twins r fun
12-09-2003, 11:47 PM
Okay, I need someone to hash through this with me. Please give me some feedback, even if you're not an expert on preschools-just from a common sense perspective! I've been looking into some cooperative preschools to put the boys in next fall. They will be almost 3, but because of their birthday will go in a two year old program. I'm looking into coops because I want them in a preschool only setting, not a daycare/preschool combo. There are some non-coop preschools around here, but only a few that take two year olds and the ones that do, work on a lottery system and I doubt I'll be able to get both kids in that way.
Here's my issues: I started this preschool journey with the idea that the boys didn't really need to be in preschool at two, but it would be a nice break for me. If I don't do a preschool I will sign us up for parent/child classes 2-3 days/week, just so we have something to do. Now that I've observed a few preschools, I think that a preschool experience does have some advantages for them over parent/child classes-consistency, independence, more time in the activity (2-2.5 hours vs 1 hour at most parent/child classes). But I still feel we could manage without it. Now the drawbacks to the co-ops is that I'm not sure I'm going to get my money's worth in the "time for me" department. I would have to work once every 2-3 weeks (because I have 2 kids in the program). I would also have to serve on a committee and do some other things. That all seems doable, until you throw a third child into the mix. I'd be co-oping 1-1.5 years from now so a third child is a very likely possibility by then. Most places set up a babysitting swap, but of course I'd have to swap back so that would mean I'd lose another day of "time for me/time for baby" so out of a month of preschool. I'd only get the benefits of about half the time, the boys of course would get the benefits of all of it. I guess half is better than nothing, but I would be paying $175-200/month (total) plus $300-500 in other yearly fees. Does this seem worthwhile? What are some angles I'm not thinking of?
Thanks for any feedback!
Here's my issues: I started this preschool journey with the idea that the boys didn't really need to be in preschool at two, but it would be a nice break for me. If I don't do a preschool I will sign us up for parent/child classes 2-3 days/week, just so we have something to do. Now that I've observed a few preschools, I think that a preschool experience does have some advantages for them over parent/child classes-consistency, independence, more time in the activity (2-2.5 hours vs 1 hour at most parent/child classes). But I still feel we could manage without it. Now the drawbacks to the co-ops is that I'm not sure I'm going to get my money's worth in the "time for me" department. I would have to work once every 2-3 weeks (because I have 2 kids in the program). I would also have to serve on a committee and do some other things. That all seems doable, until you throw a third child into the mix. I'd be co-oping 1-1.5 years from now so a third child is a very likely possibility by then. Most places set up a babysitting swap, but of course I'd have to swap back so that would mean I'd lose another day of "time for me/time for baby" so out of a month of preschool. I'd only get the benefits of about half the time, the boys of course would get the benefits of all of it. I guess half is better than nothing, but I would be paying $175-200/month (total) plus $300-500 in other yearly fees. Does this seem worthwhile? What are some angles I'm not thinking of?
Thanks for any feedback!