Ready for preschool?
During a recent call, Hubby mentioned that Lucas can register for preschool soon this coming July, for entry into their September session.
I notice that many Mummy bloggers have also started sending their tots either to playschool or preschool already. And I know Lucas is more than ready for some socializing considering that we’re always home alone in China.
If I guess right, his preschool will be a bilingual one I recall seeing. I recall it being a huge establishment with a nice green field and playground. Overall, it’s a clean and neat looking environment.
I’ve been thinking about this lately and wonder if I SHOULD send him. Below is my list of PROs and CONs. Can help me to decide?
PROs
1. Lucas can have a group of pals to mix with other than me. Lately, he has been too sticky for words – it’s been like “Mimi this…” and “Mimi that…”. Even Grandma gets rejected. I read that the 2nd year is Mummy’s year but this is too much…Mummy needs to go to the loo too!
2. He’ll have some structured activities. These are more productive than what his lazy / uncreative Mum can come up with for him. I’d been buying some Montessori-based toys for him but to come up with a comprehensive collection is going to cost me a lot to buy & bring back!
3. He’ll watch less TV. I know that my blogging is sometimes the cause of that. To remedy this, I’d simply shut down the PC and then spend the afternoon reading, drawing and do other stuff together. When we (or I) get tired, we’ll just play dead and go to sleep!
4. I could earn some $$$ and teach English again. I’ll be with him for half a day and may just be roped in to teach English. Nice if I can do that and keep an eye on him as well.
CONs
1. Who is going to cook for us? I could do some SuperMum planning and set the rice, steamed dish and slow cooker dish going on in the morning. By noon, everything will be ready when we return.
2. Exposure to germs. This is my main concern because the Chinese kids I’ve seen hanging around our block somehow seem to have runny noses ALL the time.
Since I’ve got no family around, I’d be at my wits’ end in the case IF he gets sick horrifying things like the the hand-foot-mouth disease reported in Guangdong or the bird flu.
Ever since I heard from a Malaysian mom that her mother-in-law had a stroke when visiting them, went through the local hospital and then died back home, I’ve been really scared about falling sick here.
Can you imagine that some guys even get IV drips after food poisoning? Seriously, the hygiene there still leaves much to be desired and putting him in the preschool will definitely put a lot of things out of my control.
I know I can check out the preschool first…sigh, let’s take things one day at a time first before I start hyperventilating again. I don’t know, after what’s happened recently, health concerns have gone up 5 notches on my priority list.
I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happened to Lucas.
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Noted, hubby will check the school this weekend if possible…. Looking forward to see my family back in Xiamen soon….
Get lucas vaccinated against flu b4 (if you are) starting school. It will help to cut down a bit of the flu attacks.
Bryan has started school for a few weeks now and i am noticing improvements in his motor and vocab skills.
Though I sam-thong to send him to school, i think it is really good for him. Once he gets over the separation anxiety, he really enjoys himself at school.
btw, mothers’ day is coming soon, what’s your wish.
http://justmytots.com/2008/05/05/my-mothers-day-wish/
i think you should send him. if your concern is about exposing him to germs, check out the school and see it for yourself before deciding. when u really think about it, we can’t exactly stop our kids from getting germs if we intend to send them to school one day, unless you’ve decided on home-schooling.
i feel the social part is important when our kids go to a playgroup or school.
i’m still contemplating whether to send rye li to kindergarten in Jan next yr or wait till she’s 4 since she’s already getting the socializing and learning part at her daycare.
btw, i see you’ve been tagged already on what u wanna do on mother’s day coz I also tagged u on the same thing. quite popular eh u?!
and sorry for tagging u coz i owe u alot of tags too!
Yeah… HYGIENE is our No.1 concern too.
the exposure of germs really caught my eyes, ya, he will fall sick easily once he starts school, just like Jo, when i first sent him to school on yr 2006, gosh, he fell sick almost every alternate weekend.
some more, children easily fall sick when the weather changed especially during October and November. The weather turns dry and the difference of temperature in the morning and night will make children fall sick too.
having said so, like what my hubby said, have to let them exposed with the local germs so that they can build up their own immune system.
Hubby - Good. Remember all the points I mentioned ok? And photos!
Shooi - Thanks, I’ll check the flu jab with his paed at the next appointment. I try not to give him too many lor due to his bad reaction to MMR.
Err…language, motor skills and separation anxiety are not my worries. I’m scared the teacher will tie him to the chair because he’s SO active and talkative!
And thanks for the tag!
Syn - Hubby is scouting it out first and we’ll see how the first report goes LOL I hope it’s a good one coz Lucas WILL benefit from the interaction and activities.
I saw your tag this morning and had a good laugh…will definitely do both.
Angeleyes - heheh, you too ya?
Hui Sia – thanks for sharing. Omigod, I can’t imagine him falling sick every weekend!
OK, I’ll be brave about this and hope Hubby’s report about the kindy is a good one. If not, I also have no idea what I’m going to do with my Dynamo rabbit!
I’ve been contemplating about sending YY to school too. Like you said, better for her to get some structured learning rather than just lepak at the babysitter’s home watching Barney and playing whole day. Maybe I should also start checking out some pre-schools.
I am not sure in China, but in Netherlands, it’s normal for a kid to have runny nose most of the time… Heard that the playgroup that I am going to send Anne to is sharing their drinking cups some more… but, like other mother said, we must let go and let the little one build up their own immune system. I can forsee that I will have to take care of a sick kid for the first few week once Anne started going to school….
A Mom’s Diary – You too? If Lucas had a group of friends to hang out with like he does at Grandma’s, I wouldn’t send him for preschool since I can teach him at home. You know what? Barney is my most un-favourite character…I can’t stand that purple dinosaur
Beckysmum – Thanks for sharing the bit about runny noses. Guess it’s a cold country phenomenon? But sharing cups at nursery? I’m REALLY susprised to hear that considering the EU’s stand on health.