Homeschooling/unschooling preschool

[jenn_unplugged]

Does that even make sense? I've gone back and forth about putting Carter in preschool, and every time I decide it's not time yet. For one thing, we have an AMAZING nanny, and I want to hang on to her as long as possible. This semester, I'm organizing my schedule so that I work two days a week (all day, 7-5) and then spend the other three days at

Comments

[anise_anise]

I think that what you're doing sounds fantastic. At this age children learn mainly by play anyway, and most people choose preschool just for socialization, but it sounds like he's already getting that from the gymboree classes and such. I taught preschool for five years and the two year old class was more or less daycare. They just aren't ready for a structured school day at that age. You'll be amazed at the changes you see in him over the next few years, they grow so fast. So my advice would be to keep doing what you're doing for now. I think it's brilliant that you get to spend most days with him, and your two days working will give you a bit of time to get away and be you, not just a mom, plus it gives him breaks as well. Unschooling works just fine for kids Carter's age. I homeschool now, and we follow a curriculum, but Gage is 11 and needs the structure, well we both do really, to keep us on task and focused. I say follow your instincts, they're most often right, and spend as much time as you can with him. They're only babies for

[jenn_unplugged]

This part-time working thing is really great for me! Of course, there's still a bit of guilt about leaving him a couple of days a week, and when things get stressful and I'm working through every nap and in the evenings, I start to ask myself why I'm doing this for the measly amount of money i actually make (after paying for the nanny). But then I have wonderful teaching moments and great days at work, and it's all good. :-)

I do feel like he's doing just fine the way things are now. Thank you for the validation! :-)

[violane]

We're kind of in the same boat. Ben knows far and away more than I know to be a part of any of the preschool curricula that I've observed, and seeks out knowledge on his own, so I haven't had to really teach him anything. The main reason I'm considering preschool is that he doesn't get a lot of socialization with kids his own age. Neither of us really enjoy classes, so we haven't done a lot of those recently, and I don't have a lot of friends in the area with kids his age. I had planned to put him in preschool next year, just so he could get exposure to people with different interests and ideas than I have. I am still investigating options, though. We're not religious, and most of the local preschools are. I was in Montessori as a preschooler and my mom remembers me not particularly enjoying it. So we're still batting options around. If I had a wonderful nanny for him that was more organized than I am (because I'm not, particularly, and so he might benefit from more structure than I give him), I probably wouldn't bother.

[jenn_unplugged]

Yes, exactly. Carter's nanny is fantastic, and she has started trying to do more structured things with him every now and then (art, mostly) to see how he responds. Her approach to child care is completely aligned with my parenting philosophy, so it's basically perfect.

But you know how it is -- I'm sometimes a little unsure about whether or not he should be "doing" more. :-P

[ahurani]

It sounds like he's doing great with what you have now. I agree that as long as he's getting socialization somewhere, he really doesn't need more structure...I think at this point the structure would be more for the parent/caregiver if they're not as good at knowing how to teach based on what he's playing at the time (this would be me, though Liam's with a nanny every day during the week).

I often worry about whether Liam's learning enough, specifically because the whole teaching small children thing doesn't come naturally for me. But that's a wonderful website, I've seen it before but had forgotten about it. It has great ideas for crafts that I should really try out on the weekends.

[jenn_unplugged]

We (Carter's nanny and I) have both tried to do some of the activities there with Carter, and he's just not ready for a lot of the more artsy things yet. He's still at an age where he wants to explore and experiment, and so making pictures with a particular goal in mind really doesn't work well! The sensory tubs are good activities right now, but they really need to be done outside, I've learned. :-P

[primroseburrows]

You should definitely have a conversation with patchfire. She's homeschooling her kids and is really good at it. :) Also, I highly rec Waldorf-inspired stuff. Early childhood in Waldorf is all about letting the kids learn by watching adults and using freestyle toys and doing entirely non-artificial stuff.

[jenn_unplugged]

Ah, thanks! I've been doing a lot of reading on early childhood development, and it's fascinating stuff. The more I read, the more I just want to stay out of his way! But then I start to worry that maybe that's not enough. Argh. :-P

[sukidee]

Will is going to be 5 in a few months (ack!) and he hasn't been to any kind of preschool or other structured setting. We've always just let him learn things on his own, or like you said, "look for opportunities" to teach him. He is also rather smart for his age, has a lot of curiosity, and a huge imagination.

Mike and I have toyed with the idea of continuing homeschooling (he REALLY wants it, I'm about 50/50), but I think we're going to send him to public school starting with kindergarten this fall, and a big part in our decision is the lure of the Kalamazoo Promise (free tuition to any MI college) :)

[jenn_unplugged]

I have taught in public schools and am now a teacher educator, so I obviously have a strong commitment to public education. But, since I'm a teacher educator, I also have a strong sense of what is wrong (and what can go wrong) in public schools, and when I think about Carter in one of those kinds of classrooms, I really start to entertain the idea of homeschooling.

I seriously doubt we'll go that route, though. I just don't see it happening, for a variety of reasons. But every now and then I read about the cool things homeschooling coops are doing around town and go, "oooh."