preschool as the best job training

I thought this was an interesting article:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/08/12/139583385/preschool-the-best-job-training-program

all about how the basic skills kids get in preschool are actually the ones that will most determine if they will succeed later in life or not.

Presidio Habitats walk

Sunday we went on a walking tour of an outdoor exhibit in the Presidio with Quinton and Elana.

It was a beautiful awesome day.

what Jack wants and what he doesn't

this morning Jack woke up and the first thing he said was,

"Nancy, flies can't come in my room, but bees can come in the house because they make honey and they help the flowers grow big and strong."

Later he typed his name on the computer while I was in the other room.

Then he said he wanted to type EXIT. So he did.

I asked him if he thought he could type STOP and with a little assistance on the "P", he did it.

He was so proud, it was awesome.

slowly but surely

I know I haven't been keeping up with the blog lately, my photographs are in a mess and I need time to sort through them, order copies for people, post some to the blog, update the photo albums we keep for Jack, update our family photo albums, finish the "Family sheet" of photos for Jack's school, etc. etc. etc.
School is getting better. We talked a lot with Jack over the past couple weekends about his role in school, what he doesn't like and what solutions we could find to help him like it better.
Jack didn't want me to leave this morning but I think he just has a hard time finding something to engage in, so he wanted me to stay for entertainment. I went to the two way mirror to watch him for a little while after I left today and he kind of floated around without purpose for a while before half-heartedly playing with the magnets at the science table.
We were kind of late and most of the other kids were outside, which is nice because the room is quieter and he seems less freaked out.
We also took Jack to his first "soccer group" on Saturday which he did not want to participate in at all. He didn't even want to kick the ball around by himself.
I worry about his lethargy.

into the second week of preschool

Jack has had some ups and downs with full time preschool.

He's very hesitant when I drop him off and he doesn't openly engage with the other kids. By the time I pick him up in the afternoon, he seems to always be playing with other kids but is ready to run over to me and get going when he sees me walk in.

He says a lot that he doesn't like his school. Last week it was because somebody was hitting him, but Sean reminded him to use his strong words and say "NO! I don't like that! give me some space!" and it seemed to improve things.

Yesterday I was talking to him in the car about how things were going.

He told me in this "I've seen it all" kind of way that "things are working out on the playground, we're not having problems out there anymore. but today me and Isaiah were not communicating under the loft."

As good of a talker Jack is, lately he's been resorting to grunts and hitting to get what he wants. We're trying hard to impress on him how important it is to use words.

Job training

I heard this great story on NPR about how preschool is the best job training for kids because it gives them the tools they really need to make it in the workplace: ability to work with others, resolve conflict, etc....
anyway, as I look towards entering the workplace full time and face not getting to hang out with Jack during the week, it was reassuring to know that Jack will benefit from the time he spends at

keeping up with Jack

It gets really hard with kids at this age to keep track of the amazing things they do because so much of what's amazing is how they cross-reference things and build connections.
Jack is very fascinated by signs right now and especially signs that have the NO-slash through them. He asks over and over, "what does that mean?" and I tell him "that means they don't want you to..." or "there aren't any .... allowed"
he's also preoccupied with the sign on his car seat that says it shouldn't be installed in reverse in the front passenger seat. He looks forward to the day he is as tall as a grown up and can sit in the front seat.
Lately I've been really able to visualize how Jack will eventually take up the space of an adult. It's incredible and exciting. The only consistent with kids is change. It's such a good reminder for life.