Homeschooling + regular preschool?

[minkajane]

We live in a neighborhood with no kids. We take DS places fairly often, but at 5 years old, I feel like he should have steady friends, not just playing with whatever kids happen to be at the playground that day and never seeing the same kid twice. So I was thinking about putting him in the preschool at the YMCA twice a week for 2.5 hours each time. That way he can get to know some kids, but he'll still have time for his lessons (we're doing virtual school).

Has anyone done a mixture type of approach like this? How did it work out for you?

I'm also looking into cheaper ways of getting DS involved with other kids. This would cost me $96 a month, which is a lot of money. We've looked into playgroups on meetup.com and things like that, but they're all geared towards SAHMs, which would be weird for DH. Our online school does field trips, but they're only a few times a year. DS definitely needs to see friends more often than that!

ETA: I double-checked and I misread, it's $96 a WEEK. No way can we afford that! So what can we do to make sure DS is able to make some friends that he gets to see regularly?

[pigpokey]

Oh, 5 hour preschool can't be $96 a week.

You could also look at afterschool / aftercare programs, as they would provide a stable cohort. I think most would take applications from virtual school students.

Do you have home school enrichment classes where you live?

[Zuzu822]

Maybe you could ask in Finding Your Tribe. There may be other MDC homeschoolers in your area with ideas or knowledge of homeschool groups.

Oh, 5 hour preschool can't be $96 a week.

You could also look at afterschool / aftercare programs, as they would provide a stable cohort. I think most would take applications from virtual school students.

Do you have home school enrichment classes where you live?

That's what I was thinking too. IIRC, YMCA preschool around here is $50/month for twice a week.

[minkajane]

Maybe it is only per month. It's worded kind of weird, so it's confusing.

[Happiestever]

Originally Posted by Zuzu822

Maybe you could ask in Finding Your Tribe. There may be other MDC homeschoolers in your area with ideas or knowledge of homeschool groups.



That's what I was thinking too. IIRC, YMCA preschool around here is $50/month for twice a week.

Our YMCA preschool is $990 per month!

ETA: My reply got left out sorry!

Have you looked on Meetup.com for alternative groups? Or look into Co-op schools so you can get to be there with your child and learn what kind of lessons they plan for them. I have found co-ops for around $140, to as little as $40 a month. Good Luck.

[Grace and Granola]

I was just looking around for swimming lessons for my boys for the summer and came across a couple of school districts that offer different types of extra curricular classes/clubs that meet once per week and they don't require that you live in their district. One school offered spanish, art, aviation, etc. All for ages 5+ They were reasonably priced because they were through the public schools. Maybe check out some of your surrounding school districts. Also check out homeschooling groups in your area.

[donutmolly]

We live in a rural area with no neighborhood and no kids nearby. Weconsidered putting DD1 into preschool this year (not so much for making friends, but because I just had #3 and we were getting pressure to have her "do something" so I could get a "break"). In the end, we decided against it because I couldn't justify the cost.

DD1 has regular friends because we get together with other families from our church, a local mom's group, people we've met at the playground, or through other "lessons." I would pursue some sort of lesson rather than school, it's a great way to get to know other families and more flexible (since seesions are usually 6-8 weeks, classes are an hour or less). We've done swimming, gymnastics, and will probably do some art and dance classes. We also have met kids at the local library by going to storytime every week -- there is usually a core group that are the "regulars". Our rec center offers sport programs starting at age 4-5 too.

Is Dh a SAHD? I get why some of the typical avenues for getting young kids together might be intimidating, but pursuing playdates at this age is probably the way to go... we do meet kids at various activities, but DD1 is "friends" with the ones we get together regularly with, like weekly playdates at each other's house.

[choochootrain]

Most children at 5 don't really have a concept of "friendship." It is mostly about playmates at this age.