Too Young for School

I live in Dexter too and have my 18 month old involved in a play group once a week. It's great becasue they can run and play and it's held at Cornerstone on Dan Hoey. There are lots of play groups out there, maybe that will help sooth him.

If you live in Toledo welfare will help you with daycare. Try that. If not try having a school day at home with him and couple other kids. He will think its school.

R.

I would try to set up play dates for him. Everyday you can have school at home. Where you can go to the dollar store and get him some pre-k work books he can do. Work on colors and shapes, letters etc. When you talk about it show him your excitement. Plan projects to do with him. Like for instance this month you can make pumpkins and learn the color orange. If you want to go check out my childcare site I have a theme page. It is monthly and you can use that to do school with him .The internet has awesome resources for printables etc. I have some on my childcare site to. Tell him it isn't his time and as soon as he learns the things he needs to, before you know it he will be going to school. http://cherishnina.tripod.com/

Hi R.,
sometimes it's really hard wanting to give our kids everything they desire but maybe can't afford to do it, I understand completely. Maybe you could tell him that he will be old enough for school when he is completely potty trained and maybe by then you could afford it. Do you belong to any playgroups? Sounds like he likes to be around other kids. I started a daycare in my home years ago because I could not afford to send my daughter to preschool at the time either. It was great because it gave her the socialization with other kids and I earned extra money at the same time! I am not necessarily saying you should open a home daycare! It was the toughest job i ever did! But you can get creative and find ways for hime to interact with kids his own age. The library is great because they have kids story time and it might feel like his own special school for now. Hope this helps, good luck.

C. McNeill

R.,

A few suggestions. Kindercare offers a pre-school program from 9-11am and it is 20$ a day. Maybe you could afford to send him once a week?

Also, check your local library and city recreaction center. Most libraries have programs during the week for kids that age and it would be like "school". I know Sterling Heights does.

Good Luck!

My son is turning 3 next week and has been in headstart since the school season began, hes not potty trained yet either. He was doing the same thing when his sister went to school, he wanted to go so hes going now and loving it! They have helped me in the potty training aspect and hes learning to sit still and eat a full meal. I have 8 yrs between my kids and he trys to do everything my daughter does, so I let him to an exstent. He thinks its fun to learn and be a big boy. I feel if they are going to want to learn then let them this is the most abosorbant time in their lil brains let them be a spounge. I started by letting blues clues and dora, and deigo in the mornings and hes learning sign language and everything for school also. Try that and tell him its school time in the mornings or afternoons we do that on fridays when hes home. Hopefully it soothes the savage beast for school. Good luck!

Hi,
My son was 2.5 when his brother was in Preschool last year and we had the same problem for the first little while. I had to really take the time to sit down with him and do fun things and take him to the mall to play and then finally he was back to "normal" and this year when his brother went to Kindergarten he didn't have a problem, we keep telling him that he gets to go the preschool next year after his birthday and he is very excited.
A.

Have you tried making a school hour(doesn't have to be an hour) at home. He might enjoy doing school type work at home and showing his sister when she gets home. Myu daughter is on the waiting list for Head Start so we got an alphabet book for her and work on 1-2 pages each day, she asks to do it so I know she loves it. Just a suggestion.

The only thing I can say is that my child started at 3 because she has a learning disability. By some miracle afew days before she started school she stopped wetting in the day time. They ask you to send extra clothes, and I know some children got changed. At the Monroe Intermediete school. "ISD" They do a test that takes 2 hours and go from there. Good luck. Of course I guess there are day care centers.
C.

In don't know your flexability, but not all Preschools require the child to be potty trained. I work at a center in Commerce Township and we do not require potty training, and we offer 1/2 days for our Preschool Program, Letme know if you would like more information. S.

There are 2 awesome programs offered at the Stepanski Early Childhood Center in Waterford. "First Families" is offered for mom and children (ages birth-4 yrs) and "First Friends" is offered for one on one time with parent and 2 1/2 yr olds. I think both classes run in 8 or 10 week sessions. There are multiple days of week/times offered. And, the cost is reasonable. I participated with the First Families last year and my daughter loved it!! As did I! It's a nice opportunity to meet and talk with other moms too. The class is held in a preschool room at Stepanski and structured very much like preschool. And, this program allows for you to bring multiple children (ie toddler and infant). I did not attend the First Friends program. It is offered at Grayson Elementary and I have heard wonderful things about it as well. I would recommend you call the office at Stepanski to get more info...###-###-####...I believe they also have financial aid programs if needed. Good luck!! : )

I read as few responses to this. Having "school " at home is a good idea. When my son was being potty trained he loved Mickey Mouse. I took him shopping. We looked at boys underwear, and lo and behold they had Mickey underpants. We looked at them, and he wanted them. I told him if he went potty in the toilet I would buy them for him. Within a week he was finished potty training, and he got his Mickeys.Also, maybe he misses his sister as a playmate when she is at school. Do you know anyone with a preschooler that can come over and play? I'm sure he would love that!

I would suggest having "school" at home. Try to make potty trainning a part of it as he becomes ready for the various stages. Make it structured like school, have story time, drawing time, sitting on the potty time/going potty time, lunch time, nap time, work on the ABC's and even 1/2 hr. of educational tv time, like seseme street, Noggin, or one of the other educational channels. If you do not have cable (I don't :) ) A few educational video's can be bought for 5-15 dollars depending on what you get, i.e., brand etc. Walks would be nice as well as playdates and mom and kid groups. You might want to check out your local Library they often have storytimes/projects etc. for kids. You can ask him his favorite tv character, animal, food (vary this every time you go) and teach him how to look up books on the computer catalog, he won't understand everything, but he will be thrilled to help. Have him "help" you find the age appropiate book you two chose. My son loves to "help" mommy and I often have to be creative so his help is actually helpful lol. If not we laugh and clean up whatever mess was made, together. Hopefully your son will gain a love of books and knowledge too!
Good Luck and let me know how things turn out!

