Pre School
Mar 18th 2005, 9:05 am
#16
looking for the corkscrew
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Sooooo Bay Area
Posts: 1,997
Re: Pre School
[QUOTE=Shish kebab]Hi woodsey I think Pre School is a way of life here. I sent my girl to daycare P/T for a few months before we moved to LA because she was so shy and didn't want to mix with others. I thought if she could mix and I wasn't there for her to cling to it would help and it did. It took a couple of weeks for her to settle in. I found it hard to leave her at first but then I was starting to enjoy the little free time I had. I worked P/T and that helped me to meet other people. Pre School is good for getting them ready for school but I don't really think it is something you must do. I go to the park as much as I can so she can play with the other kids. I have had a look at daycare/pre schools. Don't go with the big corporate places they charge a fortune and you get less for your money the family ones I find are better. There are less kids but they get the attention. Visit a few if you are going to look and remember to ask to see there registered file when you visit. I haven't heard of any co-ops. It is hard not having any family to fall back on if you need a break.
Not necessarily true - my son's class has a maximum of 8 - most preschools have a ratio of 1 to 12. It is as expensive as every other one in the bay area. All the teachers have their degree in early childcare (not all places have their teachers do this)The facilities are very clean, new and they have a lovely play area. I feel we get more for our money there. He goes on outings and has fantastic 'project' time which we do not pay a penny more for.
Just me twopenneth again
Not necessarily true - my son's class has a maximum of 8 - most preschools have a ratio of 1 to 12. It is as expensive as every other one in the bay area. All the teachers have their degree in early childcare (not all places have their teachers do this)The facilities are very clean, new and they have a lovely play area. I feel we get more for our money there. He goes on outings and has fantastic 'project' time which we do not pay a penny more for.
Just me twopenneth again
Mar 18th 2005, 9:31 am
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Pre School
My thought?
Go with YOUR gut instinct. Don't be pressured into putting your kid into pre-school just yet if that is not what YOU want to do
Go with YOUR gut instinct. Don't be pressured into putting your kid into pre-school just yet if that is not what YOU want to do
Mar 18th 2005, 10:15 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, UK
Posts: 104
Re: Pre School
Originally Posted by woodsey
My son is approaching two and a half, I am constantly asked why he isn't in pre school yet. Personally I think he's too young to be going anywhere but is he missing out?
I have never left him with anyone other than family members, the thought of leaving him horrifies me but maybe now is the time...I'm just not sure.
Any experiences, thoughts would be much appreciated.
I have never left him with anyone other than family members, the thought of leaving him horrifies me but maybe now is the time...I'm just not sure.
Any experiences, thoughts would be much appreciated.
www.ccrcla.org
Mar 18th 2005, 10:21 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, UK
Posts: 104
Re: Pre School
Originally Posted by bored-silly
Not necessarily true - my son's class has a maximum of 8 - most preschools have a ratio of 1 to 12. It is as expensive as every other one in the bay area. All the teachers have their degree in early childcare (not all places have their teachers do this)The facilities are very clean, new and they have a lovely play area. I feel we get more for our money there. He goes on outings and has fantastic 'project' time which we do not pay a penny more for.
Just me twopenneth again
Just me twopenneth again
Mar 18th 2005, 10:37 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Pre School
[QUOTE=bored-silly]
I think its all a matter of opinion. Federal law requires that it be a ratio of 1 to 10, and every big corporate preschool that I saw was at that limit and gunning for more kids. In fact Kindercare was at 20, with just two people, what chaos for a group of 3 year olds. On top of that its mandatory here in Washington (and Oregon) that small children in daycare/preschool have to take a 2 hour nap/rest if they're at the school for the whole day. That turned me off big time. Anyway, that aside....I'm still looking for a good preschool.
Originally Posted by Shish kebab
Hi woodsey I think Pre School is a way of life here. I sent my girl to daycare P/T for a few months before we moved to LA because she was so shy and didn't want to mix with others. I thought if she could mix and I wasn't there for her to cling to it would help and it did. It took a couple of weeks for her to settle in. I found it hard to leave her at first but then I was starting to enjoy the little free time I had. I worked P/T and that helped me to meet other people. Pre School is good for getting them ready for school but I don't really think it is something you must do. I go to the park as much as I can so she can play with the other kids. I have had a look at daycare/pre schools. Don't go with the big corporate places they charge a fortune and you get less for your money the family ones I find are better. There are less kids but they get the attention. Visit a few if you are going to look and remember to ask to see there registered file when you visit. I haven't heard of any co-ops. It is hard not having any family to fall back on if you need a break.
Not necessarily true - my son's class has a maximum of 8 - most preschools have a ratio of 1 to 12. It is as expensive as every other one in the bay area. All the teachers have their degree in early childcare (not all places have their teachers do this)The facilities are very clean, new and they have a lovely play area. I feel we get more for our money there. He goes on outings and has fantastic 'project' time which we do not pay a penny more for.
Just me twopenneth again
Not necessarily true - my son's class has a maximum of 8 - most preschools have a ratio of 1 to 12. It is as expensive as every other one in the bay area. All the teachers have their degree in early childcare (not all places have their teachers do this)The facilities are very clean, new and they have a lovely play area. I feel we get more for our money there. He goes on outings and has fantastic 'project' time which we do not pay a penny more for.
Just me twopenneth again
I think its all a matter of opinion. Federal law requires that it be a ratio of 1 to 10, and every big corporate preschool that I saw was at that limit and gunning for more kids. In fact Kindercare was at 20, with just two people, what chaos for a group of 3 year olds. On top of that its mandatory here in Washington (and Oregon) that small children in daycare/preschool have to take a 2 hour nap/rest if they're at the school for the whole day. That turned me off big time. Anyway, that aside....I'm still looking for a good preschool.
Mar 18th 2005, 10:40 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Pre School
Originally Posted by Shish kebab
Hi woodsey I think Pre School is a way of life here. I sent my girl to daycare P/T for a few months before we moved to LA because she was so shy and didn't want to mix with others. I thought if she could mix and I wasn't there for her to cling to it would help and it did. It took a couple of weeks for her to settle in. I found it hard to leave her at first but then I was starting to enjoy the little free time I had. I worked P/T and that helped me to meet other people. Pre School is good for getting them ready for school but I don't really think it is something you must do. I go to the park as much as I can so she can play with the other kids. I have had a look at daycare/pre schools. Don't go with the big corporate places they charge a fortune and you get less for your money the family ones I find are better. There are less kids but they get the attention. Visit a few if you are going to look and remember to ask to see there registered file when you visit. I haven't heard of any co-ops. It is hard not having any family to fall back on if you need a break.
I have sent you a PM
I have sent you a PM
No you don't have to do preschool, but your child is going to be much better off if he's had at least a bit of preschool. This was something my older daughter's teacher asked as soon as she started normal school. In the end kids are required to learn much more stuff earlier than ever before. Even if they don't "learn" anything, at least they are going to be familiar with the structure of school before they have to go for real.
