I dreaded preschool – getting involved with activities and donations and baking stuff, packing lunches, washing nap blankets, helping with arts and crafts. Mostly I dreaded the lack of control over the people and things that would be able to influence Kyle. We’re sending him out into the world a little bit at a time, and preschool is a much bigger step.
Kyle has indeed picked up some unsavory mannerisms and language from the other kids at school, most of whom have older brothers or sisters, and therefore are exposed to Satan’s work in the form of iCarly, Transformers, and Star Wars. Kyle makes fart noises or laser gun sounds every moment that he is not talking, sleeping, eating, or mesmerized by Tom and Jerry. He does things like pretending he’s peeing on the floor, says things like “What the…?” and draws pictures of Optimus Prime.
On the other hand, I have found that I quite enjoy the community that is offered by Kyle’s school. It is a small offshoot of a private Lutheran K-5 school with a church. The preschool is located on the grounds in a little house with its own play yard and lots and lots of fencing, set way way back from the street. Safe.
Most weekdays I walk the four blocks with Kyle to school. He comes with me to the sign-in area where I enter the time that we arrived, stow his backpack in his cubby, check for newsletters and homework. The homework is usually a coloring page or two, and sheets for practicing his letters. Thankfully there’s no long division, yet.
After all that is done, I hand Kyle off to the morning teachers who sit with the kids as they play with toys or run about the playground. Only during the last few weeks has Kyle consistently separated from me without problems. Two weeks ago was the first one in which he ran off to play happily five days in a row. I love to see how he joins his new friends. That is except when they instantly engage in a game of “shooting the bad guy.”
Then I walk the four blocks back to our house. The leaves are turning color, there is a snap of cold in the air, and I am moving my limbs. I have an hour before I must leave for work. The house is quiet, and there’s still some hot coffee left.
I think I like preschool.
That is except when they instantly engage in a game of “shooting the bad guy.
What, he should shoot the good guy. 😉
It is fun watching the kids grow and learn. My 3rd grader is learning all sorts of nifty stuff, especially from friends who have older siblings in junior and or high school.
Heather is in K this year and I miss that community you speak of in pre-school. We live too close to the school for busing and so drop her off & pick her up… honestly, I’m perfectly happy not sending her on a bus to school! We stand outside with her waiting for the doors to open in the morning & again in the afternoon waiting for the kids to come out. It AMAZES me the kids whose parents bring them who pull up to the school, let their kids hop out & drive off, leaving them to wait alone for the doors to open. Now, mind you, the waiting area is a fenced courtyard and there are staff about. But. Still. Okay… 5th graders I can see. But. Kindergarteners? Call me over-protective and paranoid. Because of this I know only one mom of one of the other kindergartners, H’s best friend from pre-school, who also waits. I know NONE of the parents of the kids in her class!
Oh… to clarify further… parents are not allowed to walk kids to their classrooms… I understand… they are big kids now & need to be independent & I love seeing that in her… but doors open & off they go… don’t even see the teacher!
Oh, that photo! I could just pinch his cute little cheeks. 🙂
Ah, what a lovely picture of tranquility you paint in four blocks.
With Dashiell in pre-preschool, and one of the youngest (and biggest!) kids in his little class, I reap nothing but benefits. So far.
He speaks even better than he already did and he’s wrapping up his first week without pull-ups!
He loves it too much though: Absolutely zero separation anxiety.
🙁 (a little)
What an adorable picture of Kyle. His eyes are so expressive
Love Nana & Grandpa