Preschool
Gavin is finally three-years-old. He's been getting bored inside our tiny apartment, so we've decided that for our mutual sanity, it was time to send him to institutionalized socialization school. We're using the nursery school at the NW Kids Club because they have a class for 2-3 year-olds where the kids can be un-potty-trained.
Ok, if you're wondering why Gavin isn't potty-trained yet, I'll tell you what happens every time we place him on a toilet: he starts screaming desperately and miserably, 'it's not working mommy!', because he isn't going. He just won't relax on the toilet, so he doesn't use it. He gets anxious, tense, and discouraged. He is, physically, perfectly capable of using it. He just refuses. We've decided to give it a break for a few months. Hopefully, he'll be less fearful after a few months of seeing other kids at preschool using the toilet.
So far, Gavin seems to be loving the school. His teacher reports that he's very good in the classroom - doesn't even attempt to play sword with the child safety scissors. He's not so good with sharing, but we already know that. He's kind of inclined to hit too, which I also know - when he wants to get my attention, he comes over to me and starts, well... I think Gavin believes it is tapping me, but he's still working this 'soft & gentle' think. So what it comes out to is softly slapping me repeatedly (which is really, really annoying). Unfortunately, a lot of other kids seem to interpret this as Gavin trying to beat them up/be mean; they instantly start crying (even some who are much older than Gavin - this school goes up through private kindergarten).
I'm hoping that the more he's around other kids, the better he'll learn how to play with them. Unlike in VA, Gavin has not been in a regular play group here in Oregon - partially because the arrangement I tried out for a while had a kid who bit. Gavin would come home COVERED in bite marks (3-5 almost every time). Once he had one on his FACE, and the mark didn't go away for nearly a week. All of the yahoo groups that I've tried have stated that anyone who participates needs to be able to host on a regular basis; they haven't wanted me because my space is too small. During the long, rainy winters, you can't always rely on going to the local playgrounds.
So. As much as I would like to have a free/inexpensive option for Gavin to amuse himself, socialize, and play with others, preschool is looking like our best option at the moment. I'll make money tight for the year, but if it does Gavin some good, then it'll be worth it.
Ok, if you're wondering why Gavin isn't potty-trained yet, I'll tell you what happens every time we place him on a toilet: he starts screaming desperately and miserably, 'it's not working mommy!', because he isn't going. He just won't relax on the toilet, so he doesn't use it. He gets anxious, tense, and discouraged. He is, physically, perfectly capable of using it. He just refuses. We've decided to give it a break for a few months. Hopefully, he'll be less fearful after a few months of seeing other kids at preschool using the toilet.
So far, Gavin seems to be loving the school. His teacher reports that he's very good in the classroom - doesn't even attempt to play sword with the child safety scissors. He's not so good with sharing, but we already know that. He's kind of inclined to hit too, which I also know - when he wants to get my attention, he comes over to me and starts, well... I think Gavin believes it is tapping me, but he's still working this 'soft & gentle' think. So what it comes out to is softly slapping me repeatedly (which is really, really annoying). Unfortunately, a lot of other kids seem to interpret this as Gavin trying to beat them up/be mean; they instantly start crying (even some who are much older than Gavin - this school goes up through private kindergarten).
I'm hoping that the more he's around other kids, the better he'll learn how to play with them. Unlike in VA, Gavin has not been in a regular play group here in Oregon - partially because the arrangement I tried out for a while had a kid who bit. Gavin would come home COVERED in bite marks (3-5 almost every time). Once he had one on his FACE, and the mark didn't go away for nearly a week. All of the yahoo groups that I've tried have stated that anyone who participates needs to be able to host on a regular basis; they haven't wanted me because my space is too small. During the long, rainy winters, you can't always rely on going to the local playgrounds.
So. As much as I would like to have a free/inexpensive option for Gavin to amuse himself, socialize, and play with others, preschool is looking like our best option at the moment. I'll make money tight for the year, but if it does Gavin some good, then it'll be worth it.