Daily Archives: August 26, 2016

The Pros and Cons of Private, Public, Home School or No Preschool

Day care in coral gables

Figuring out where to send your children for schooling is an extremely important decision. There are many choices out there but finding a good preschool is where it starts. Preschool sets the tone for the school years to come. You will be able to see how your child grows and flourishes in a social setting like preschool and this will help you determine what kind of schools your child will need as they grow. There are many reasons for going to preschool. Here are a few options and their pros and cons.

Private Preschool
Private preschools tend to be a much smaller group which gives your child a much better chance of adjusting quickly and fitting in. Smaller settings also allow teachers that one on one time with each child to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. If these can be determined early on, then the child will be able to overcome weaknesses and build on strengths before anything in set in stone. Private preschools also encourage parent involvement more than any other school so this helps the parent/child relationship and also allows parents to have a sat in their child’s education.

The downside to private preschools is that they are pretty pricey. Tuition cost can vary depending on the school but it can be difficult for parents to keep up with paying for it, especially when you have several children.

Public Preschool
Public preschools offer a bus system that private schools do not have so that you do not have to take your children to school yourself and still know that they are safe. This age is such critical age and with public preschools, lower income families are able to send their children to public preschool without having to worry about the cost of education.

However, on the other hand, public schools sometimes do not focus on teaching the children anything but only focus on the socialization. There should be an even balance between the two methods. It is thought that children who go to public preschools will not have the same advantages as those you go to private schools.

Home School Preschool
There are some fantastic preschool curriculum available to parents who would rather teach their children at home throughout preschool. Children that are home schooled in the beginning are often ahead when they do start school.

While this is not the way with all children, it is a common thought that children who are home schooled tend to be socially awkward because of not having that day to day interaction with other kids. However, this can be overcome by enrolling the child in extra curricular activities after school like sports teams or drama clubs, etc.

Forego Preschool
There are many benefits of preschool and if you choose to forego it, you may be setting your child up to be behind once they actually start school. While preschool is not a requirement, it prepares your child to be in a school setting. Preschool is a great place to learn but the truth is, children will learn wherever they are, be it home or school. There are so many things for them to see and pick up but the main thing about preschool is the socialization. If a child does not go to preschool and then is thrown into kindergarten, where they really do need to start learning, it may be a shock for them. The shock could prevent them from learning for a time as they adjust and they may end up falling behind.

The first few years of a child’s school life are so important. When they are this young, they pick things up like a sponge and learn so quickly that even a few missed days can cause them to fall behind. Whether they learn at home, at private school or public, young children need to be learning all the time and picking up new skills and information. This will help them not only in kindergarten or even high school but for years to come. The foundation is the most important part of the structure and it is crucial for kids to get these learning blocks in as soon as they can in order to build on them.

3 Suggestions for How to Get Rid of Stuff

Red cross pickup

Summer is ending and fall is fast approaching and the cleaning bug is heading in. Pretty soon we are going to be pulling our sweaters, jackets and boots out of storage or the back of the closet or under the bed, or wherever you stashed them. Some people may have dropped off their winter closed as used clothing donations at a Red Cross donation center. If that’s the case, you may have to buy a new jacket. Whatever the case may be, the changing of the seasons is a good time to step back and evaluate your home. It’s amazing how much stuff we pick up over time. You could have done a deep spring cleaning and then just a few short months later, your possessions have once again cluttered up your home. What better time to go through everything than that weird in between not summer anymore but not yet fall time? Here’s a few tips about what to do with the things you’re getting rid of.

  1. Yard Sale
    If you have a garage or a large front yard then you could set up a few tables and blankets on the ground and sell your things to passers by. The best way to advertise a yard sale is to find out when your community usually has yard sales, which is probably on a Saturday or Sunday when most people aren’t working. Then, draw up some signs on the nearest main street that say ‘yard sale’ with an arrow pointing your direction. Lots of people purposely go out looking for yard sale signs on weekends. You can also advertise your yard sale on sites like Offer Up or Craig’s List. It’s a good way to attract attention in order to get rid of things you don’t need or want as well as make a little money. Don’t be too picky when it comes to prices if you are going to do a yard sale. People don’t usually want to spend a lot and will probably barter for lower prices once they find an item they want.

  2. Donate
    The Red Cross donation center and other organizations are always looking for clothes donations as well as other things. The great thing about these organizations is they may actually pick up the items for you. If you gather all of the things together that you want to donate, you can then call the Red Cross donation center and arrange a time that the Red Cross pickup service can come and get your donations. It’s a great way to clear out your home but at the same time, still put those items to use with families that need them. You may never know who your stuff went to or how it helped but it will make you feel so good, knowing that you’ve played a part in potentially changing a life. There’s really no excuse not to donate. You’re getting rid of the things anyway, it doesn’t put you out if you don’t even have to go to the Red Cross donation center; they come to you and the items are helping someone. It’s a win/win/win.

  3. Sell Them
    Offer Up and Craig’s List were mentioned earlier in regards to advertising your yard sale. If you have the patience and don’t mind not getting rid of stuff immediately, you can take pictures of all your gently used items and put them on these sites for people to see. It’s sort of like an online yard sale. Sometimes you will get better prices for your items than you would at a real yard sale though. Once you accept someone’s offer, it’s up to you whether you want to deliver the item to them or have them come and get it. If you take the items to them, you might make a little more money if you charge for delivery. However, it can be a lot more convenient to have them come to you.

Getting rid of stuff is a good idea. It helps not only to clear your home and make it easier to keep clean but also to clear your mind. It’s easier to focus and concentrate on other things when you know your home is in order.