Having a Difficult Time Paying for Preschool? There Are Options

The state of the economy has affected the way we all spend money. Even some necessities have taken a back seat to items such as food and gas. Most parents would agree that socialization and beginning learning skills are extremely important to preparing our toddlers for school. As a stay at home mom, I struggled greatly with trying to create a plan that would meet her growing needs.

In order to provide the necessary socialization and intellectual stimulation, I have sought out several avenues, which have expanded on my original plan for my daughter. Originally, the plan included Sunday school, a weekly moms group, a low-cost, weekly gymnastics class through the city and weekly individual play dates. Although this plan met many of my daughter's needs, it was a little lacking in time spent in a structured teaching environment. Gymnastics helped her to learn to follow directions in a small 4:1 student/teacher ratio but I knew that this dynamic was far different than a standard preschool class size.

Then came an advertisement on craigslist that solved my dilemma. A local church posted a listing for a babysitter/preschool teacher to instruct 15 children for two hours one morning per week. This sounded perfect as the advertisement also stated that employee's children were welcome to attend! I applied, was offered the position and now provide a preschool environment for my daughter. Positions like this are not always advertised but are available at numerous local churches. Many churches offer MOPS groups or women's bible studies for which they provide childcare. This is an excellent way to provide a preschool environment while earning a small amount of money.

In addition, I have also created a personalized preschool curriculum. There are many websites that show sample weekly curriculum guides to follow for free. If you have the funds, there are also curriculum plans for sale. The simplest plan to follow is introducing one letter per week and coordinating it with items of that letter. For example, week one could be A week. Spend this week pointing out things that start with the letter A. Enlist your child to help you make homemade applesauce or offer animal crackers for dessert. Do this with each letter of the alphabet. Begin with the letters of your child's name instead of going in alphabetical order. It is so exciting when they begin to recognize the letters from their name in signs and labels at the grocery store! Counting is also easily taught by counting items that begin with the letter of the week.

One thing that can be daunting is to learn why type of schedule to follow when teaching preschool items to your child. My suggestion is two hour blocks of time, two days per week for children who are three years old, and three two hour blocks of time three days per week for children who are 4 years old. These blocks of time allow complete focus on the child and what they are learning. It is essential to vary the activities to include playtime, reading time, craft time and a designated snack time. This also gives your child a window into the structures of school. These suggestions are really meant to be a springboard for your own imagination. You do not have to be the perfect preschool teacher to provide the information, time and socialization your child needs to have a successful start to their schooling.