Peschool

HI B. I am a Carmel at home Mom also, I think I will be in the same boat as you. Has anybody given you any ideas yet? I haven't even started looking. My daughter is 4 now and should start pre-school next year. All my neighbors talk about these places that are way out of my budget. My two boys went to pre-school in Avon and we only paid $80.00 a month. Wounldn't that be nice!!!! I had no idea until last month what I was looking at. Good Luck

K.
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Have you looked into Cooperative Preschools? They are cheaper, but you have to help out one day a month.

Winding Waters pre-school doesn't chanrge that much, I don't think and there is one on Adamsville Rd. that doesn't chanrgethat much eaither. Hope this helps!

I would wait untill your third child is born and re-apply for preschool admittance with your local head start or a preschool that offers assistance/scholorships etc. based on income/need. I know it sounds sneaky, but right now you are a family with 2 children. When your income is applied to a family with 3 chldren, you may qualify for the assistance.

Hi B.,
Try checking into the elementary schools. Some of them have a young fives group. Or, you might try a local church that would be willing to help you. Contact the social services in your area and see if they can cover all or part of your expenses. None of my children went to daycare for that reason, but they had plenty of other children to play with. Good luck.

Hi B., I have a 4 year old daughter that has been going to the same pre-school for 2 years now, and she loves it. It is $75/ month for 3 year olds and $85/month for 4 year olds. I don't know if this is too much but the teachers are wonderful and I feel safe taking her there. That is a big thing for me!! The pre-school is off of Dupont road and is called Faith United Church of Christ (on Coldwater). If you live near by I highly suggest this school, it is a couple of hours in the morning just a few days a week and there is a music class offered also, at a seperate price but not that expensive.Registration for summer anf fall will be coming up soon. The number is ###-###-####. The 3 year old class my daughter had Mrs. Timmis who is the music teacher also, and for 4 year olds she has Mrs. Alday who is wonderful!

I put my daughter in Columbia City United Methodist Church Pre-school and i also live from paycheck to paycheck. They charge $63.00 a month. Also try South Whitley Elementary School. I know my newphew went there this year. I moved to late in the school year so i just let my daughter stay at CCUMC pre-school. Good Luck in your search. J.

i too have a 4yr old, and a 2 1/2 yr old, and i havent even tried toget her in preschool. there are several sites that would help w/ the learning stuff. as for interaction, maybe a lapsit or reading time at the library. i know its hard being pg w/ #3, i quit going places when pregnant w?#3. hope you get more advice that what i could give.

You may want to try Beacon Heights Preschool in Fort Wayne, IN (on Beacon Street, right off of State).
It's run by the church, nationally certified, and a wonderful place for little ones. I'm not sure of the price, but it's worth looking into (I'm fairly positive that they have very low rates and "scholarships" or finantial aid for some children).

Our local school offers preschool classes so that is where my son goes to what they call Early Start .He goes two days a week and loves it .He rides the bus so i dont have to worry about taking him or picking him up.they let any one in that is four years old.

Have you looked at the YMCA or the parks and recreation department? They may not be the most educational, but for social learning and sometimes physical coordination, they are good. Our park district has playgroup meetings that you only have to pay $1 for. And I think that our YMCA provides scholarships. Plus, if you volunteer in the nursery, they will let you trade hours that you work with hours so that you can use the facility. We also have a community center that has programs. I also took our daughter to story time at the library. It was free and they usually heard a story and then did a craft project.

You might also try contacting a homeschooling parent in your community. They could have suggestions on materials you could use. The grocery and drug stores have pretty good books anymore for preschool/kindergarten. Also, look for a moms day out group. We have one at church and that has been good for both of us.

Unfortunately, the really great educational programs are expensive. But we are sacrificing some of those things to be able to raise our kids right. It's the long-term we have to think about. Some of my friends never sent their kids to preschool and they did fine. I work part-time some evenings to send our daughter to preschool, but that means that daddy has to take over those nights and we don't get to see each other. It's tough, but we somehow manage to get through financially (and we aren't saving or even paying more than minimum on our debts - but someday I will go back to work and it will be okay.)

You're doing the best you can, and someday (when they are parents), your children will appreciate that. :)

Go to Grille Administration for FWCS downtown and enter your child in the preschool lottery. My son won a spot a few years ago. Also many of the churches here will help you if you are honest and let them know your concerns and financial situation. Best of luck to you.

In our school corporation we have title I pre K. There is a screening for your child to determine if they need pre K. You should call the administration office or the elementary school to check about this soon....our school corporation is currently registering for this program here in Bartholomew county. If they do not have this available they may have some other suggestions for you. Our highschools also offer a preschool type setting in the afternoons it is a co op class for the high school students and a very affordable education experience for preschool age children. These are things that are offered in our area...like I said contacting the local school corporation would probably be a good source of information for you. Good luck!
K.

