Saturday, January 23, 2010

Because there isn't already enough to think about.

Preschool. Seems a little bit early to start thinking about that when Snuggle Bug is only about to turn two next month, right? WRONG. Holy crap this preschool stuff is a lot more in depth than I ever realized. Montessori, Play based, Waldorf, or Reggio Emilio? Which style is the best? What the heck are they anyway? Then there is the question of if preschool really is that important. The hubby didn’t go to preschool and he turned out just fine.

When I was a very young child my parents did not have a lot of money so needless to say hunting for the best preschool was not something that they had to worry about. So I went to a state funded preschool program for low income families. As a child I remember loving every minute of it. I got to play with neat toys, play with other kids – well aside from that weird kid who kept pretending to slit people’s wrists…I wonder what happened to him? - and learn about numbers, shapes and other things a geeky child such as myself enjoyed.

Obviously we’re not living in a city like New York where you have to begin planning at conception then years later get up in the middle of the night to stand outside a preschool with hundreds of other applicants praying that their child is selected. But despite that there is still the desire to make sure that my little one goes to the best preschool she can, well, as good a school as we can afford anyway. Our upcoming move is the very first one that I’ve had to consider things such as school districts, preschools and the various educational factors. The hubby just rolls his eyes when I squeal in delight about finding a new activity for us all to do in Colorado – Gymboree anyone? – I’m just so excited about finally moving somewhere larger and having access to fun classes and opportunities for Snuggle Bug.

This is one of those moments where I mention that no one tells you that parenthood has this much pressure involved. As if caring for a fragile newborn isn’t pressure enough. Now add on the pressure of trying not turning them into a mental defective and hoping twenty years later they aren’t yelling at you about how your decision to put them into a Waldorf preschool instead of a Montessori school ruined their entire life. Oh my.

4 comments:

  1. Good luck.

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    misadventuresofmomof3.me

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  2. I taught preschool for 4 years, 18-24 months old. It was 2 days a week for 3 hours. Just enough time for mommy to go to the grocery store or get her hair done. We played with shaving cream, learned sign lanquage, played outside and most importantly learned how to take direction and play nicely with our friends. And the mommies came back more relaxed and in awe that we could get 13 2 year olds to sit quietly in circle time together!

    DIane
    http://turning-the-clock-back.blogspot.com/

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  3. For my first child, I was sucked into the whole preschool thing. There was one near us that was in high demand--people camped out overnight to get their kids in to 3 and 4 year old preschool. So, I started here there in 2 year preschool--only had to wait 8 hours and got the last slot. Whew--I thought. By 4 years old, I pulled her from preschool to spend more time with me and her younger sister before Kindergarten--best decision I ever made! I haven't enrolled her 3 year old sister in preschool yet, but will for next year. Really--if you are a stay at home mom, you can do it yourself. Worried about socialization? Get involved in storytime and a playgroup. Preschool is very over-rated.

    Following you from MBC now.

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  4. Well, I see it both ways. I was a stay at home mom with no family around at all. I was lugging my 2 year old to my dr. apts and that was not fun for anyone. Mothers morning out programs are a lifesaver for such situations.

    Diane
    http://turning-the-clock-back.blogspot.com/

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