B. W.

I have four kids. Three are in school. My daughter will be 3 in December. My kids never went to preschool because it is expensive and they teach them too much anyone. What I did for my kids - get preschool books, puzzles, games, and stuff like that to do with your youngest. If you tell him he will be in school at home he will be happy. Just do a few school things with him everyday and he will be excited.

I don't know what your situation is, or where you live, but you could look into a Parent-Tot class through a preschool. My 4 year-old son is in the preschool program at Lollipop Co-op Preschool in Walled Lake. I also attend the Parent-Tot class there with my 21/2 year old son. Last year it was not an issue when we dropped the older one off, but this year was a different story. Now that the Parent-Tot class has started, the 2 1/2 year old feels that Lollipop is his school too. If joining a class like this is not an option for you, you could also try attending Tot music, art or gymnastics classes. Or there are story times available at the major bookstore chains and at your local library. Our local library offers both daytime and evening storytime hours for younger children. Maybe any one of these activities might help to make your younger one feel that he has a place to go as well.

Why not try a library program or two...I take my 3.5 and almost 2 year olds to two local library programs where they listen to stories, do some action songs, and then a guided craft project...all for free. Some require pre registration, others are on a drop in basis, they are usually like an hour to an hour and a half starting at like 10 or 11am once or twice a week. It is very much like a school environment, but with you there and for free. If during the week is a problem, there are many Sunday school programs to choose from too if you are open to a religious option. Many sunday school programs start at 3, but mostly because of potty training and/or social issues. My 3 yr old wore pullups and went to Sunday school at 2.5 because she was ready too...she has 1st grade twin sisters that she thinks she is as old as. Or, maybe a coop nursery school would be an option. You would work in the classroom on a rotating basis and get a preschool program for like 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.

Lastly, if you have any friends with similar aged kids, maybe you could plan an hour or two a week as a playdate, and take turns preparing a story/craft time, letter/number time and or singing/moving time to simulate a school environment.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

-Shelly
A little about me: A 36 yr old mother of 4 girls who's been married 13 years and used to teach before having kids.

The early headstart has a great program you can put kids in he don't have to be potty trained, my 3 yr old is not potty trained and she goes to preschool already. let me know if you would like more information. just wondering where you are located.

Friendly Hello,

I am not sure where you live at. I am located in Lawton. I am getting ready to retire from day care of 23 years now. I also have a 2 1/2 year old. I am considering opening a moms club in my area. Where stay at homes moms like yourself would come over to my place. Where we would work with our kids on pre school activities. We could split the cost of materials needed. I think it would be a affordable way to educate children plus allow them to still have free time to play normally. I know my son that is the same age as yours will have some time adjusting to not having children around him. So this is what I was hoping to do. Set up 2 days a week where everyone gets together and work together with our children. The average cost of activite sets per child is around $10.00-$15.00 per month per child. You can contact me at ____@____.com I can give you some sites to look at that you can do at home with him. Blessings, K.

Hi R.,

There are many things that are fee. You could plan special days at the library. They oftn have "Story Times". Most time mom has to stay, but you can use this time to plan your grocery list or pick YOURSELF out a book. You could stop into the pet shops. Just stopping into Miejers to look at the fish can often be all it takes. Packing a sack lunch and stopping into State Park (on a NICE)day. Often it's a Little thing to you, but may be all it takes when your 2.
P.

You could tell your child that he will have school time at home. Get him a backpack, pencils, paper, etc... Have him get ready for class just like his sister. Then you could spend the time having him sing abc's, coloring and doing school like activities. Another idea is to encourage potty training to prepare him for a pPeeps or what ever your head start is called. That is free through your school district as soon as he is 3 and potty trained.

M.

Hi R.,
My sister just went through this same thing with her youngest. She ended up finding a mom & tot class that she accompanies her daughter to, while her big sister is at Kindergarten. They go twice a week and it's set up very similar to pre-school, with centers, snack etc... but mom (or another significant adult)interacts with the child at times. You may also want to try gymnastics, swimming or something like that. I think the key is they get to do something special too. Good Luck!
M.

I had that problem also so i went to the store and bought some school supplies and a backpack for my 2 year old,set up a little corner in my house with a little table for her and we play teacher at home no tv or anything for 2 hrs we sit and have story time snack time writing and our numbers we have made it a little game so now when her big brother comes home from school she tells him what she did at school today its very cute and its good for her because she is getting a head start for pre school.Hope this helps gl

Don't rush your child into potty training just because you are thinking of getting your child involved in an activity or school setting. There are many affordable thing that you can do with your son while your daughter is in school. I just recently took my 3 year old to MSU Community Music School for early childhoos music classes. The have early childhood classes for 1-6 years old. Its once a week for 10 weeks and they have many class times and dates to chose from. It runs about $144 for the 10 week class, but they also offer finacial assistance (this is what helped me). They best thing is....your child does not have to be potty trained to join! This way they will feel like they can be involved in something special like school too!
URL: http://www.msu-cms.org/index.html

Hey R.. Mid-Michigan Mommies is an awesome group that gets together for play dates, has mom's night out and networks with mom's in the area. They have a yahoo group as well as a page on myspace. I'm new to the group but have found it to be wonderful already. It will definately benefit you and your little ones!