If you live in the Winfield/Teays Valley area, something to think about is the preschool at Teays Valley Christian. It is $55 a month. We looked into their preschool but decided to homeschool instead. My friend sent her little girl there though and she loved it! They are talking about making the preschool 5 days a week next year.... that's probably going to make the price go up.

My daughter currently attends preschool at Luise's Love. It is on the west side of town but I absolutely love it. This is my second child to attend there and my niece is there right now also. They are the best group of teachers I have ever had the pleasure of working with (I have been working in childcare settings for 11 years now). They do go by your income and it is very inexpensive (really). Give them a call and see what they can do for you ###-###-#### ask for Jane.

Good Luck!!!

Hi, I live in Auburn and I have two kids. My son is 5 and my daughter is almost 3. When my son went to preschool we took him to Dayspring Church (the church beside the hospital). He went when he was 3 and he LOVED it!!I am not sure of how much it costs anymore. When i was looking into home childcare, some of them offered preschool at their home. What places have you called about??

B.,

If you live in the Lafayette area, Christ United Methodist Church on South 18th Street offers preschool 3 mornings a week for a child your daughter's age for 85 a month...the two day is 70. I am not sure if this helps at all, but it is a little less than what you said you found. Good luck to you!

G.

Good Shepherd Preschool on Vance Avenue is $64. per month for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hope this helps.

I would maybe call a couple of places in towns that are close to where you live. If it's not a crazy drive, it's sometimes a lot cheaper in smaller towns. A friend mine just moved from Fort Wayne to a small town and she said that her daughter's preschool is only $65/month for 4 days a week. At the preschool my daughter goes to (also the one her daughter used to go to), it costs about $150 for your child to go 4 days a week. I know that when we lived on the NE side of FW, I found a Lutheran preschool that was only about $60 or so to go two days a week.

Outh Wayne Bapitst Church has a preschool that my son went to and really enjoyed it is about $77 a month or cheaper if u can volenteer once a week in the class. Call and see what they say they are really nice.

I would suggest looking at a church's preschool program. My son has attended preschool through a local church for the last 2 years and has qualified for a partial scholarship every time (have to requalify each semester). We've only had to fill out a form with our income information (didn't have to attach check stubs) and wrote a letter as to why we needed the assistance. Good Luck!

unfortunately i don't have any good advice due to we are currently in the same postion as you. however my husband and i both workk but we also have a new set of twins who are taking any extra money for formula, diapers, etc.... and i keep getting the same response if it is free we make to much money. if we have to pay it is out of our budget.... please let me know what you decide to ____@____.com

have tried any churches? sometimes they have preschools and are not as expensive. my nephew goes to preschool at portor memorial.

IF YOU GO TO A CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL AND TELL THEM YOU CANNOT MAKE THE PAYMENTS, MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL ALLOW YOU TO PAY WHAT YOU CAN. I PAY $70 A MONTH.

Hi B.,

We're in a similar situation. I want my 2 year old in preschool this fall and we're on 1 income and expecting a new baby this summer. We've had to rearrange and make room in our budget to afford the $85/mo for his tuition.

With a new baby at home it's hard to go back to work but many women do. I went back after my son was 10 weeks. After our first son was born my husband worked hard to find a higher paying job with better benefits and now I stay home again.

Do you have a good grasp of your budget and expenses. If you take over handling the money maybe you could find ways to tighten up expenses like switching phone or internet companies, getting rid of your cellphone or gym memberships and buying used clothes and toys. It worked for us. After close scrutiny of our insurance policies we saved $600 a year. With a little work we reduced our monthly budget by $250.

She doesn't NEED to be in preschool. There are plenty of other ways for her to interact and learn with other children her age. Most preschools do not have a 'formal' education... the best ones are 'play based' with a bit of formal structure because kids that age learn best through experimentation and play. You can take her to the weekly library and craft times, playgroups, Playscape at the Children's Museum, the zoo, hike through a park and point out animals and plants, etc. Keep teaching her at home... but don't let her know she's being taught. :-) Let her help cook in the kitchen (my 4 year old knows fractions pretty well just from baking & measuring but he doesn't know they are 'fractions'). Write out the words to everything on index cards and tape them around the house on those objects (wall, door, bookcase, TV, chair, table, etc) so she's exposed to the letters/words. My son does go to preschool, but they do not do worksheets and flashcards and that type of 'formal-sit-at-your-desk' work. It's playbased with storytimes and lots of hands on learning type stuff (like stuff you would do at home). Kids that age pick up beginning reading skills and beginning math skills just from playing.

