We just got the news that our first choice preschool (the int'l school, like ASIJ) for Jay didn't have a spot for him. While it was no surprise, it was kind of sad to hear anyway. There are only 18 spots and priority goes to siblings (we know 9 or 10 for this class alone). Then the other spots go to kids who don't have "local educational opportunities." In other words, kids who can't attend the German schools because of language barriers. The last two spots are saved for late arriving families from the States. So, as a half German family, we have to wait another year, when there are three classes instead of one.
It's not that we have no other options. As a properly neurotic stay-at-home mom, I put Jay down on the list of another two (and researched a few more than that as well). That's nothing- I know some who have registered at four or five places. Jay got into a German preschool that just became (read: lots of bumps still in the road) bilingual. I found out that there is only one other English speaking child there, so I think it's mainly just exposing the kids to English.
In general, Germans believe that kids should be kids and they shouldn't learn until the first grade. There is no structure- just playtime and occasional crafts. Most of all, the kids run wild. A good friend of mine works at the one where he'll go (another building, so he won't be in her class) and her stories amaze/frighten me. Jay is easily intimidated by a lot of action and craziness, so I know he will tend to play by himself a lot or get bullied.
So lets hope that Jay will start to get a backbone and stand up for himself in time! I like the fact that he will get to use his German more than his English. So there is a big plus to this all. But when did preschool become so stressful?
It's not that we have no other options. As a properly neurotic stay-at-home mom, I put Jay down on the list of another two (and researched a few more than that as well). That's nothing- I know some who have registered at four or five places. Jay got into a German preschool that just became (read: lots of bumps still in the road) bilingual. I found out that there is only one other English speaking child there, so I think it's mainly just exposing the kids to English.
In general, Germans believe that kids should be kids and they shouldn't learn until the first grade. There is no structure- just playtime and occasional crafts. Most of all, the kids run wild. A good friend of mine works at the one where he'll go (another building, so he won't be in her class) and her stories amaze/frighten me. Jay is easily intimidated by a lot of action and craziness, so I know he will tend to play by himself a lot or get bullied.
So lets hope that Jay will start to get a backbone and stand up for himself in time! I like the fact that he will get to use his German more than his English. So there is a big plus to this all. But when did preschool become so stressful?
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