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Would you pull your child from preschool? - Page 2  

post #21 of 34
i would...just because i think three is too young to be formalized...but you should weigh pros and cons...think of ways to prevent germs and if it is worth it...you will make the right choice no matter what!
post #22 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Llyra View Post
Actually, I'm fairly certain it's the school that's the source of our illnesses. It all the cases, it's been DD1 who got sick first, and then it spread to the rest of us. And always there have been other kids in the class sick with the same thing at the same time, and twice the teacher herself who missed a day or two because of the same illness.
I still wouldn't pull her. Use some of the other ideas - hand wipes in the car, clothes off, different shoes for preschool and home, etc.

Jenn
post #23 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimom22 View Post
i would...just because i think three is too young to be formalized...but you should weigh pros and cons...think of ways to prevent germs and if it is worth it...you will make the right choice no matter what!
Depends on how formal the preschool is, I agree, but in this situation the OPer has already said her DD is thriving in the environment so obviously it's not too soon for her to be there.

Jenn
post #24 of 34
I think it would be very detrimental to pull her from something she clearly loves. I have a pre-school loving dd as well, she LOVES everything about it, way more than anything I provide for her. She is very social. I think it is common for second children to be exposed to more, but IMO it just means that their immune systems will strengthen right now, and when they get to school age they won't get everything like your dd is. It is a hassle doing drop-off/pick-up, but will it be easier on you having a three year old at home with the twins? For me that wouldn't be easier, but I guess it is really an individual thing. For what it is worth I really don't think kids need pre-school, but some just love it and thrive with it, and if that is the case I think it would be really hard on your dd. We moved when dd was 3 almost 4, and I figured we would take our time and find a preschool because it is really hard to find space here, but she was a girl obsessed. She actually marched over to the preschool on my 2nd graders public school campus when she saw them outside, and insisted she was going to go there. I do provide tons of activities at home, I have a huge art closet, an enclosed trampoline, puzzles, books, games (and no baby yet, but any day now ), but it just isn't the same to her. I would definitely NOT pull my child from a happy situation out of convenience, and I don't think the germ thing can be avoided.
post #25 of 34
The other thing you should think is there are plenty of people here who are still having a hard time getting their child to adjust to preschool or who have had separation issues and they would LOVE to have your issue of deciding to pull a very happy preschooler! How hard would it be if you had the other two and your 3 yo had a hard time separating? Be glad you have the choice and consider it wonderful your child is so very happy there. I had to have my 3 yo stay with my 1 yo at the end of the hall while I was helping my Kindergartener adjust to a new class, new teacher etc for a couple of weeks. It was very hard because I was also worried my 3 yo would pick up on that and have a hard time herself. so, you are in a good situation to have this as a "problem" kwim?
post #26 of 34
Is RSV an issue? I would be worried if the twins were preemies as you head into cold and flu season YK? I think if it were me I would pull her but also arrange for alternate activities (probably not every day but once or twice a week) to lesson the sting. The health issues would worry me esp. if the twins were preemies.

Steph
post #27 of 34
Frankly I think if you pull her out of preschool you'll end up working a lot harder to keep her entertained during the time she otherwise would have been at school. That may mean you end up schlepping the twins out of the house to take dd to playdates or some other kind of class. Even if you stay at home she may expect you to play with her more because she no longer has any other social outlet. I certainly don't think 3 year olds need preschool, but I do think it can be wonderful for those children that enjoy it. I know a lot of mom's who have trouble meeting a child's social needs alone as they get older. At that age the often really start wanting the company of other children to play with. It seems unfair to deny that to your daughter because of the hassle with dealing with the twins. I would really recommend sitting down with the preschool director for a problem solving discussion. If you explain to her how difficult it is and why maybe together you guys can come up with a solution that will lessen the burden on you.

As far a getting sick, unless you are planning on homeschooling, eventually your daughter will have to go to school and she will bring home germs, and the twins and dh will all get sick. Taking care of sick kids is always a pain in the butt, but its something that you have to deal with no matter what. Eventually after she's been in school for a while (probably a year) everyone's immune system will have built up some and everyone will be getting sick a lot less often. Good luck
post #28 of 34
To be honest, my first reaction is pull her out! But that's because I remember the misery when ds1 started preschool when ds2 was 6 weeks old. OMG, the endless colds (stuffy newborn is my personal hell), and the nervewracking nap/pick up drop off scenario. Having to wake a baby up from a nap to put them into the car to drive across town to pick up a child and then turn around and drive back was horrible. It sucked badly. And here all these people were talking about how putting ds1 in preschool would make my life so much easier with the new baby. Ha. It was the hardest thing I dealt with.

However, if she really truly loves it, I have a few suggestions, having been there and done that.

Obviously the best is to find someone to watch the babies or drive your daughter, but I'm assuming that's not going to happen.