A friend of mine is a kindergarten teacher and she says the most important things they want incoming students to know is how to stand/walk in a line, how to sit at their desk quietly for 15 minutes and raise their hand before speaking. That's it. Work on the social skills. Once a children has the social skills down (which are best learned in playgroups without much interference from adults) they "can teach them anything quickly" (to quote my friend).

Oh yeah... I'm in Carmel, IN and many of the preschools around here are $70-$100 a month for a 2 or 3 day a week program.

My son attends St. Johns kinder Country Preschool in Newburgh. For two days a week it runs at $80. I thought that was pretty good deal. One thing i have learned, some preschools are operated more like day cares and charge out the wazoo...try calling around to actual kindergarten schools maybe they can help you find something.

Hi B., I wish you the best of luck finding a good preschool for your child I agree with you. It is important that our children get the experience of playing with others thier age and seeing how things are done in school. It helps get them prepared.

I don't know where you are from but my children have all went to Coburn Corners Preschool. I live in Hicksville, OH and it is about 10 min. from my home, they are not expensive and have wonderful teachers. If you are from around this area and want more info email me for more information. If not Good Luck, I know how hard it can be to find good education for your kids.

B.,

I wish I had something comforting to say or school advice to give. The insane truth is that is about the best you are going to find. I am a single mother, and had to pay $105 per week. The school was not even close to the high end. That was with my income level discount. Extremely expensive and it certainly makes it difficult to raise your children and be able to put food on the table.

I have a couple of other ideas that are more in the rhealm of realistic possibilities.

1) Bring in a couple of kids her age, or a year older. So you can put an add out for in home child care. You will be bringing some money in the home, as well as providing a structured environment that you can watch your children with the other children, and thus, get the same result...socialization and education for your children and others. Preparation for school...your way.

2) Arrange for play dates with other mothers on this site or other places that you have mommy interaction. Many mothers are on the same page, and you just haven't been made aware, or thought about the idea. This way, you do not have other children in your home, unless you have the play dates at eachothers homes. Some places I would recommend meeting at would be: childrens museum, library, parks- public or neighborhood, YMCA- or other sort of places of the sort that you may have accessable (YMCA does do a sliding scale. You would most certainly qualify for a discount with so many of you in the family).

I hope this has helped. I think you may have been at a dead end idea before. I wish you luck in accomplishing what you are set out to do!

A.

I personally wouldn't worry about preschool. I don't think kids need it. What they need is good solid time to play; play should be their only schooling at this age.
But that is just my opinion. My son is four and will be five in May and he has never been in school.

Hi Brandi you sound a lot like me 8 years ago. I have three girls now, was living paycheck to paycheck. My husband was the only one with an income. We would never be able to get a new car or our own house. Then one day I started my own business with Avon. And I love it. You don't have to change anything you are doing now. You just give books to family and friends.
$10 to start your own business. 50% off!!!!!!! And it is fun.
I live in Lakeville their is a church here in town I think it is $60 a month for daycare. email me and I would love to share more info with you. Avon has sign on bonuses now!!!!

Hey B.,
Well, like Charis mentioned, church preschools seem to be pretty good. I'm not sure where you are located, but I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I send my 4 year old to Good Shepherd Preschool which cost $67/month for 2 days a week, but it will be changing to $70/month for 2 days a week this next school year. I think it's been really good for my daughter so far. I also have a son who will turn 2 at the end of this month and a 3 month old daughter, so if you want someone to talk to or have any questions e-mail me at ____@____.com, my husband makes around the same as yours does and I am a stay at home mom also, so we find ourselves pay check to pay check also, but luckily we can afford this preschool for our daughter, and then the other kids when they start preschool. Good luck with your pregnancy and congratulations.

I have about the same problem. Some daycares provide preschool, but the daycares out here suck. I found it easier to go to the store, buy the workbooks and teach my kids the preschool stuff myself. Atleast that way I know what kind of education she's really getting. I had a problem with Head Start with my son where they kept telling me how great he was doing. For 2 years he was doing so great. Then they gave him the kindergarten readiness test and come to find out he wasn't doing so great...he failed misserably. When I asked them exactly what they had been teaching him those 2 years they said "well he likes lunch, he has alot of friends and he's good at the weather center" Now correct me if I'm wrong but lunch, friends and weather center won't get him through kindergarten right? As a result, he's been in the PAL program all year. And it's not just my son. I sat in on a class before I yanked him from head start...there were 2 kids in that class that could answer just about any question...the rest of the class sat there giggling and looking around and couldn't answer anything. Just do yourself a favor and cut out the middle man.