send your kids to preschool, but plan to homeschool for elem? - Page 2

[heatherdeg]

My almost 7yo went to daycare and preschool until the pre-k year as we were told he needed it to "interact with typically developing age-peers".  He had developmental problems. But we pulled him at the pre-k year and were then fully committed to him never being in a classroom again.  It just didn't work for any of us--least of all him.  He had only gone full-time for maybe 1 school year (I worked full-time that year).

My 2yo will go 1 day/week starting in January.  MAYBE 2 days/week.  ITA that this is seriously a situation of evaluating everything involved.  We sent her for 5 days/week for 3 weeks in November to help her learn to eat solid foods.  She's just one of those kids that does better when she sees another kid her age doing something.  We eat every meal as a family and it didn't encourage her.  But when we had a foster daughter around her age for 3 weeks, poof, she ate.  :/  So that's how we got familiar with the place she was at (more than just the comprehensive looking into it).  For us, we are extremely comfortable with where she would be.  It's not heavily academic although they sing songs about colors and they play counting games.  It's play-oriented vs. pushing.  She LOVES being there.  And my 7yo's Fridays are a few homeschool coop classes that are profoundly boring for her.  I can't leave the building because he's not 9 and there's not much for her to do for the 3 hours we'll be there.  She might as well be playing and singing songs about colors and making animal sounds.  She's also an INTENSELY... I don't know how to describe it, but she wants you fully engaged with her at all times--which leaves my 7yo back-burnered a bit much.  I haven't figured out how to handle that yet.  So we get to have lunch together alone that one day/week between his homeschool coop classes in the morning and his Y gym & swim class in the afternoon. 

If I had a Montessori nearby that I could afford and would only take her one day/week--I'd go that route.  I don't.  But that would by far be my preference.  I actually believe in Montessori education; and if I met the teachers and felt like they would fully communicate with me, I would rather her be there.

But it's not likely she'll ever see a classroom from pre-k onward.  Like everything else, I don't like to say "never", but highly unlikely.  :)

[SparklingGemini]

My DD is 3.5 and goes to a co-op preschool twice a week. 

I really, really, really struggled with this because we are 100% certain that we'll be homeschooling the elementary school years and, while my education & background is in Early Childhood Eduction, I was failing to see the point.  But after much duress and contemplation, I decided I wanter her to have the experience and a bit more regular structure in her social outlet.  :) 

BUT...it IS a co-op, which means I'm required to work at the school a few times a month, hold a committee position and volunteer for fundraisers, etc.  Because of my background, my committee position is Head Staff Assistant, so I'm there all.the.time. 

I think if you're going to homeschool a cooperative preschool is a nice, natural progression.  LOL

[mom2ponygirl]

We sent our daughter to preschool from age 22 months to 5.5 years and then homeschooled (dd is 12 now).  We both needed to work full-time, so the decision was in large part a financial one.  I also was told how much the kids at that age needed time with their age peers as well.  If I could have stayed home, I would have found that learning to play with age peers time in a moms group, or homeschool group.  It would have been a much better experience all around and I wouldn't have missed so much time with my little one.  

[bobandjess99]

DD went for a year to Miontessori preschool at age 4, but while she was incredibly enthusiastic at first, she disliked it more and more until we finally pulled her just after the second year started.  Now that ds is turning 3, i have been considering it for him....we'll see.  Dd is now 6 and homeschooling nicely.