The Education of our youth...

So we are at the point in Elijah's youth that we are looking at preschools.  He will start next year and depending on where he goes, he will attend from 3-5 days a week.  I'm both excited and terrified about this.  While my folks were here I went and looked at SOLA school of learning arts.  I fell in love with this school.  I seriously want to live there.  It's a really fun learning environment.  They allow the kids to learn through play.  The director described his program as Montessori with a kick.  They have a big garden outside and limited toys both in and out.  They have a HUGE art studio, a pottery shed with wheel and kiln, and they encourage participation in all aspects (cooking, cleaning, etc.)  They encourage self responsibility.  It is many things that I think are great.  They aren't sitting there copying their name on a piece of paper or tracing letter, but learn through doing.  They have a multi-cultural curriculum which I like and all the kids there aren't white.  However, it is REALLY pricey.  If we start putting money away now in Jerry's FLEX account at work it is doable... but I really am glad we went to look now so it wasn't a knee jerk choice.  While I think it is really almost exactly what we are looking for, I think we can find this at another school.

On another related note, I am constantly amazed at the amount of moms that are super concerned about whether or not their children can recite their alphabet, write their names, count to 97869082345698, know every color in the 64 count crayon box by the time they are walking.  To each their own, but every bit of research I have seen says that all children that are given the attention of a active (in their life) parent are on the same level by the time they are 7.   I find it really sad that parents feel that they must send their 2 year olds to school to learn all these things and then continue drilling it into their heads when they come home.  Elijah knows his ABCs and can count to 15.  He learned it from books and singing around the house.  He gets his colors mixed up sometimes, but I have every bit of faith that he will get that as well.  My kid can play!  I think that is what childhood is all about.  We run around and jump in puddles.  We paint and get dirty.  He has an AMAZING imagination and LOVES books and his CDs.  He can handle scissors and skip and hop on one foot.  He is almost mastered jump rope (this is used in helping special needs kids to learn to read... which I always thought was interested... I guess it uses the same area of the brain?)  He can climb and swing himself by pumping.  These are things I feel I am responsible for teachings him.  Sure we have letters around the house.  He "writes" letters to people.  I don't correct him.  He's holding the pencil correctly and in his mind he is writing.  I love that he loves to play.  I don't understand taking that away from children.  I sort of resent people that make me feel like I am lacking somehow as a mother by not pushing my kids into preschool at birth.  It is my choice and personally, I don't think he is ready.  The ONLY reason I'm putting him in any preschool program next year is to prepare him for kindergarten.  Socially, he is shy, but he warms up.  He is a really good kid and I know he will succeed in whatever he does.

So, end of rant.  I will continue looking at preschools and we will make a decision in December as to where Elijah should go.  There is another school we are looking at called The Parent's Community Preschool that involves some parent participation (5 times a year I believe) that seems to have much the same philosophy as SOLA.  So it is next on my list to check out.