a less demanding environment it can only benefit a child to spend at least 1year in a less stressul and structured environment learning not only academics, but school behavior. Sitting in a group at a designated time, sharing, taking turns to talk, walking in a line, etc, etc. However, for most kids I think one year of this is sufficient. I couldn't bear to send Grant (my youngest- the baby) before this year (he is 4). However, he, like Becca, will be starting kinder late. He is a June birthday and I feel very very strongly about boys not being a socially ready for school as early as girls. (everyone please save your hate mail - I dont care what you say Ive seen the same thing over and over and over.) So, his first year in preschool is his 4 year old year, but he will be doing a 4/5 bridge program next year and starting kinder as a 6 year old. That is kind of the norm around here (especially in the private schools)for boys with summer b-days.
The great thing is that he was SOOOO excited to finally go to school that there was never any separation anxiety or crying or anything. He can't wait to get up and go and is sad on T/Th when he doesn't go. His BFF however still cries and begs not to go most school mornings. I personally, with no scientific evidence, believe this is because she was put into school at 2 before she was ready. My oldest was more than ready at 2 (he was an old 2 like Becca). My middle was not ready until 3/4.
All my rambling really means is that you know your child better than anyone else possibly could. YOU know in your heart if she is ready for some big-kid time twice a week. And, 2.5 hours twice a week is not as daunting as a 3 day a week program....
For me personally, it has worked both ways. In the end, looking back (my oldest is almost 13) I agree with Marie Green. They spend so many years spending 8 hours or more away from home every day. Those pre-school years were more precious than I realized at the time. They grow up so fast. I do remember though how hard it was to ever make a dr, dentist or hair appt for myself...so...listen to your heart.
I just made it worse didn't I?? AND made myself sound OLD in the process. Whatever you do it will be the right decsion no matter what.
So sorry for hijacking your comments!
Do it. Do it for both of you. 2 1/2 hours twice a week is NOT BAD!! And it will be good for her socially. I had a hard time deciding to send Claire anywhere, but I decided she needed a little structure before being thrown into going to school everyday.
It is also good for you too. The time is good for you schedule doc appointments, hair appts, etc.
You can always change your mind too. Try it for a semester and then if you feel like it is too much, then quit.
Holly started preschool the year she turned 3 (her birthday in Nov). she was hit and miss liking it the first year. Well, I mean she loved it once she got there and I left, but she did occasionally want me to stay for a few minutes. I really thought she was 'ready' for preschool, and the second year there she never looked back at me as she went into class. She did 2 days a week the first year, and 3 days the next. By then I (and her teacher) felt she was ready for kindergarten, which has taken us down a whole new 'what do I do??' dilemma with schooling. I did appreciate the time to myself and myself & Alan. I agree with everyone who's said sign her up and wait and see. Although if the cost up front is heavy that might be a downside of backing out... Good luck deciding! Plus I doubt you're the only one those teachers have seen cry at open house. Just shows how much to care about her!
I cried during open house too. I also cry during parent nights, parent-teacher conferences, etc. Sigh.
We enrolled our firstborn in 3-year-old preschool and 4-year-old preschool in addition to kindergarten. We enrolled our secondborn in 4-year-old preschool and kindergarten. And we'll put the youngest three just in kindergarten. That's because I think the greatest value of preschool is social development, and our youngest three have got a ton of that already. Plus, the money is tighter now. Also, the potty-training was really hard to get done in time.
But if it were free, I would do it. I think it's good for kids. I don't think of 3-year-old preschool as "school" at all, and it really isn't: it's songs and crafts and playing outside---all the things you'd do at home, but in a group, and someone else cleans up the messes. The only school-like part is that they start learning to obey a teacher, to sit in a circle, to form a line. I don't think of that as pushing kids academically.
I would definitely do it! RJ was anxious the first 2 weeks and then he got over it. He loves school-- talks about it all the time. He can name each child in his class and seems to have new little friends. He loves the activities- painting, chapel, singing, dancing, arts and crafts, cooking, etc. He has become so much more comfortable around other children since I put him in Mother's Day Out. It has really been a positive experience.
Oh and I totally cried the first month of school! But- I soon got over it when I realized how much I could accomplish during those two days.
Just curious- what's the denomination of the church?
I have no advice, I just wanted to say I am glad you found a place where you are comfortable with the surroundings and the staff.
I say do it. She'll love it and you need a break. Don't feel guilty.
Olivia was a regular at hourly care at FWR. She missed it so much when we got here and would keep asking to go to school. I think she was truly sad and wanted to socialize with kids her age again. But, we didn't put her in a school like most American families here do by age two. We decided to put her in preschool when she turns 3.5 in September. Matt wouldn't let me do it sooner. Matt's mother taught preschool for over 10-years and is highly recommending that we start Olivia a few times a week by age 3.5. I'm a bit nervous b/c the English speaking schools are too expensive. So, we're putting her in a Portuguese preschool. Her teachers speak fluent English. Most students will not. The teachers say she'll understand completely in 3 months and speak fluently at six months. We'll see. I'm nervous about it.
Natalie,
Katie and her brother, David, went to a German speaking kindergarten for about 8 months in Munich when they were 5 turning 6 (Katie) and 3(David). They both learned "kinderdeutch" as we called it then, and we were pleased with the set-up. Katie's teacher spoke a bit of English, but David's did not. He was a pretty laid back kid and did very well communicating and playing with the kids - as did Katie.
Do you remember much of that, Katie? Besides Gregor...
Katie, I am doing the same thing with Schaefer in the fall. He will be 3 on sept 3 and so misses the county cut-off date of sept 1. I have convinced the school where my other 2 are to let him into the 3's and he will do 4's and pre-k at the preschool. He will start kindergarten when he is 6 and I am good with that. I think that the socialization with other kids the same age is great!!!!!!! And it is another way for you to meet other moms. Meghan started pre-school at 2 and loved it and I appreciated the couple of hours a week to myself. It's not like she is going to go 5 days a week. It's a few hours a week and the great thing about preschool is that if there is a morning that you just don't want to get up-it's just preschool and nobody gets hurt!!! I say go for it.
Katie - trust your gut. Your mom instincts will guide you - Hannah started daycare at 9 weeks old when I had to come back to work full time, and she's been at the same daycare since then (she'll be 2 years old in Feb). At each age milestone, we take a look around at other school/center options, and we feel so lucky that we are happy with the center she is in. It doesn't mean it'll be easy at the beginning - the first day I dropped Hannah off I was a total mess (and then had to come into the office - fun!) and realized I didn't even know all of the teachers' names - did I just leave my baby with strangers?!? Yes, but I had done enough homework to know it would all work out. I know you'll make the right decision for you and Becca. Good luck!
Post a Comment