We've registered Kaua for preschool for the 2012-2013 academic school year! I'm still not sure if we're doing the right thing, but my gut is telling me I am. We toured a few (ok just two) preschools, and the two (ok, really top 1) that I would like to send him to do NOT take children under three. Since kaua was late born (Nov.27), he wont be turning three till practically the very end of the year. And because of that, he wont be able to enter kindergarten (according to the state DOE) until he is already 5 (and will be turning 6 that year...crazy yeah?)
So technically, he shouldn't be starting school until 2013-2014...but come on...he'll be almost 4 by that time, and he will be SOOOOOO bored stuck at home with Gigi and Papa (great grandparents). His cousin, who turned 3 in January of this year, will be going to preschool, so he's losing his playmate. His brother, the wonderful Ho'ea, will be there, but yah...so been there and done that, kaua is moving on (actually they adore each other, but that's not the point).
Anyways, I think kaua is ready for school. He is fairly social (but does get shy sometimes) and LOVEs to play. He is so active that if he is not stimulated, he can get into trouble (aren't they all like that?...actually, no, his girl cousin is very well behaved...unlike others.....aka Kaua). My only concern for Kaua starting school is that he is not fully potty trained. Oh, trust me, we're working on it....everyday, several times a day, and yah, it is a challenge. He does go, and often, but still, he goes in his diaper as well. We've had friends suggest to take away the diaper/pull up, and i tried that today, and we had two accidents. I will keep trying of course, because, hello, he starts school in four months!!! Yikes.
But we chose this preschool because the director specifically told us on numerous occasions that they would help work with him (ie. take him every hour, etc). Their take home handbook did freak me out b/c it said that more than 4 accidents a week could result in removal from the school.
Other good points about the school, it is literally 3 minutes away from home and my work; student to teacher ratio is great, 28 kids, 5 teachers, tuition is ok - $600/mo. includes breakfast, snacks and all drinks (lunch is add'l $3/day or pack your own), strict no juice or candy/chocolate policy, and great curriculum/social development focus - not sure what the technical term is called (but 5 of their 6 six kids who applied for THE private elementary school to get into here, were accepted), this is a christian school (yay, GOD!), and the director was very friendly and her personality clicked with mine.
The cons - I think, I dont know, I'm a newbie at this - lunch is not included in the tuition, their lower playground with plastic play slide was under rennovations (and didn't look like it had an end date in sight), the class room didn't look brand new or very high tech, other teachers didn't appear very warm (but I didn't speak with any of them), Kaua cried when he thought I left him - I went into the class room to register him and left him outside and in about 5 minutes he started crying for me (shocker! this boy usually could care less if he ran away from me at the mall or in a crowd!), Kaua may not be potty trained in time and if he is not ready, we had to pay a NONREFUNDABLE $300 registration fee (which gets applied for school supplies/snacks etc for the school year), the fee, however, can be applied to the following year if he does go.
Anyways, this is a big deal for us...sending Kaua to preschool, especially because he is a late born boy. The director said based on watching him interact with the other children she thought he was definitely ready. I told her my concerns about his late birthday and lack of being fully potty trained yet and she reassured me that it all depends upon the child, and for her, the biggest concern was weather he could be socially ready. She explained that they have had 2 and 1/2 year olds before and pointed out some kids who had also started "early" and would therefore be three year preschoolers. She even said her son attended and he had started when he was two as well.
We've got four months to get Kaua prepped. Going to really start focusing on getting him potty trained, using his "words", enunciation, and dressing himself. I hope we're not pushing him to quickly...I dont think we are, but i want to be aware of the possibility. Feedback? similar experiences? Advice?
More on little brother Ho'ea in another post. (He's doing good --- still has eczema though, but he does have 8 teeth!)
