Preschool for a difficult 3 year old boy?

Sorry I know there has been a lot of discussion about preschools lately but I have been a little bit reluctant to look for one for my very difficult son. I am afraid he won't fit or will bother other kids since there is a lot of hitting going on.
So my question is this:
Has anyone been there of felt that way? Any advice?
Thanks

Gravatar for Shibi Shibi Message Shibi
Feb 8, 10 5:18 pm

I hope you don't take offense to my question, but what type of discipline/redirection are you using to correct the "difficulty"? My son is very energetic and can be impulsive. There are kids who had issues with hitting, especially in the three year old class, but the teachers dealt with it very well. There is a "naughty chair" at school and that's where the kids sit when they have misbehaved. My son tells me when he's had to sit in the naughty chair-it's usually for running in the class room or not listening to the teacher. Is this your only child?

Gravatar for 2Cents 2Cents Message 2Cents
Feb 8, 10 6:31 pm

Hi 2Cents, no worries... you did not offend me with the question at all.
He is my second and after having a very timid and well behaved girl I was shocked to see all kinds of new things from him:)
I do a lot of talking about not doing the things he does, like "we don't hit, hitting hurts, etc.." I try ( it is usually very difficult ) to take him out of the situation right away. I started the naughty stool thing last month but I am not sure it is a success.
I was thinking about signing him to gymnastics. May be that would help him to use some of his energy.

Gravatar for Shibi Shibi Message Shibi
Feb 8, 10 7:40 pm

Hi Shibi!
School may be just what he needs. I have an "energetic" boy, who is COMPLETELY different from my first child, a girl. Boys and girls are different. We love them equally, but they are different!! Socialization and learning to cooperate with a group is probably just what he needs. We loved the Pumpkin Patch when we were there, as well as the pre-school at St. Mary's (for 4 yr olds). Good luck!

KathyDG
Feb 8, 10 8:13 pm

My son is my second also-and, yes, very different! My son has done very well at Gethsemane and will be starting at St. Mary's kindergarten in the fall. My third, another girl, seems to be following in her brother's footsteps as she mimics almost everything he does! It sounds like you are doing all the right things-I would definitely put him in school! My oldest (also a girl) sounds like yours-very agreeable and wanting to please. I didn't even know Gethsemane had a naughty chair until my son started! There are days I am amazed at how many times I say the same thing over and over again..."Stop jumping off the couch"..."Stop running"..."Stop tackling your sister"...

Gravatar for 2Cents 2Cents Message 2Cents
Feb 8, 10 8:50 pm

Sign him up for karate it did wonders for my friends son who was a big hitter and not nice they teach them only to hit red pads etc etc and when he is not being nice that can be used as a punishment to be taken away after 1 month her son was a whole new boy but i agree with kathy school could be the cure as well when hes seeing 10-15 other kids in class playing while hes on time out he will re learn his behavior fast

Gravatar for shoebie shoebie Message shoebie
Feb 9, 10 8:31 am

"Stop swinging from the dining room chandelier"..... No kidding, I actually had to say that once! Hang in there, Shibi. It gets easier. BTW - I mentioned the St Mary's PreK. My son is now in first grade there, and we are very pleased.

KathyDG
Feb 9, 10 9:37 am

Oh how funny, KathyDG-I have a daughter in first at St. Mary's! Perhaps we know each other...Have you ever read a book called The Red Tent? I got it from a friend at a book club gathering last summer. It was fantastic!!

Gravatar for 2Cents 2Cents Message 2Cents
Feb 9, 10 12:33 pm

LMAO KathyDG!!!

We're just getting ready for Kindergarten in the fall and just the thought of "real school" is enough to turn my daughter into an angel. We were at St. Mary's this morning registering for Kindergarten, and some of the ladies there told me how nice and polite my daughter was. :)

"terrible 2s" were NOTHING compared to 3s. Hopefully things settle down as he gets closer to 4, Shibi.

Gravatar for ImOnSaxton ImOnSaxton Message ImOnSaxton
Feb 9, 10 2:12 pm

Boys are a handful - so active & quite the characters. My son mooned his preschool class at 2 1/2 years old!!!

Jag
Feb 9, 10 6:57 pm

2 cents - nice to "see" you online!
imonsaxton - we "meet" here and on "fb" often. maybe we'll meet at school, too, now!

KathyDG
Feb 9, 10 8:02 pm

Shibi- I may be a little bias, considering I am a local preschool teacher, but I think preschool is a great idea. We have had many "difficult" children that turn out to be the most well-behaved students. I think it works, because you have an outsider that is backing up your efforts to change his attitude for the better.

BRS
Feb 10, 10 8:19 pm

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