I tested out the local Las Madres working mom's group a while ago. While I was testing out the new group, I came across a monthly event held at the Willow Glen library that integrated science and art for toddlers to explore. What a great learning concept for little ones! While this is currently run by 1 working mother, this program has great potential to grow for the children in our community.
Please help this mom out with her project with this simple and quick survey. The sooner the better!
https://aytm.com/rb476dd
Friday, May 9, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Preschool decisions
So my daughter graduated from daycare to preschool. I loved her daycare but it was time for her to be a little more challenged and to hang around children her own age instead of babies. We felt that it was better for her development. While researching all the different preschools out there and the fight to get your child in, it was hard to decide which one to fight for.
It was important to us that the school was bilingual, full days, potty trains, playground, set schedule, and relatively not too educational pushy curriculum. At 26 months, we wanted a school that was going to help more with her self development in terms of confidence, character, social, and fine motor skills. I wanted her to be introduced to a school environment so when it was time for the education push, she would be familiar with a class environment.
After touring some schools, my husband and I had to sit down to come to an mutual understanding for what was important to the both of us. It was our child and we needed to both agree and have both of our wants met. We believe that we both have to be on board together so we can support each other in raising our daughter through this transition and period of her life.
So after we did our research online, we toured the final school that we thought was a perfect fit. As soon as we toured the school, we both knew that this was the place and we immediately put in the deposit for the wait list. The director of the school told us, she was busy and if we wanted our daughter in, we would have to hassle her. Well, I did just that and 2 months later, my daughter started preschool. My husband and I had to rearrange our schedule the first week and she had half days there with us so she would get familiar with the environment. This idea actually gave from the director and I'm very thankful for that. When it was time for my daughter to start on her own, it wasn't as painful. My daughter stopped crying by the time I left the parking lot.
What was a plus that I didn't realize was her preschool also has a video camera that the parents can log on at anytime to check on their kids. I liked that idea not that so I can watch it all the time but the fact that they offer it means a lot of honesty to me. And that was comforting.
A lot of people thinks I put my kid in too early but its really a play environment based learning. It was important that since my husband and I both work full time, that my daughter wasn't deprived of thriving just because we weren't home with her. So far, we love the teachers there and my daughter seems happy and has learned so much already.
It was important to us that the school was bilingual, full days, potty trains, playground, set schedule, and relatively not too educational pushy curriculum. At 26 months, we wanted a school that was going to help more with her self development in terms of confidence, character, social, and fine motor skills. I wanted her to be introduced to a school environment so when it was time for the education push, she would be familiar with a class environment.
After touring some schools, my husband and I had to sit down to come to an mutual understanding for what was important to the both of us. It was our child and we needed to both agree and have both of our wants met. We believe that we both have to be on board together so we can support each other in raising our daughter through this transition and period of her life.
So after we did our research online, we toured the final school that we thought was a perfect fit. As soon as we toured the school, we both knew that this was the place and we immediately put in the deposit for the wait list. The director of the school told us, she was busy and if we wanted our daughter in, we would have to hassle her. Well, I did just that and 2 months later, my daughter started preschool. My husband and I had to rearrange our schedule the first week and she had half days there with us so she would get familiar with the environment. This idea actually gave from the director and I'm very thankful for that. When it was time for my daughter to start on her own, it wasn't as painful. My daughter stopped crying by the time I left the parking lot.
What was a plus that I didn't realize was her preschool also has a video camera that the parents can log on at anytime to check on their kids. I liked that idea not that so I can watch it all the time but the fact that they offer it means a lot of honesty to me. And that was comforting.
A lot of people thinks I put my kid in too early but its really a play environment based learning. It was important that since my husband and I both work full time, that my daughter wasn't deprived of thriving just because we weren't home with her. So far, we love the teachers there and my daughter seems happy and has learned so much already.
MommyCon San Francisco
This is a much delayed review on the event. However, it was a great experience and I've learned a lot. It was a mini convention for natural baby raising choices. Lots of information on reusable diapers. In fact, they brought it all out and all the different types of diapers. That was really helpful.
What I took away from this and why you should attend as a new parent:
1. There are MANY products out there that are not in stores like Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby. I found a much better designed nursing bra that what was in stores that would have saved my back and time. There were also things that helped with cloth diapers like a toilet spray and a shield to help it from splashing everywhere.
2. You see how natural parenting has worked for many children. There were many babies there so you really see how happy, healthy, and easy that life choice is.
3. There were a lot of new products being introduced that weren't out on the market yet. So, you get the opportunity to touch and feel them. I got to try on the new Ergo Baby 360 before it was out. I love it and I plan on getting one when I have the 2nd.
Its nice because I got to speak with a lot of the inventors/owners of small businesses that are just introducing their new products that are currently only available online. Hearing how their product was made and the reason behind the invention.
What I recommend before going:
1. The San Francisco event may not have been as big as the others but spending half the day there was sufficient.
2. The meetings/conferences were extremely packed. I looked at the packed room and got terrified and left. If there is a specific one that you really want to see, get there very early and hold your spot.
3. Don't expect all the mommies there to be too friendly. Some of them are on a mission of some sort and I'm not sure what. I imagine it's because they have to be done with the place before their child's patience runs out which I completely understand. So, if you have a choice of babysitter, leave your children at home so that you can really focus and take your time experiencing all that there is. I left my daughter with my parents so I was able to focus on the new products without chasing my 2 year old.
4. Arrive light because there are tons of business cards, information, etc to hold. It gets heavy. Luckily, MommyCon comes with a great gift bag that you can throw everything in or there was The Bump that was there passing out reusable totes as well. I didn't plan ahead and brought my gigantic purse and it got too heavy. Luckily, I brought my human coat hanger (my hubby) to help me hold all the goodies.
What I took away from this and why you should attend as a new parent:
1. There are MANY products out there that are not in stores like Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby. I found a much better designed nursing bra that what was in stores that would have saved my back and time. There were also things that helped with cloth diapers like a toilet spray and a shield to help it from splashing everywhere.
2. You see how natural parenting has worked for many children. There were many babies there so you really see how happy, healthy, and easy that life choice is.
3. There were a lot of new products being introduced that weren't out on the market yet. So, you get the opportunity to touch and feel them. I got to try on the new Ergo Baby 360 before it was out. I love it and I plan on getting one when I have the 2nd.
Its nice because I got to speak with a lot of the inventors/owners of small businesses that are just introducing their new products that are currently only available online. Hearing how their product was made and the reason behind the invention.
What I recommend before going:
1. The San Francisco event may not have been as big as the others but spending half the day there was sufficient.
2. The meetings/conferences were extremely packed. I looked at the packed room and got terrified and left. If there is a specific one that you really want to see, get there very early and hold your spot.
3. Don't expect all the mommies there to be too friendly. Some of them are on a mission of some sort and I'm not sure what. I imagine it's because they have to be done with the place before their child's patience runs out which I completely understand. So, if you have a choice of babysitter, leave your children at home so that you can really focus and take your time experiencing all that there is. I left my daughter with my parents so I was able to focus on the new products without chasing my 2 year old.
4. Arrive light because there are tons of business cards, information, etc to hold. It gets heavy. Luckily, MommyCon comes with a great gift bag that you can throw everything in or there was The Bump that was there passing out reusable totes as well. I didn't plan ahead and brought my gigantic purse and it got too heavy. Luckily, I brought my human coat hanger (my hubby) to help me hold all the goodies.
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