About pick up and drop off - I did three various things: I would pull up out front, and call inside for one of the teachers to come out and get ds1. I would wait for another parent to be walking in, and ask them to walk ds1 in. When he was a bit older, I would park right in front of the entryway, and let him walk in on his own, while calling the teacher to confirm he was there and signed in. I did variations on this with pick up as well.

About germs - yes it's true that you can get them anywhere, but in my experience there is no greater breeding ground than preschool. I made ds1 wash his hands before he left the classroom every time I picked him up. I apparently was the only parent who did this, and they probably thought I was super paranoid, but whatever. I also kept hand sanitizer in the car and squired him when he got in (I know that stuff has it's issues, but I was desperate). As winter approached I bombarded him, the baby, myself AND dh with sodium ascorbate and another immune boosting powder my chiro gave me.

All that said, my personal opinion is that preschool is a lovely little playgroup, but not at all necessary. I adored the preschool that ds1 went to (also too expensive for us - MIL paid for it), but I regret sending him and chose not to send ds2. Obviously you know your dd and can probably gauge how traumatic it would be for her, but that's my two cents. Make the decision based on preschool as a fun activity, not as the foundation of her entire educational future. FWIW, my 3.5yo is more advanced "academically" than ds1 was at his age, and he's never been to preschool.

Good luck. I know exactly the difficulties of what you are going through. I shudder when I think back on that first year.

Edited to add: I just read your updated post. I would pull her, but I know I'm usually in the minority on this. She can still have playdates with her friends, but I'm not a fan of 3yos in preschool to begin with (having BTDT) and the hassle and stress just isn't worth it, IMO.
post #29 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthla View Post
In your situation, I probably would pull her out. In fact, I'm not sure I would have signed her up in the first place!

Next year, when the twins are bigger, it may be much more "doable" for you, and you can reconsider preschool at that time.
I agree. It sounds like an awful lot of trouble for 2-3 hours of preschool. If she were there 6-8 hours it would be different.

I also agree with the others that say keep her in. The germs will be there whether she goes to school now or two years from now. It's something they all have to build up immunity to.
post #30 of 34
at the preschool I worked at, the EA's or a teacher from each classroom were required to stand outside at dropoff and with children awaiting pickup. (In the winter we often watched for the car from inside)

We also had buses coming and going.

but what we would do is gather up our group off one bus, walk with them in to the teacher, then wait for the other bus---and we would take our kids whose parents came with them whenever they came. (a few of our older ones we'd watch walk in to the teacher, they liked that, and it was up a sidewalk directly into a hallway full of our preschool staff.)

our afternoon group was much smaller, I remember we had one 4 year old whose mom would sit in the van at the curb and watch him walk to us, he had been in school awhile when I started though and had no separation issues.

I was a classroom EA and I would've happily walked out to meet your daughter carside and walked her out to you at the end. I'd ask.
post #31 of 34
Quote:
Their security policies dictate that I MUST come into the classroom with DD and turn over the care of her directly to the teacher, so I don't think they're gonna be cool with me sending her in with another parent, but I'm gonna ask around and see if somebody would be willing to wait in the parking lot with the babies in the car. I'm dreading the winter weather...
Maybe a teacher could come out quickly so you could turn over the care directly to the teacher, just not in the classroom?

I hope you find a solution that works. Since she loves the school, I personally would try to make it work. (This is coming from a mother with a very sensitive little girl who is still sort of on the fence about school. If she loved it, I would never in a million years pull her!!! So I am very biased on this issue. )

Good luck. I am sitting here imagining taking two babies in and out of the car, while trying to keep up with the three year old, and getting tired just thinking about it.
post #32 of 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabrog View Post
Unless you go no where else at all during the week and you and your DH both don't work, you cannot say it is strictly from the preschool even if other kids there have gotten it. Bugs go around a town, not just around a room.

I would start by bathing your DD as soon as she comes home, changing her clothes (preschool clothes go in the hamper to be washed). If she has to touch the little ones before she gets home, have anti-bacterial hand wipes in the car that she uses first.

No, I wouldn't pull her out.

Jenn
this.
post #33 of 34
I'd keep looking for creative solutions. My neighbor is never shy about calling someone up to come over for a few minutes if her babe is sleeping and it's time to pick-up the older one. She even knew when I was off work and once called my mother when she knew she was home. I really admire that neighbor can reach out and ask for help like that. It's such a simple thing to dash across the street and hangout in her house for 15 or 20 minutes.

Is there a partner who might be willing to arrange their schedule to handle either pick-up OR drop-off?
post #34 of 34
I wouldn't pull her out. I know it is a hassle, but it sounds like she is getting a lot out of it. She probably needs a break from the little ones as well!

I think this is the toughest time for getting sick. The first year fall/winter is the worst, but it will get better.
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