Anyone utilized the Head Start program?

[River]

boy do I feel the warm welcome here or what!?

when I posted my initial question, I left the income part out 'just in case' there was anyone on here that might of been in that situation.

our program has 3 slots in it where the income of the family is only based on 10%. So yes, a family of 4 can only make around $18,000, but us, as a one income family making $60,000 a year can qualify with the 10% exception.

our program is also ran by two mature women, not teenagers, who are qualified in teaching.

my intent in participating in this program is to offer my son any educational jump starts he can receive - it totally has nothing to do with needing daycare, that is provided by his stay at home Dad.

So there

 

[Christy]

Originally posted by River
boy do I feel the warm welcome here or what!?

when I posted my initial question, I left the income part out 'just in case' there was anyone on here that might of been in that situation.

our program has 3 slots in it where the income of the family is only based on 10%. So yes, a family of 4 can only make around $18,000, but us, as a one income family making $60,000 a year can qualify with the 10% exception.

our program is also ran by two mature women, not teenagers, who are qualified in teaching.

my intent in participating in this program is to offer my son any educational jump starts he can receive - it totally has nothing to do with needing daycare, that is provided by his stay at home Dad.

So there

Sorry. We tend to run off in our own conversations if you aren't there to interject.

Actually, if you have a stay at home dad, it's probably much more beneficial to keep him with him, but I'm a bit jaded on the public school system and feel they don't have a whole lot to offer. Trust me, your kid will benefit more from a caring parent than head start.

 

[Dymphna]

I'm taking a class with a number of head start teachers in it. They are all certified teachers. The children they teach range from being severely disadvantaged educationally, their parents never read to them or even much talk to them, to very intellegent children who are begining to read at age 3 & 4.

Even the children who are ahead, acedemically, benefit from interaction with other children. Many children also thrive on the structure of a classroom setting, regardless of how much involvement their parents have. There are a number of pluses to getting into such a program.

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by River
my intent in participating in this program is to offer my son any educational jump starts he can receive - it totally has nothing to do with needing daycare, that is provided by his stay at home Dad.

So there

the educational 'jump start' can't hurt, but there might be other more beneficial programs out there for him. At 4 yrs, kids can attend Pre-K the schools in St. Mary's .... maybe Charles offers something similiar. :shrug: That might be better educationally, as well as acclimate the child to the school environment ... getting on a bus, etc.

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tatercake
the educational 'jump start' can't hurt, but there might be other more beneficial programs out there for him. At 4 yrs, kids can attend Pre-K the schools in St. Mary's .... maybe Charles offers something similiar. :shrug: That might be better educationally, as well as acclimate the child to the school environment ... getting on a bus, etc.

For all intents and purposes, Head Start is Pre-K for 3-yr olds. Right down to riding a bus. Kids who go to Head Start automatically qualify for Pre-K. Not all kids can get into public pre-K, especially smart ones with no diagnosed problems, and involved caring parents. Why shouldn't involved, caring parents get one more year of education for their children if they can and if they feel the child needs it. :shrug:

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Dymphna
Why shouldn't involved, caring parents get one more year of education for their children if they can and if they feel the child needs it. :shrug:

I didn't say they shouldn't. I've just not heard much "fan-fare" from those who've put their kids in head-start, thus suggest she look for alternative methods.

the kid is 3 ... arrange a playgroup with other stay-at-home parents for him ... take him to the park ... take him to the zoo ... etc. 3-year-olds shouldn't have to be in school ... hell, most are still learning to talk. let the kid be a kid and do kid stuff. Get him/her in pre-k next year ... he/she will have several years to "enjoy" school.

 

[Elle]

Originally posted by Dymphna
For all intents a purposes, Head Start is Pre-K for 3-yr olds. Right down to riding a bus.

Yeah I want my kid to go to head start so he can ride one of the short buses that they use.

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tatercake
I didn't say they shouldn't. I've just not heard much "fan-fare" from those who've put their kids in head-start, thus suggest she look for alternative methods.

the kid is 3 ... arrange a playgroup with other stay-at-home parents for him ... take him to the park ... take him to the zoo ... etc. 3-year-olds shouldn't have to be in school ... hell, most are still learning to talk. let the kid be a kid and do kid stuff. Get him/her in pre-k next year ... he/she will have several years to "enjoy" school.

Ok, that's a valid opinion. I chose not to sent my 3-yo to preschool, but some parents want that and some kids need it.

My point is just that Head Start is not the equivalent of daycare. It's only half day for one thing, which is pretty darn inconvient for whoever has to get the child on and off the bus, a working parent would still need to have a daycare provider do that.

It provides an environment for the child to learn things they really should know before entering kindergarten, including basic counting, sorting, listening, numbers, colors, letters, and a host of other things that some parents don't have time for, could care less about doing or just have no idea how to expose their child to all of that. Or maybe the family lives in an isolated area (like we don't have those around here) and a playgroup isn't an option, so the child doesn't get interaction with other children. Maybe transportation is an issue and museums and the zoo are out.

