Man do I feel like a dunce, I really never wanted to believe that the second my son was born I needed to apply to programs for when he was two or three years old. Now here I am (with an amazingly supportive wife – who’s now doing the heavy lifting) looking for a three’s program for our child. I always knew it wasnt cheap I thought what $12,000 a year for a full time program — not in this life time how about $16,000 for 5 days a week mornings only. Oh you want a full day education for your child try upping that number to $20,000.
Remember this is for a three year old. This is like sandart and finger paints (hopefully avoiding eating the paste). Reading a book 2 a day and really more then anything else is teaching the kids how to interact without getting bloody noses.
I havent a clue were we’re going to come up with this money from… but worst is now trying to find a school (if I had hair on top of my hair it’d be falling out in clumps). You’d think there is some easy solution like all kids should get educated not soooo there really isn’t anything for kids younger then 5 (and there are people pushing to make the starting age of state schools 6 < ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!) I’m not sure about you but I’m a big believer in changing our education system – I think starting schools at 5 is way to late, if my child had some structured learning now I’m sure he would pick it up and retain the information – is it any wonder why our countries math and verbal skill are being flushed down the toilet. Oh and if you cant tell with my amazing writing skills, I’m totally a product of the public education system.
Well its time to get for an interview — thats right they want to interview us as parents and my son. Worst part is the rejections letters, did I smell? did they not like our answers? or worst – did they not like my son?
How are you dealing with education for your two or three year old? what was that process like for you? leave a comment – I want to hear from you.
You just reminded me of this paragraph from Ken Robinson ‘s TED talk, in which he relates to a sign he saw hung above a nursery school or kindergarten saying (excuse me if I am not quoting exactly) “University starts at Kindergarten”. “No, it doesn’t”, Says Sir Ken Robinson, “Kindergarten starts at kindergarten”. And I totally agree. Let kids be kids. Let then have their playtime, because we rather they play when they’re 5, than when they’re 25 (not that there’s anything wrong in playing, even at 45…).
I am a math teacher in a middle school. I frequently have played # games with my 3yo son. He has since loved numbers and can write and identify numbers up to 999,999. I have bought an iPod touch that he uses on some mornings and eves to work on number sense and readings/literacy games. We read to our son during naps and bedtime. He now reads 1st grade level books to us. We constantly sing to him to encourage literacy. We sing any and all songs we possibly know….Star Spangled Banner, America The Beautiful….etc. We are sending him next month to a 3 day a week mornings only preschool that was built 6 months ago that is part of out public school system..it is a K to 6 school.. Tuition is $300 monthly.
Are you looking at Synagogue programs? The application nonsense (though not the tuition) is ever so slightly less with them. No 2’s program for me, I waited/am waiting until the 3’s for just these reasons. Want to really jump through hoops? Apply to the 92nd Street Y 😉 As for tuition, apply for financial aid–nothing ventured nothing gained. A lot of people do daycare instead to save some cash, though we didnt go that route.at least you’ll get a tax deduction…email me if you have any questions. Somewhere on my blog I detailed our school visits…www.peekababyny.com
Oh man, I completely feel your pain. We did preschool in NYC for my son- crazy. He only got into the school because he was a “legacy”, yes I had graduated from the same school. Yes, you read that right, we are not talking college, but preschool. However, in my defense I was pretty handy with a crayon, makes perfect sense to recruit my legacy! My wife, not from NYC, was sure this was all some practical joke!
My mom’s church offers programs starting at the age of 1 and tuition starts at $120 per month for 1 day and goes up to… $300 (I think) for their expanded 5 day VPK program. Each age range offers different days, but the time is 9-1 with an option for extended care from 8-2. My daughter started last year in the 1’s class and they had a theme every week, special crafts, singing, reading, painting, etc. She knows her alphabet, counts reliably to 20 and with prompting to 30. They attempted to grow vegetables and talked about care and feeding of plants and themselves. While I’m sure this could be MORE structured, it was exactly the support I needed as a SAHM to encourage her learning abilities and keep me a happy mom.
I think our public education system is desperately in need of an overhaul as well. I think formal schooling should start at 5, but there should be affordable options for encouraging kids to learn at all ages and they need to be affordable for all. It’s ridiculous, in my opinion, to need scholarships or education loans to pay for pre-school.
Great post! In NYC in particular some schools have a lower acceptance rate than Harvard. Kudos to every parent pushing to navigate the process in the name of getting the best education for their child.
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Yikes. Our little dude is only 2 in October, but we’re sending him to preschool in a couple weeks. This preschool is run from a local church and will cost us about $130 a month, which is the going rate around here. It’s five days a week for three hours and I promise never to complain about that cost every again. Have you tried a synagogue or church?
I have a 13 year old and a 3 year old, My 13y son went to private school and all it did was teach alot of click and nit-picking. My 3y old fortunately has been home with me for the past 2 years, although this Spring Semester I started college so my 3y goes to their daycare, and they are wonderful. it goes from 830-230 and thank goodness is only about 1500 per semester. I can’t blve it is going to cost so much for your little one to go to school. Good luck
Been there. We live in Park Slope, and THANKFULLY my daughter got into a 3s program that she’s starting next month: I know many people who didn’t get in anywhere. We’re paying about 8k for TWO DAYS a week, from 9-3. Lame. We actually went to one standing room only open house for a small co-op where about 200 families were competing for one, literally ONE spot: the rest were filled by siblings. The waiting period, from October to Jan/Feb was excruciating. It’s something only NYC parents can relate to. Brutal stuff.
This is one of the reasons why I am a SAHD. It allows we to start teaching my toddler (2.5) without the expense. Where I am there is a Smart Start program that is drop in where they get to socialize and learn some stuff they should know before entering kindergarten. My older two went a Montessori Pre-school it wasn’t cheap but no where near $16,000. Looking into it right now I can get mornings only for $3,000 5days a week.
What a great, eye-opening article! Sharing this on our page now!
Oh my! You have made me appreciate small town life in NC!! When my little ones went to preschool it costed $85 a month…i’m sure it has gone up in the last 5 years! I am paying close to $6,000 a year for one child in private school now (7th grade). I guess after reading this I have no reason to complain about tuition!
You know, we thought about programs like that and looked into a few. For us, it was way too expensive and there was no way that we could afford it. We chose to let my wife stay home with our first born and she spent so much time with him that he now is being tested for being gifted. He went to school ahead of his class in everything. Our daughter doesn’t seem as far as our son was at this point because of course there were two of them this time but she is still further ahead than she should be at this point. I am not saying that the programs like you are describing are not great programs. I am just saying that there are more options out there.
I agree with your Getting my kid into school – when did nursery school become like harvard? | DaDa Rocks!, fantastic post.
Trust me in CT its no better except for the fact its only 2 days a week for three hours. Ugh. My non-parent friends look at me like I am crazy and say ” why can’t you just leave them in daycare”.
Good luck! You will figure it out! You and Suzanne are amazing parents to M.