Preschool

**Jenn** · #1 June 10th, 2009, 10:23 AM

I'm getting really frustrated trying to find a preschool for Liam. I wouldn't even be looking but he's been asking me about going to school. I want something that's for half a day and only a couple days a week. And I want it to be a real preschool. The problem is it's freaking expensive around here and I don't have an extra $5,000-$10,000 to spend on preschool for the year. The ones that are free are Head Start programs and I will not put him in one of those. And the rest that are "affordable" are really just daycares. And we did not make the decision for me to be a SAHM and sacrifice as much as we have for that choice just to put him in daycare now. I want someone qualified to teach him things, especially if I'm paying money for it. And if I'm going to send him somewhere I want them to at least be as qualified as I am. Ugh, maybe I'll just shelve it until next year when he'll be 4 because this search is really ticking me off and I don't know of any other options right now.

freesiangel · #2 June 10th, 2009, 10:36 AM

Yeah, that really is a pain. I'd have the exact same problem here, so I've decided that I will most likely skip preschool, however, I will plan more day trips that are educational and probably find some curriculum books online so that I can teach my child whatever I can.

I do understand him wanting to go to a school where he can be with other kids, though. Are there any groups/clubs in your area that you can join for free so that he can have that connection? Libraries are usually good about having story times and things like that...

You could also make a school at home. Set aside a few hours every day for "school" and have a routine set in place so that he knows it's SCHOOL TIME and not time to play, watch tv, etc.

~*Bethy*~ · #3 June 10th, 2009, 10:37 AM

Im going thru the SAME PROBLEM!!! I really dislike headstart and I dont have an extra $6 GRAND A YEAR for PRESCHOOL!!! We just desided last night to homeschool, its pointless to do anything else and we dont have thousands of dollars laying around. We are primarily teaching how they would in public school, with a waldorf twist. Let me know if you want some info

Hang in there

~Beth

**Jenn** · #4 June 10th, 2009, 11:02 AM

I have been looking into other little programs but even the little story times at the library cost money! We do go there frequently and work on the computers and we read a ton. I also have a lot of little workbooks that we do too. He loves to learn and is really excited when I tell him its time to learn now. We're working on writing letters and he's doing pretty well. I think I may just skip preschool altogether since I think what he really wants is to play with other kids and that can be solved with a trip to the playground. I will start taking them on more educational type outings--we've done museums and such in the past and they both really enjoy them.

I'd love any info you have Beth--Ian and I are seriously discussing homeschooling the kids. My BA is in psychology but I worked as an early intervention teacher before being a SAHM and went back to school before the boys too for elementary ed. I actually stopped that because I realized I didn't really want to be a school teacher but I'm only one semester of classes and student teaching away from an el ed degree. So I feel pretty confident in homeschooling.

Resi · #5 June 10th, 2009, 11:26 AM

What about looking into a homeschool get together group for his age? You can always have a school day for him at home and teach him preschool stuff. My guess is that he wants to go to a "school" like a big boy.