I had a girl's night out with some friends from hygiene school lately. I love getting together with them. We are all in the same stage of life in marriage and small kids, and I always leave with so much to think about. This time it was my view on preschool.
I have been planning on not having Aspen go to preschool. For me it doesn't seem like a big deal. I didn't go to preschool or kindergarden. My mom homeschooled me through first grade then I went to 2nd at a private school. The closer Aspen gets to the age of preschool, the more I realize how abnormal it is for kids not to go. I am feeling a lot of pressure from all sorts of people as to why I wouldn't have him go! I never expected it or realized it was such a big deal.
There are a few reasons I have been against having him go......
1. It seems unnecessary to me! Isn't it just supervised play?
2. I feel like the first 5 years are my years where I have the most influence on what is put into him.
2. I feel like the first 5 years are my years where I have the most influence on what is put into him.
3. I want him to have time to just be a kid and not be pushed into school before he is ready.
4. I fear that he will not do well in a structured environment and be burnt out on school before he is really in it.
I have been thinking a lot about this subject and have realized that it goes deeper. I kind of feel like I would be taking the easy way out if I put him in preschool. Like I would be admitting that I "need" the break and preschool would be a way to get that. I know I am a perfectionist, but I don't want to take the easy way out when it comes to raising my kids. I want to make the most of the one on one time I have with them while they are young and don't have a lot of other influences pulling for their attention. I want them to learn scripture and be able to apply it to their lives. I want them to know how much God loves them and how to love others.
I realized that I haven't prayed about it yet and have made this decision partially based on how I feel having him go to preschool would be viewed by people close to me that see it as unnecessary and out of my fear of doing the easy thing vs. the right thing. So I guess I have a lot to think/pray about......
1 comment:
I found your blog by chance but totally agree with your pre-school post. People look at me like I have two heads when I say that my 4year old is not in pre-school (nor were my other two for that matter). I had no idea how controverial pre-school is! My kids are smart, well adjusted and very social. Who better to teach them about life in those early years? They have 18 years in school...I'm happy to enjoy these five! Stick to your own instincts and tuck those hundrends of dollars you save each month on pre-school into their college fund.
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