Is my 3 year old ready for head start?

[Gilly Bean]

I have a son, who will turn 3 on the 15th of this month. A few people have brought up the question of whether or not he is ready to go into the Head Start in town. He has been in the Early Head Start program in town since he was a newborn. He knows how to count to 10 (sometimes higher, but not without skipping numbers), he can put puzzles together, he knows how to sing aton of songs.

However, what he can't do (and this is what worries me about sending him to school) is sit still, his attention span is very brief, he is still in diapers at least half the time (and has accidents when not, though they accept untrained kids, so long as they are 3), and he doesn't listen to orders very well, or follow them very well. Now, his Early Head Start home visitor feels he would benifit from being in a structured learning environment, and recommends putting him in this month. To me, he just seems to still have so much 'baby' left in him. Now, were it my almost 6year old, we would have when she turned 3, except it was the end of the school year. She was ready. She could sit and listen, follow directions, and be trusted by us to behave in the class room. I never had any worries about sending her to school. I knew she could handle it. I just am not sure my little one can. He still needs snuggles, and cuddles, and has no hesitation in beating up other kids. He is very much preparing to be a school bully, to my dismay. We will beat manners and a sense of good into him yet, it just isn't there yet.

But back to my main reason. Looking at what has been said above (and heard from before by some of you) would you send him to school? If he were your child, that is.

Quick note on the head start: It would be 4 days a week, half a day, noon to 3:30 m-th. No nap time.

 

[Pokerman]

My son has been in preschool since he turned three (he's now four). A private school run through our local religious affiliation. yes, it costs money, but he gets some religious training (explaining the significance behind the holidays, not just the presents) in addition to preparing him for kindergarten next year. 5 mornings a week, 3 hours a day. It's been wonderful for him. He's learned a lot there, such as writing his own name and stuff, that he wouldn't have the patience to do with us.

Don't worry about his attention span, my son can be like that too, but apparently at school he has no problems.

As long as he doesn't have any separation anxieties, he should be ready.

 

[Ksss]

If it's any consolation, my grandson is 3 and we decided not to send him until he was out of diapers. They do accept children here also at age 3. As to your description, he sounds like a normal 3 year old boy...And not being prejudiced, but girls mature at an early age faster than boys. My grandson also has problems sitting still, unless it's in front of the tv watching Pokemon *sigh*.

I would say it's a personal decision on if you are ready to let go of him yet or if you want the extra time to spend one on one with him.

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

Gilly I'm not gonna say if you should or shouldn't I'll just tell you what happened with me.

I started school at 4 instead of 5.

I was 3 and I could read, not well but still a 3 year old that can read. I could write all my numbers but 5 I always wrote that backwards, I could solve puzzles faster then some adults.

so my parents desided to put me into school cause my brithday came right at the cut off date that I was aloud to start early. like your son I wasn't potty trained till I was 4, just a few months before school started. I had a short attention span unless I was doing something like colouring, doing puzzles or watching tv. (found out it's because I have ADHD)
I did good in school till about grade 3, it was about this time that the age differance started to affect me. I wasn't in to what everyone else was, so was pused out of the crowds. you think this would make me go into my studys more... hell now did just the opposit. I wanted to be witht he croud so my mind was never on work.... I ended up doing shitty in school untill High school.

sometimes it's a good ting sometimes it's bad. it depends on the person and the environment.

now once I was in highschoolpeople were still older then me but it was a bit easyer to fit in, and my work shot up again and I was at the top of the class (well in science and math classes.... english fucked me royaly)


But i'm betting whatever you do with your son will be for the best.

 

[SweetCherry]

Well, that's a tough one, GIlly. My son srarted going to Learning Readiness classes at 3 1/2, but by that time he was well out of diapers.

Is there any way he could go maybe just 2 days a week instead of 4 until he gets used to it? If he's anything like my son who is now 4, I might add, he still may need a day in between to get his sleep or he gets ornery.

 

[Gilly Bean]

Well, the age difference won't be much. He will have to attend head start for 2.5 years before he is old enough to start Kindergarten. He has to be 5 by December 15th, and doesn't turn 5 until January 15th, so either way, he won't be in Kindergarten for 2.5 more years. He will turn 6 in the middle of his first year there.

Also, this school allows kids 3 to 5, all mixed in. Some of the kids will be 1st year students, while others would be 2nd years. He would also have one of the same teachers our daughter had, though the head teacher moved away, so he would have a different head teacher. He would also be in school with a friend of his, whose sister is also in Raegan's class.


Also, he has no seperation anxiety, what so ever. Lil snot would go live with the first stranger who asked him to. Scares the dickens out of me at times the way he just talks to anyone, hugs and kisses anyone.

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

oh okay sorry Gilly

I thought you ment starting him in school. I didn't realize Head Start was the actual name of a program out there.

 

[Caria Knight]

I'm a mother of a 2 year old (well 2 at the end of this month). We just started him at the Goddard School which is like a daycare but struchered with small 15 min to half hour fundumental development classes geared towards his age (like working a zipper or standing on tip toes, saying classmates names... stuff like that). Of course they don't force the kids into anything and work with a few while the other's play then with a few more, ect. This has been a wonderful experiance for him. He's learning about social interaction with other children while getting a heads up with his developmental education.

What you really need to look at his not if he's of age but what they have to offer HIM. Ask questions about what they do throughout the day if you don't already know. Ask how they deal with children who have low attention spans and what's the ratio of children in and out of diapers. You want him to be comfortable there and if he's the only one still in diapers it might be a problem, but if he's not then it shouldn't be. Also be sure to ask them if they work WITH him in potty training.

Basicly find out what they have to offer your son and compair it to HIS needs. My son was with his father or I and hardly had contact with other children. He needed that so we found it for him. If Head-Start doesn't have anything to offer him yet, then wait but if they do then go for it. The decission is ultimatly yours.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[morninggirl5]

Gilly,

It's truly your decision whether to send him or not. I've worked with children in that age group for the past 11 years and he sounds like a perfectly normal three year old boy. The short attention span and frequent accidents are the two main charactersitics of just turned three boys.

If he wants to go and will enjoy the program, sure send him. From our earlier discussion, it sounds like the program is set up to be developmentally appropriate for 3-5's, so you don't have to worry about him being pushed before he's ready.


The only concern I would have is will he feel like he's being replaced by your new baby. Having a new baby at home is a big adjustment for that age, but then to start school right afterward might be too much. That's my "sometimes it happens" speculation, you know your son and if he will have a problem with it.

mg

 

[MissTaken]

I am sure your Head Start would let you visit, take a look around and make decision.

They would also be able to make a recommendation concerning his attending.

I would look into it, especially as you are taking care of your new little one, and a bit of quieter time might be helpful to all.

And it is free.....which is also a help to you.

Hugs....

 

[freakygirl]

I say send him and try it.

It won't hurt anything and if it doesn't work out, you can always pull him out. Head Start is a government program, ran mostly by volunteers. You don't pay for it, so you aren't losing anything by sending him.

 

[It'sasecret]

As a teacher I think you should send him. For all the reasons such as short attention span etc... It is better to learn that now then in Kindergarten. It could give him the structure he needs.