We're starting preschool...sorta!

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Registered: 01-06-2000
We're starting preschool...sorta!
1
Mon, 08-11-2003 - 9:14am
Nearly all of Allison's 4-yo friends are going to preschool five days a week this year. As you might remember, I decided against sending Allison to preschool - after visiting 4 preschools in this area in depth, I felt that they were sizeable pay-for playgroups with a craft, music and story added in (and in 3 cases the staff was rather thinly stretched). I wasn't bowled over by what I saw, because I felt I could do that at home while getting Allison involved with other children in other ways. Besides, music and reading are free as are playdates with friends, art supplies are inexpensive compared to preschool costs, and what few paying programs we'll go to are more than affordable. (I personally don't understand why parents are so eager to make their 4-yo's full-time students and get them out of the house, but that's another story.)

Well, Allison's school-aged friends are going back to school today, including Lyssa next door who is entering second grade. Preschool is starting up in the next two weeks for her 4-yo friends. During the summer, I'd been stock piling the Brighter Visions monthly workbooks and projects that I get (figuring "Hey, it's summer") to begin when the new school year started. I starting talking about her friends going to school and preschool, and told her that we'd do preschool at home (as we tried for part of last year). Oh, she *loved* the sound of that, and bugged me all weekend "Let's play preschool, Mommy". Our schedule was such that we didn't get around to it until last night, but when we did, she really delved into it. Last year, she'd get discouraged at some of the activities and so we didn't work through some of the late-spring books in their entirety. Last night we went through some of the incomplete activities, and she was eager to finish them - no complaints that such-and-such was too hard for her - and even went beyond what the pages suggested.

I think she's more than ready to follow an at-home plan for preschool whereas last year she was less focused, and I know I'll be able to mix it up with outings and crafts. Music is no problem, for we're always playing music and singing together, and she'll be joining the kid's choir at church. Reading? Again no problem! We're regulars at the library, and I can find books there and even here at home that tie into the themes of the workbooks. I'm more enthusiastic about doing this at home this year than last year, too. I hope we both want to keep it up!

Cussette

C

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Mon, 08-11-2003 - 5:41pm
I agree with you about the rush to get our kids into school at such young ages. Myself did not follow the trend either. My older son did not go to preschool either. My middle son went at the age of 4 but only for 2 days a week. It was more of a social thing. My dd went at the age of 4 too, but she was 3 days. When my last 2 did start Kindergarten it was full day, another sore subject with me. So I wanted them to have some time away before hand. I also do not send my kids away to camp all summer like many others do. I am fortunate to be able to stay home with them. They ride the bikes daily, swim in the pool, go to the park, and we visit the library. I still have to make play dates for Katie and her friends because they are only 8 and 9 but I have to do it days in advance because of the "camp" scheduals. I do not get it. Sometimes being a SAHM is not as important as it used to be. I think that you planning "school time" and "play time" on a daily basis is wonderful and I take my hat off to you. Great job!!!!!!!!!!I truely believe it is something your daughter will always rememeber.

Deb

Debbie