O-mama - Opinionated Moms

My grandchildren all went to St. Andrews Presbyterian Pre-school - it's wonderful. http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/4845

MAMA...my kids went to Wescliff Pre school in Costa Mesa ...LOVE IT and Newport Harbor Pre school. But, I hear that Temple Bat Yam and Newport Coast are great. Good luck...remember, it's only pre-school...so if you have to shop or change gears, not the end of the world!

Hi Rochesternative! My 4 year old goes to a private pre-school in a suburban area. In my opinion, her pre-school is amazing...very "old school" and encourages learning through play; however, everything is designed with development in mind...on the playground, they have a garden where kids can plant and pump water out of an old-fashioned pump, feed chickens, collect eggs...every activity is for honing a certain sensory or motor skill. They also have swings, a teeter totter and bouncy things...art section...dress up area...etc. really fun! I just had a parent-teacher conference where my daughter's teacher had art, writing examples from beginning, middle and end of year to show progress...and had a full report on all developmental aspects with picture of her doing the games and activities that reinforce those milestones. It was great! I'd love to chat more...this is an important room, but not a lot of conversation...would you be interested in HOSTING this room? If so, we'd love it...if interested, pls. email me at michelle@o-mama.com. Thanks MAMA!!!

My twins are "graduating" from pre-school tomorrow. sniff,sniff. They go to a Jewish nursery school, but it is inclusive. Their program sounds very much like Michelle's. It is play-based but everything has a purpose. They cook, plant flowers, do yoga, art, dress up, music. The teachers also have samples of their work (painting, science journal, etc) that shows progression from the beginning of the year.

umm...she's FOUR. thats a definate no. Wait until she's older and let her make the decision again.

No, you aren't been too hyper about it! But, don't worry either. Don't stress him out...or yourself...have fun with it! "C" is for cookie...cookie, cookie starts with "C" (-:

No my daughter was 3 when I started working with her. At 4 she knew a little more than half and now she is 5 and in preschool and knows them all and their sounds and is starting to read a little. So keep working at it and be patient he will get it sooner than later and just think once he learns the letters and sounds you open all new doors for him.

Okay, he probably knows them all by now, seeing as you posted this in January...but I used a sharpie marker and wrote a letter on the back of each hand and then asked my boys 100 times a day which letter was on their hand...plus everyone else was like, what do you have on your hand?

My daughter has said something similiar, "this is pissing me off." When her little brother was annoying her. We all know we need to watch our mouths, but life happens and instinct takes over. I just explained to my daughter that mommies and daddies sometimes use words that children are not allowed to use. I also said mommy and daddy shouldn't use those words either, but sometimes we forget.

That is perfect!

I agree with selarde...moms and dads aren't perfect and sometimes we say things we know we shouldn't in front of our kids but it doesn't make you a bad parent. Your only human and sometimes you need to let off steam and sometimes things just come out...Just try to explain to your child to your best ability that sometimes moms and dads say things that are not necessarily nice but doesn't give the right to repeat it. If they are not sure about a word they should ask and you should be prepared to explain, be patient, not get upset when they ask as it is up to you to teach not to feel horrible. I tell my daughter that when she becomes an adult if she needs to say those words then she can because until she becomes one and goes through real trials in her life than she hasn't earned the right to use them yet...lol Plus I tell her if I say those words in front of her call me on it so I can work on not saying them in front of her.

First of all, so fun that we are "chatting" in real time...second of all, great advice! I love the fact that you invited your daughter to call you on it. I think that is awesome. And, very empowering for the little people that are trying so hard to follow the rules. Thanks!