Two Great Debates

Kindergarten...To Do or Not To Do

Logan has a late summer birthday of July 30th so naturally, since the day he was born, we have asked ourselves if we should send him to kindergarten right away or wait an additional year. Yes, this has been an ongoing debate for 4+ years. It has been the topic of many conversations between Jadee and I and with friends and grandparents, daycare providers, teacher friends, current kindergarten and 1st grade teachers, and other random parents who are asking themselves the same question. As you can see, this is not something we have been quick to make a decision about.

Being a teacher myself, I have sat through at least a zillion meetings when a child's name has been brought for collaboration because they are not doing well in school. One of the first questions asked is whether or not they are young for their grade (especially when the student is a boy). I also can't tell you how many students I have assessed for special education services that have summer birthdays. So I ask myself...WHY would I even consider sending my child? Thinking into the future, he would always be the youngest, the last one to drive, the last one to take a girl on a date, and he would be a very young 18 year old going off to college. Furthermore, we expect kids to grow up so fast these days...heck, we are teaching reading in kindergarten! Forget about letters and numbers (or playing for that matter), that's to be taught in preschool and at home.

Well, let me explain why we would send Logan this next fall. He's very verbal, he loves school, and he knows so much more than I even realized. Much to my surprise (because he's not exactly the performer Alexis is), he knows most of his letters and numbers, he can count very well, he knows his colors, and he knows shapes that I didn't even realize they taught in preschool. Socially, he does well. He has many friends and he loves school. Additionally, he "thinks" he is going to kindergarten next year because most of his preschool friends are. My husband would agree that he should go. Financially, daycare is very expensive...especially now that we will have two attending daycare full-time again. It really would be SO MUCH EASIER to send Logan to kindergarten for a number of reasons. Lastly, Logan recently attended preschool screening and the Early Childhood Teacher said that she would have no reservations about sending him because he knows everything he needs to know.


The Nursery...Where?

Come June, we will welcome a new baby into our home. With a 5 bedroom house, you wouldn't think this would be a difficult decision. Unfortunately, it is because only 3 of the bedrooms are on the main floor with the other 2 located in the basement. For those of you who have not been to our house, the 5th bedroom is more of a "study, which is how we use it, and because we decided to put double, glass French doors on it so it would be more open to the basement living area. It does have a small closet and curtains could be put in the glass doors though. So, here are the options we have considered below with advantages and disadvantages mentioned.

Option 1: Alexis would move downstairs to the spare bedroom and her room would become the nursery. This would result in 2 rooms being repainted if our baby is in fact a boy, as Alexis's room is currently very pink.

Advantages

• Only 2 rooms to paint.
• Simple solution.

Disadvantages

• Alexis does NOT want to be in the basement by herself.

Option 2: We put the baby in the basement spare bedroom.

Advantages

• Only 1 room to paint
• It is the most quiet room in the house because it's below our bedroom...and we CAN use a baby monitor. Although it sounds ridiculous to put a baby in the basement, would we think it was so ridiculous if the bedroom were upstairs?
• Nice sized room with a walk-in closet.
• The basement is where we spend the majority of our time during the evening hours.
  

Disadvantages

• It's seems ridiculous to put a baby in the basement.
• The changing table would be very far away from the upstairs.
• The room is very far away from the laundry room.
• It can get a little bit cold downstairs during the winter months.
• The room is very far away for night time feedings...although if this child is like our other two, it will be sleeping through the night within a few weeks. In the mean time, we have a bassinet for our bedroom.

Option 3: We put the baby in Alexis's room like option 1, move both Alexis and Logan downstairs, and move the study upstairs to Logan's current room.

Advantages

• The transition to the basement would possibly be easier if they both went downstairs.
• Just maybe the kids would learn to "like" the basement and then spend more time down there...which would mean a quieter upstairs and maybe even a cleaner upstairs.
• Since we are downstairs so much in the evenings, the kids shouldn't have a hard time falling asleep at night.
• This option makes the most sense.
  

Disadvantages

• Ugh...that would be 3 rooms to paint and did I forget to mention that 2 of the 3 rooms were just painted last spring? Yes, the rooms are now very colorful and match all of the decor.
• My wonderful study would no longer be...it makes such a great computer and craft room.
• The study does not make a great room because the closet is so small, but it's doable.
• This option is the least desirable.
  

Okay, so if anyone would like to share their thoughts and suggestions, please do e-mail me. I need help!