my son was turned down for headstart............?

Question

because "we make too much money"(which I find amusing because we live pay check to paycheck, and it's hard to get by) What can I do so that he can have a good start? he just turned 4 in July

Answer 1

Have you thought about putting him in a play group?Thereare a lot of educational games you can purchase and teach him from home. Another idea is to get him into some sort of extracurricular activity that will still stimulate his mind as well as his physical being.
I find this a rather ridiculous idea also, as far as "making too much money". It shouldn't matter how much income you earn when it comes to your child's education. Isn't that like putting a monetary value on the values of education itself? Like if you are a 2 income family or a single parent family, doesn't that sort of set a child up to be categorized in his or her future? Doesn't really seem fair to me that there are children out there that are just itching to learn and they get shorted out of it because there is another child whose parents choose not to work and just want to get them out of the house for the day so that they don't have to deal with them. Really sad to me. Good luck!
I'm sorry but I just have to say that I posted my answer and then read what other people gave you for responses and I hope to God that everyone reads this because I have this to say to "because I said so"! My step son will be attending Head Start this year and so will a lot of my friends' children. How dare you call someone's children ghetto!? You don't know the situations of these people. My step son is NOT ghetto for your information...Try being a little more open minded and a lot more understanding and walk a mile in a person's shoes before you make stupid comments such as the one you made to answer this lady's question!
I will say in response to because I said so that head start in Iowa is a completely different animal than in Georgia apparently. I used to work at the facility where the head start is and I can tell you that there is a lot of learning that goes on there. I do want the best for my step son and because of the fact that he is an only child, all that are involved in this decision to send him
to head start completely agree that the experience will be good for him. I understand that different states do things very differently. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this particular point. And also I wasn't trying to come across as whiny when I typed my response earlier. I just got angry that anyone would say such a thing about a child. Looking forward to sparring with you again some time...:)

Answer 2

Home school him. Research the kind of things that they teach in preschool. Basically ABC's and 123's. Do activities that they do such as finger paint and sing, play outside. Enroll him into a play group to expose him to social aspects of being around other children his age.

I would be upset if this happened to me while just trying to get my child an education and a good start. You may also want to seek out other head starts in your area, there are usually more than one available. If you cannot find one, try 'appealing' to the head start that you already applied at. Explain to them in detail why you are upset and why you feel that your son should be able to attend their school. Of course don't get too angry because if they change their minds, then you will have to continue to deal with them. If need be- bring in copies of your bills and write out exactly where all your money goes to so that they can see why you are living paycheck to paycheck the way the rest of us are. Good luck.

Answer 3

Read with him every night (or as often as possible) even if for only 10 minutes.Point to the words as you read and he'll begin to relate the sounds you say with the words. You can start teaching him math by using candy or cheerios. If you have a safe playground nearby (or relatives with kids (near)the same age) let him play with other children, so he'll be used to sharing, and getting along with others. To inspire his creative brain you could ask him to tell you stories (write them down so you can show him when he gets older).

I hope this helped.

To some of the responders: HeadStart is a federally funded program. So they KNOW your real financial stuff (you can't lie) and I'm guessing it would be difficult to appeal. My cousin worked for Head Start and it is NOT crap. It really helps those that get in it.

Answer 4

Well you are on the same page as I am however I am preparing by having classes at home. Colors, money, alphabets and so forth, I have purchased workbooks, I have bought school supplies as if he is in school. Just spend some time with him everyday. I also have him in a playgroup so that he can have some social skills. I am looking for other things to put him in to mingle with other kids he wants to do karate he wants to be a power ranger,lol not sure if I want a power ranger running around my house,lol

but think about it I am sure your child will love the extra time you spend together.

Answer 5

You can get hooked on phonics, teach him at home. Mostly, they will teach him colors, the alphabet, how to write his name, etc.. You can teach him all of that but what you can't teach him is the social interaction with peers his own age.

Head start income levels are VERY low. Even though you are living pay check to pay check like most people are, you are still above those limits. It's like $16,000 for a family of four.... that's pretty low. It's poverty level.

If it is that you want him to learn more, you can do that. Alot of people choose head start to get out of paying daycare, understandably so.

Answer 6

Well love him, feed him of course, but also nourish him too, with a variety of experiences, ideas, places to go and they all don't have to be expensive. Read to him, sing with him, introduce him to different kinds of people who are not like him. Teach him to be kind and generous in spirit and time and even with his own currency, toys ,money eventually. Give him something bigger than himself to believe in. Encourage him to be curious and learn different things. Teach him manners and self discipline, to be respectful about himself and others, to know his personal boundaries.

Teach him to share, to not look down on someone because they aren't exactly like him or they don't have the same things he does. Be an excellent role model, children immitate what they see. Teach him what friendship is and how to be a good friend as well as choose good friends.

Finally teach him to love , to give love and receive love in return.

Answer 7

Teach him his ABC's, how to count, shapes, colors, read to him. They have a set rate of income, they use these income guidelines regardless. Above all make it fun for him. I made up little songs to reinforce things for my son. Go to the library they have disks and tapes that help with the alphabet.

Answer 8

I'll bet you can come up with as long and impressive a list as I can of people who turned out very well without the benefit of Headstart.

Start with Thomas Jefferson, and don't worry! Your boy will be just fine, dear!

Answer 9

i wouldnt want my kids in a school only for ghetto kids anyway. Read to him, make sure he knows his shapes, colors, ABC's, and how to count and sort objects. My son is 3 and he knows all these things. We are working on teaching him to write his name. Good luck and be glad your son was rejected for that crap!!!!


Sorry to offend...but Im just telling it like it is. I live in GA, and I have never in my life known anyone decent who sent their kids to head start. Pre-K for 4year-olds here is free to everyone. Head start, however, accepts children who miss the age limit for pre-k. It is nothing like pre-k in my county. All the kids that live in the housing projects go to head start just so their moms can lay up and get a free babysitter. I wanted better for my kids, and as a parent you should want the best for your child. So there is a response to anyone I offended.....and I will NOT apologize to any whiney *** that I made upset. Thats life...deal with it. Head Start is ghetto.......just wait until hes old enough for pre-k. Thats where the learning is. Head start is day care with a small bit of learning mixed in.

Answer 10

They sell some fun workbooks with stickers at drugstores such as Walgreen's and CVS. If not they might have them at the bookstores.