Lots and lots of affluent parents send their 3&4 year olds to preschools. There are more and more of them popping up all the time. I'm just saying that Head Start gives people in a lower income bracket that option.

 

[Elle]

Originally posted by tatercake
I didn't say they shouldn't. I've just not heard much "fan-fare" from those who've put their kids in head-start, thus suggest she look for alternative methods.

My neice went to head start and she didn't learn her colors, numbers or letters, it was more or less just a semi-structured free daycare.

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tys_mommy
Yeah I want my kid to go to head start so he can ride one of the short buses that they use.

So let's attach a stigma to the kids and call them because their parents want to give them an advantage and give them a jump on their education.

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Dymphna
So let's attach a stigma to the kids and call them because their parents want to give them an advantage and give them a jump on their education.

guess she shoulda used a smilie to indicate 'joke' status.

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tatercake
guess she shoulda used a smilie to indicate 'joke' status.

Was she joking? because I've had the feeling this whole thread has been tap-dancing around the idea that going to Head Start has a stigma attached to it. I thought she was the only one brave enough to come out and say it. :shrug:

 

[Elle]

Originally posted by tatercake
guess she shoulda used a smilie to indicate 'joke' status.

At least someone got it. (notice the smile at the end of my post here. I will be sure to include one with every post to note the tone of my message)

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Dymphna
Was she joking? because I've had the feeling this whole thread has been tap-dancing around the idea that going to Head Start has a stigma attached to it. I thought she was the only one brave enough to come out and say it. :shrug:

the only "joke" i know re: head start was how much of one it was when I saw one 'in action' in PA. :shrug: I only know of two people on here who might possibly crack a joke about an underpriviledged/learning disabled child and even then, I'd be quite surprised.

now grown-up retards ... that's a whole different ballgame (without the bat attached).

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tatercake
I only know of two people on here who might possibly crack a joke about an underpriviledged/learning disabled child and even then, I'd be quite surprised.

Then I guess your are saying Tys is one of those, because isn't that exactly what you are saying she did? She made a short bus joke in reference to head start kids?

 

[Elle]

Originally posted by Dymphna
Was she joking? because I've had the feeling this whole thread has been tap-dancing around the idea that going to Head Start has a stigma attached to it. I thought she was the only one brave enough to come out and say it. :shrug:

It was a joke but I do think there is a stigma attached to head start. I personally would never send my child there b/c I don't feel that there is any benefit, please refer to the post about the lack of education my niece received while attending. I've posted before that my son has speech and learning problems. I do try to give him every advantage so that he will not fall behind and in my researching I found seeing a speech therapist 2 times a week while enrolled at in-home child care receiving 1 on 1 or 1 on 5 learning is a much better learning avenue than sticking him in a “classroom” with 20 other children and 2 “teachers” (not all of them are certified).

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Dymphna
Then I guess your are saying Tys is one of those, because isn't that exactly what you are saying she did? She made a short bus joke in reference to head start kids?

no ... I'm saying I thought you could grasp a joke even if a smilie wasn't attached because of this:

Originally posted by Dymphna
smilie added for all those who can't understand a joke without one.

:shrug:

 

[Elle]

Short Bus Question

Do adults ride short busses? Seriously the only ones I've seen in the county are the headstart ones?

 

[Dymphna]

Originally posted by tys_mommy
It was a joke but I do think there is a stigma attached to head start. I personally would never send my child there b/c I don't feel that there is any benefit, please refer to the post about the lack of education my niece received while attending. I've posted before that my son has speech and learning problems. I do try to give him every advantage so that he will not fall behind and in my researching I found seeing a speech therapist 2 times a week while enrolled at in-home child care receiving 1 on 1 or 1 on 5 learning is a much better learning avenue than sticking him in a “classroom” with 20 other children and 2 “teachers” (not all of them are certified).

I agree there is a stigma attached. But what if your child hasn't been diagnosed with a problem/delay/what-have-you, so you don't qualify for the "infant and toddlers" program from the BOE and you can't afford to pay for preschool or something? I don't know about Charles, but St. M's and Calvert have more than one Head Start, serving children in the same geographic areas. I can imagine that they are not all created equal and it may require some parental investigation, but many children DO benefit from the program and it should be considered a viable option for kids who need help but whose families cannot otherwise afford it.

 

[crabcake]

Re: Short Bus Question

Originally posted by tys_mommy
Do adults ride short busses? Seriously the only ones I've seen in the county are the headstart ones?

by short busses, are you including the STS bus that runs through St. Mary's county? I'm not sure, but I think that's just a regular transit type bus.

Or are you referring to mentally challenged adults? My brother used to work with them in PA and I think they had a short bus for 'em ... simply b/c there weren't enough going the same place all the time to warrant a non-short bus.