The signs of school starting are all around: back to school clothes, school supply sales, and school registration. This fall, we will have two of our kids off to school. Harrison will be starting a three year old preschool program and Max will be....stifling tears.....starting kindergarten. Harrison is beyond excited to have something to do that's just "his" and I'm excited for him. He's always been my clingy child and while I LOVE the snuggles, I hope this is a step to a bit more independence and learning to be without me. His program is for a few hours 3 days a week, with the option to add on extra classes such as music, Spanish, drama/acting (seriously, a drama class for a three year old?? I've never met a three year old who needs help being dramatic, but whatever). I'm very excited to see how this school year goes at his school. They use a Creative curriculum there, which seems to be a cross between an academic curriculum and Montessori. This is very close to the way I run my daycare as well: kids learn and play with each other, all while we sing a numbers song or say the alphabet as they play. If they are doing well with an activity, that activity is not interrupted even though the "schedule" says otherwise. Each child is treated as an individual with individual needs.
With my daycare, if the kids are super tired one day, lunch or whatever can be moved up so naps can be earlier. If a child wants to lay down at 9:30 am, even though all of the other kids are playing and getting ready for snacks, then that child can lay down. I am slowly realizing this is unique to a daycare as most daycares follow a schedule with not much leeway for kids individual needs. I know with so many three year olds in Harrison's preschool class, it won't exactly be like this, but a creative curriculum seems to be the closest thing I can find to how I run the daycare. Hopefully this means an easier transition for Mr. H.
Matt and I have always wanted something different for our kids than what we had for school growing up. We are not practicing Catholics, but we plan on giving our children knowledge of ALL religions. I feel this is something I greatly lacked going to Catholic schools and want my children to understand and be respectful of other's beliefs and practices.
So, we're giving Des Moines Public schools a shot. I've heard both good and bad things about his school, but I'm hopeful and looking at this as a learning experience for all of us. Wish us luck with this upcoming school year!