Preschool alternatives?

Percy Seiger: Here's a whole bunch of free activities you can do with your preschoolers: http://www.universalpreschool.com/how-to/teaching-... There are also a couple of E-books to purchase if you're interested.Have fun!All the best....Show more

Malcom Fenoff: First, relax! You can't flunk preschool. In fact, there's no need to try and replicate pre-school in your home. You have two kiddies in your house, and you are their mum. That's a very different situation to 15 kids in a large room with adult supervisors who aren't their mum. The teachers at pre-school have to provide activities that will impress parents, you don't have to impress anyone.Second, since most three year olds do respond well to a bit of semi-formal time, I suggest you look at this site: http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/TotSchool.html and the blogs listed down the right hand side.My three year old likes to do school about three days a week. I haven't timed how long we do it for, but I'd take a gu! ess at anywhere from 10 mins to half an hour. Sometimes it is one session, sometimes it is a few shorter sessions through the day, maybe one in the morning and another when her little brother is napping.The typical activities are drawing, painting, playdough, cutting, blocks, counting things, educational dvds (to work on her second language, or recently a great series about children and their instruments,) stringing beads, cooking, going for walks and to the park, and reading stories when she's willing to stay in the same room! Oh, and lots of jigsaw puzzles. She's really into those at the moment. We've just moved, so we are looking for a new playgroup but haven't had any luck yet.You are right. There is absolutely no reason to spent $1700 on a year of "school" for a three year old. We use the library, which is free. I've just joined our local toy library (lots and lots of great stuff and will save me soooo much money now I won't have to buy all those puzzles to keep the gi! rl happy!) The toy library was $60. I'm just about to spend $1! 00 on a zoo membership and spent $50 on a membership for the science centre which has a great section for tots. Playgroups are not more than $100 per year. Add in some art supplies, and the total still comes way under $1700!...Show more

Curtis Josef: I think you should "Google" home schooling. Great programs will pop up and you can read up on them. They are less expensive are just as good as public schools if not better.

Leora Klingelhoets: You may want to check out www.starfall.com, which helps with letters and phonics. But whatever you choose to do just don't overdo or push it, especially with two 3-year olds. One of the best things you can is just let them play and use "teaching" time subtlely when they show an interest in something.