Anyone utilized the Head Start program?

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Dymphna
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.

I don't think anyone is eliminating it as an option ... River asked for opinions/experiences, and that's what she's getting. :shrug:

 

[Elle]

Originally posted by Dymphna
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?

My opinion in general is life is all about choices. There are always other (sometimes better) choices out there somewhere, you just have to look for them.

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by tys_mommy
My opinion in general is life is all about choices. There are always other (sometimes better) choices out there somewhere, you just have to look for them.

TY! I'd rather self-educate my kid than stick her in a substandard program that I felt didn't really offer her much. At least then you KNOW what they're being taught.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I always thought 'Head Start' was a Pre-Kindergarten-type curriculum at a recognized school or private daycare setting.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Originally posted by tatercake
TY! I'd rather self-educate my kid than stick her in a substandard program that I felt didn't really offer her much. At least then you KNOW what they're being taught.

Some parents use school activities for children 3/4 so that they have interraction with children they're age, right?

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Chasey_Lane
I always thought 'Head Start' was a Pre-Kindergarten-type curriculum at a recognized school or private daycare setting.

I believe the original intention was that it was supposed to be; however, I've not heard of anyone who feels their kid got "an advantageous edge" over other students by attending.

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by Chasey_Lane
Some parents use school activities for children 3/4 so that they have interraction with children they're age, right?

four year olds ... maybe ... but 3 is a little early (I think) to expect your kid to grasp enough that it'd actually give them some sort of advantage in kindergarten by attending a preschool-like structured class. If you want a combined "interaction with kids" and "learning environment", learning centers (like daycare) are good ... La Petit comes to mind b/c my daugher went there, and while the director was a first class biatch, the teachers there are wonderful, degreed, and my daughter learned a lot there, like how to speak spanish, among many other things ... at 3.

If she's solely looking for interaction with other kids, have dad take the kid to a park ... or arrange with some other local stay at home parents to organize a playgroup a couple days a week.

I just think some parents try to push their kids too early into being a baby genius. I didn't push the DQ, and she's pretty dang smart for a 5 yr old. And I'm happy to say that a good bit of that is because of things we (my family and I) have taught her vs. expecting it to happen elsewhere.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Originally posted by tatercake
the teachers there are wonderful, degreed, and my daughter learned a lot there, like how to speak spanish, among many other things ... at 3.

My daughter went to a private daycare and her teacher taught her some Spanish also. She was 5 when she attended. It was so cute to listen to her tell me "Hello!" or recite numbers 1 - 10.

 

[DoWhat]

Originally posted by Chasey_Lane
My daughter went to a private daycare

Did she ever poop in the bathtub?

 

[libragirl]

Originally posted by pixiegirl
You have to be dirt poor to qualify. I called and the lady told me limit on income was $18k a year. I thought she was kidding at first. She wasn't.

you do not have to be poor to get into headstart poor is a harsh word to use you know

 

[lfquade]

Originally posted by Dymphna
My point is just that Head Start is not the equivalent of daycare. It's only half day for one thing

I don't know where you get your info, but I know of one headstart that is FULL day, and not half a day, so get some of your info straight and then post, Thanx...

 

[libragirl]

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).

well maybe your child had a learning disability and thats why she wasnt learning dont say it was because of headstart thats the point of going so the kids can learn and get ready for school???

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by libragirl
you do not have to be poor to get into headstart poor is a harsh word to use you know

Originally posted by libragirl
well maybe your child had a learning disability and thats why she wasnt learning dont say it was because of headstart thats the point of going so the kids can learn and get ready for school???

so, which HS program do you work for or is your child attending?

 

[libragirl]

Originally posted by Chasey_Lane
My daughter went to a private daycare and her teacher taught her some Spanish also. She was 5 when she attended. It was so cute to listen to her tell me "Hello!" or recite numbers 1 - 10.

my son didnt have to go to a private daycare or school to learn to speak spanish so whats that have to do with anything !!!!!

 

[libragirl]

Originally posted by tatercake
so, which HS program do you work for or is your child attending?

what is your point ?

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by libragirl
my son didnt have to go to a private daycare or school to learn to speak spanish so whats that have to do with anything !!!!!

So you enrolled him in Head Start in Nogales? :shrug:

 

[JabbaJawz]

Originally posted by libragirl
my son didnt have to go to a private daycare or school to learn to speak spanish so whats that have to do with anything !!!!!

By golly...sounds like you've got a genius on your hands!

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by libragirl
what is your point ?

my point is you sure are coming off like a wench to folks who provided honest input to someone who asked for it ... oh, wait, was that someone you?


Nope!

 

[pixiegirl]

Originally posted by libragirl
you do not have to be poor to get into headstart poor is a harsh word to use you know

Obviously your kid is in HS. And yes $18k a year for a self supporting family of 4 is below the poverty line which is another term for POOR! Don't like it? Tough titties it's the truth.

 

[libragirl]

Originally posted by tatercake
So you enrolled him in Head Start in Nogales? :shrug:

my son didnt need headstart but if he did i would have sent him there to learn