Can you tell your opinion about this please??

Question

My daughter is now 3 yrs 8 months(June 7th). She is going to a nearby daycare centre in Berkeley, CA since past 7 months after we have moved to US. I am a stay at home mom. Initially we started sending her to preschool just thinking that it will help her to learn to speak English so that she will not find difficulty when she starts regular schooling. Now she is very good in speaking english(almost forgetting our mother tongue). I am just thinking of stop sending her to school because of some financial conflicts. Do you think that she feels boring at home since she is the only kid at home and she doesnt have any friends nearby? Any idea about the places where she can have fun or some activities or any activity centres for the kids nearby? And her school schedule is inturrupting her breakfast, lunch and afternoon nap timings. Do you think I can keep her occupied her in some activities without sending to daycare till her regular schooing startsl?

Answer 1

Socialization is very important at that age. Learning to take turns, stand in line, getting along with other children, etc. are all skills that are helpful when starting school. If you at all can, keep her in preschool. Perhaps you can find a class that doesn't interfere with her schedule so much. If finances are a problem, as you mentioned, check and see if there is a Headstart program in your area. They offer free or low-cost classes for preschool kids. Also, check your local school district for preschool classes. Many of them offer scholarship programs to help pay for the classes.

For other options, find a nearby park and start going on a regular basis. Generally you will find other parents who take their kids there, too, and you can meet some of them. Set up some playdates. Call around and see if there is a moms group around, too. They are usually free and offer chances to get to know other parents and their children. Sometimes you can find babysitting co-ops, too, where you take care of their child and then they take care of yours. That way your child would have a chance to play with other children.

Do a search online for "mom groups" in your area. Connect up with some other parents in the area.

If you do this, then take time to do some teaching at home to make up for not going to school. Teach her colors, numbers, shapes and the alphabet. Children who learn these things do much better in kindergarten.

Answer 2

This is a personal choice. I agree with the possibility of you taking a part time job to help cover the cost of her schooling, that might be a good idea, for both of you. But finding play groups and such nearby are just as good for her social and intellectual development.

However, I am a little concerned that you are still expecting a three year old to take 3 naps a day! Many 3 year olds do not nap at all, much less 3 times a day. If she takes a nap at all, it should be a short one, around mid-afternoon, for no more than 1 hour.

Also, she should be having breakfast and lunch at school, if she is at school during those times.

Answer 3

If preschool really is a financial burden, I would definately try and find her some other social activities she can do at home. Look through ads in the paper to see of any other stay-at-home moms are offering play groups in your area. If not, start one of your own. Take her to a YMCA and get her into other classes where she can socialize with other children. Don't forget that she is learning ALOT at her preschool and you will need to keep up with all that she was learning. She probably has alot of fun learning and playing games. Keep up with that education process while she is at home. You could probably even enroll her into ballet or swimming or any other fun classes you'd think she'd be interested in as well as interacting with other children.

Just remember what preschool can do for her, if you really do take her out, make sure you keep up with what they were teaching her in the school. It will help her when she eventually goes into kindergarten. Good luck!

Answer 4

I think you would be just fine keeping her at home. Schedule some "play dates" with some of her friends from school. Take her to the park to play on the playgrounds. Color with her or make playdough. If the school schedule agreed with her, just keep her in that same routine. She'll adapt. Let her help with the cleaning at home. This is a precious time. If you can be with her, enjoy that. There may come a time when you have to work and you won't be able to spend as much time with her as you'd like. Read to her - that could help your language skills, also. Read in both languages so she won't forget her mother tongue. Take her on walks - teach her about her world - the names of the birds, the trees.. you'll be surprised how much she'll retain. That will give her a great start in school.

Answer 5

I have 2 kids and my 4 year old was in preschool for 2 years. When I had to quit my job after my second child I still kept the 4 year old in preschool. We also had financial problems and only one car at the time so I had to take her out. She is doing fine at home. I am actually looking into volunteering at an animal shelter so I can spend some quality time with her. She loves animals and so do I.

Answer 6

Absolutely! I'm sure there are play groups you can find either through your church or local community center that will have kids her age that do activities together. There are lots of kids places like swimming pools, kid museums, etc that you can take her to to get other kid interaction. Look in your community pages in the phone book. Depending on her personality she may be bored at home, not being around a ton of kids all the time, or she may enjoy the one-on-one time with you.

Just don't stay home for hours on end and watch TV or movies! Go to parks, go to the mall, go to friends homes, get a cheap $20 bike and teach her to ride it outside, have art activities like water color, finger painting with chocolate pudding, make stuff out of cardboard boxes, make sock-puppets and have a puppet show for Dad.... The possibilities are endless!

You have excellent English, by the way. Have fun!

Answer 7

You can occupy her with out daycare. Look for a MOPS (others and preschoolers) so she has interaction with others. if you go to church there is always childcare with others.
as long as she has things to play with she should be fine
Also, continue to speak your mother lanuage at home so she won't forget it.
children at that age interact some with others but still only parallel play (playing next ot each other not with)
Also, if she is the only child she will need to learn to occupy herself and keep herself occupied

Answer 8

Look around your area for playgroups or library time. This will be great interaction for her, but might be hard for you if you work and can't stay home with her to get her to and from. There are also music programs and things like gymboree you can look into. But for me the library and Playgroups are the best place to start.

Answer 9

I think you should keep her in school, as it is obviously beneficial to her linguistic and social development. You could get a part time job in order to absorb the cost of her schooling.

Answer 10

i agree w/ ladyluck..... i think she would be upset if u took her out of school now..... maybe u can find a job u can do from ur home so u can still be at home.....